Inside Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Weekend
There are quite a few meaningful heirlooms in my family, but one that most notably stands out is a Longines timepiece. It belonged to my late grandfather. When he was drafted into the army post-World War II, his friends pitched in and surprised him with a rectangular watch featuring a crystal face with roman numerals and a brown pebbled-leather strap. Seven decades later, it continues to hold a special place in my family's heart—so when the Longines team invited me to join them to watch Kentucky Derby 148 from the ritzy and exclusive Mansion at Churchill Downs, I jumped at the chance to witness the "most exciting 2 minutes in sports" firsthand.
Throughout the action-packed weekend in Louisville, crowds sipped mint juleps, wagered hundreds of thousands of dollars on the race, and dressed to the nines in over-the-top fascinators and hats, all while majestic horses galloped around the famed racetrack. Not even the cloudy weather and sporadic showers were going to rain on the spectators' parades.
Longines, which was both the official timekeeper and official watch of this year's Kentucky Derby, kicked off the historic weekend by hosting the Kentucky Oaks. Held the day before the big race, the Oaks is a Grade I stakes race where 3-year-old fillies, or female horses, take center stage. Upon entering Churchill Downs, racegoers clad in all-things-pink (in honor of the horses and in support of breast cancer awareness) had the opportunity to walk a pink carpet. In keeping with the brand's tagline that “Elegance is an Attitude,” a select 200 elegantly put together men and women even got to take part in the annual Longines Prize for Elegance fashion contest, where one lucky winner walked away with a timepiece of their own.
For the luxury Swiss watchmaker, being a part of the Kentucky Derby weekend again—they've been timing the event since 2011—was a no-brainer because "the spirit of the Derby fits perfectly with the spirit of the brand," Longines CEO Matthias Breschan tells T&C. Longines's involvement in the equestrian world dates back to 1878 when the brand crafted a chronograph pocket watch engraved with a horse and jockey. Not long after, this type of timepiece became a favorite among jockeys and horse-lovers, and to this day, Longines continues to be the watch of choice on the racetracks more than 140 years later.
But Longines's rich history goes beyond the racetrack. The brand, which is celebrating 190 years later this year, was also the first to invent a timepiece with a GMT movement. Equally as impressive: Longines has a record of every single watch sold since 1867. "We can trace exactly when it was produced, the date of production, to whom we sold it and, most importantly, we know exactly every single component inside," says Breschan. "So, when people send us their watches, and they ask for a certificate of authentication, we can check that. We have still a big stock of old components, and most of the time we are even able to restore watches."
Over the course of two days at Churchill Downs, fans placed their bets and cheered on as their top picks zipped, zoomed, and dashed around the dirt track for a championship title. Indeed, the atmosphere and adrenaline at the venue were infectious. At one point, I even ventured out on a private tour, exploring the historic grounds, peeking inside the famed Millionaire's Row and star-studded Turf Club dining areas, as well as the Director's Room, where the owners of a winning horse celebrate their victory. I was also fortunate to stand inside the paddock, where horses are saddled before the races, while eager racegoers crowded around the fencing hoping to get a closer glimpse at them.
The Mansion itself was a true slice of luxury, and legend has it the hospitality is so attentive the concierge staff will provide near anything you ask for, be it a rare European Chablis, a bucket of chicken tenders and waffle fries, or a pair of flip-flops to ease your aching feet. The bathrooms even have on-hand makeup artists ready to touch up your lipstick or refresh your face.
Of course, a Derby weekend experience with Longines is not complete without watching some of the big races. For race No. 5 on Kentucky Derby Day—commonly known as the Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile—the Longines crew gathered at the racetrack edge to see the horses and frantically wave our wager slips to cheer on our picks. The gallant equine beauties thundered past, their hooves clattering over the turf, sending it flying in all directions—thankfully not onto our outfits—as they approached the finish line. Taking home the prize would be multi-millionaire Peter Brant and model Stephanie Seymour's mare, Speak of the Devil, who made her U.S. debut and successfully crossed the finish line first.
Then later on, at 6:57 p.m. sharp, the group was back upstairs for the main event, the Run for the Roses race. Gripping our betting tickets even tighter in hopes of winning big, we looked on from the Mansion's private trackside terrace as 80-to-1 longshot Rich Strike surged to victory in a stunning upset—the biggest since 1913, in fact. Many were left shocked by the events that just unfolded, unsure how to react, and a good share of people lost money, but that didn't stop the celebrations—after all, there were two more races to go.
To be at Kentucky Derby is one thing, but to see it live in person during such a memorable year—when America's most famous race returned to full capacity after two very long years and an underdog horse came out on top—was an experience I will not forget anytime soon. What makes the Derby so great is you don't need to know anything about horses to have a blast. All you need is your statement-making headgear, your betting slip, and a mint julep, and you can absolutely expect a good time.
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