The Kentucky Derby: How the Run for the Roses Became America's Premier Sporting Event

Rising from its humble beginnings as an American variation of England's Epsom Derby, the Kentucky Derby became a centrepiece of American sports and the racing industry, confirming Kentucky's status as the Horse Capital of the World. James C. Nicholson argues that the Derby, at its essence, is a celebration of a place, existing as a connection between Kentucky's mythic past and modern society.