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SubscribeThunder, Derby, Travelling Events All Included on List
Courtesy: Kentuckytourism.com
Several events hosted in Louisville have received the honor of inclusion on the Top 100 Events in the United States 2015 list. At least two are Louisville-specific events, while others are events that are “just passing through.” Still more events have connections to Louisville and the Commonwealth – which just goes to show why My Old Kentucky Home is a great place to live.
Among Sporting Events, the Kentucky Derby ranked at number seven. The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports was edged out by heavyweight events such as the Super Bowl and the Daytona 500 race.
Also ahead of the Derby was another sporting event with Louisville and Kentucky connections: the NCAA Men’s Final Four. Last year, Kentucky made it to the Final Four in Indianapolis before being defeated, while Louisville was knocked out earlier in the tournament. The previous year, Louisville and Kentucky met in the Midwest Regional of the tournament and the year before that Louisville rose to the top to beat Michigan for the Championship title. Louisville, of course, also plays host to earlier rounds of the tournament.
In the Festivals, Parades & Holiday Events category, Louisville also got a nod for Thunder Over Louisville, which took 9th place in the category. The Derby Festival celebration ranked behind events including Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, New Year’s Eve in Times Square, and Mardi Gras.
Under the heading of Political Events, ranked third (ahead of the State of the Union address) was the National Rifle Association Annual Meetings & Exhibits. Although the 2015 NRAAM event was held just down I-65 in Nashville, next year’s event will be held right here in Louisville at the Kentucky Exposition Center.
Top honors in the Entertainment Industry Events category went to Comic-Con International and, although “the big show” is held in San Diego, Louisville does play host to it’s own versions of the show through FandomFest and the Derby City Comic Con.
View the full list of Top Events in the US at BizBash.com.
Source: Maryland GovPics
37 years after Affirmed won the Triple Crown in 1978, American Pharoah pulled off an amazing victory to become the 12th horse to claim the title.
This was trainer, Bob Baffert’s fourth attempt at a Triple Crown winner. It was also jockey, Victor Espinoza’s third opportunity to win the Triple Crown. With this win, Espinoza, age 43, is the oldest jockey to win the Triple Crown.
American Pharoah’s official time was 2 minutes 26.65 seconds and he won by 5 1/2 lengths. The world record and track record for the Belmont Stakes is held by Secretariat, who also won the Triple Crown in 1973. He completed the race in 2 minutes 24.00 seconds and won by 31 lengths.
Photo: Shawn Skriver
Thunder Over Louisville is the explosive kick off event for the weeks-long Kentucky Derby Festival leading up to the May 3, 2014 Run For the Roses. Held since 1990, Thunder combines a collossal air show, a huge waterfront fair atmosphere and North America’s largest annual fireworks display that lasts nearly half an hour with pyrotechnics launched from bridges and barges. It’s pretty spectacular stuff. Since 1997, Thunder boasts an average attendance of 625,000 people at the all-day event.
Thunder Over Louisville 2014 is Saturday April 12 with the center of action at Waterfront Park. The airshow this year boasts such popular features as the Navy Blue Angels and a nearly window-shattering F22 Raptor demonstration as well as numerous aerobatic acts. Breaks in the all-day airshow offer a perfect opportunity to wander around Ford’s Thunder on the Ground – a fairground atmosphere that features a climbing wall, rides and no shortage of vendors and greasy food from the Chow Wagon.
Don’t spend too much time wandering, though. The action does not stop with the airshow or at the midway. Waterfront Park fills up fast, so you will want to be sure to stake out a good viewing location for the nighttime fireworks display that starts at 9:30PM.
Every Thunder Over Louisville event has had an underlying theme for the musically choreographed pyrotechnic display. Past themes have included Americana, Hollywood, the Millennium celebration, country music, rock music, television, Broadway and more. The 2014 display is called Throwback Thunder and will incorporate a “best of” style display that draws elements from past shows.
Admission to all of the riverfront fun is included with your Pegasus Pin, available at locations around Kentuckiana.
