It's the run for the roses and the red carpet, as celebrities and horse racing cross paths for "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports" this Saturday May 5th.
While the Kentucky Derby is a horse racing tradition, the first jewel in the Triple Crown has become known as much for its pre-show party atmosphere as for the race itself. And where there are parties, there are celebrities.
The race became such a popular destination for Hollywood types, the venue, Churchill Downs, added a separate private red carpet entrance in 2007 for the well known VIPs. And the stars don't disappoint when it comes to the tradition of getting dressed up. And it wouldn't be the Kentucky Derby unless they topped things off with a fancy hat, which seem to get bigger and more extravagant each year.
At recent Derbies:
Kim Kardashian showed off her famous figure in a skin-tight white dress and black gloves topped with an elegant black straw hat with long feather accent and netting.
Playboy's Hugh Hefner and his then girlfriends frothed things up with a blast of girly pink, peach and yellow while Hef ruled the roost in a white suit and hat and pink pin-striped shirt.
Kate Gosselin must have left the kids at home when she stepped out in a spectacular plumage-fringed hat with beige bow that matched her form-fitting dress of stripes and lace.
Model Marisa Miller went a little retro with a stunning '20s-style cloche hat accented with a ribbon and broach topping her long loose curls and neutral-colored dress.
Ashlee Simpson also opted for a cloche hat atop a sweet-as-pie, red polka-dot dress with puffed sleeves and long strand of pearls.
Brooke Shields took the plunge in a sweet-yet-naughty, low cut white dress with bow topped with a royal blue velvet hat with white netting.
Jennifer Tilly gave an eyeful in a candy pink, plaid dress and petite fuschia hat with long feathers.
It's unlikely sportscaster Erin Andrews did any "Dancing with the Stars" while wearing a colossal black and white, big-brimmed hat, fully decked out with flowers and feathers but she did wear it well atop a black and white strapless top and slacks.
This year, hip hop R&B star Mary J. Blige is scheduled to sing the National Anthem. There's no doubt she and other top notch celebrities will be joining the other mad hatters to cheer on their favorite horse. Can't wait to see what they wear!
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