slugger Tag

While the Kentucky Derby (and Oaks) is the crown jewel of Louisville, the party starts wellbefore the races. Several exciting events dot the calendar in the weeks leading up to the most exciting 2 minutes in sports.

The first thing to do before landing in Louisville is learn how to pronounce the name of the city...unless you enjoy getting the evil eye from the locals. It's correctly pronounced "LOO-uh-ville"...not "LOO-iss-ville" or "LOOY-ville."  Can't pronounce the pronunciations? Click here for the audio pronunciation.

On Friday, April 29th, the Great Balloon Rush-Hour Race is set for a hopeful 7 a.m. start, weather permitting of course. During the rally, balloon pilots chase a "hare" balloon and attempt to drop bags of Kentucky Bluegrass seed as close to a target on the ground as possible. Take a look here for several other hot air balloon-related events, including "The Glimmer" which takes place at night.

A few days before the Derby on Wednesday, May 4th a race of a different