The Kentucky Derby isn’t just a two-kilometre clash of the four-legged titans. The Epsom Derby’s American little brother, or ‘The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports’ as it is often known, is about so much more than racing

The Kentucky Derby by PandamicPhoto.com

This year The Bloomsbury will be bringing the action straight to the heart of London with a traditional Derby party - albeit with a trademark Doyle Collection twist. From fashion advice and what to drink, to racing tips if you fancy a flutter we’ve got your evening covered.

Classic Cocktails 

Refreshingly regal, no Derby party would be complete without Mint Juleps in abundance. Filled to the brim with bourbon (from the party’s sponsorWoodford Reserve), simple syrup, mint leaves and crushed ice, the iconic cocktail - synonymous with all things Kentucky Derby - is ordered over 120,000 times on race day at the Churchill Downs (that takes a whopping 27,000 kilos of ice…). The Bloomsbury won’t quite match those quantities, but we’ll certainly give our American cousins a run for their money. Sitting alongside the obligatory Mint Juleps, bar manager Brian Calleja has concocted a special menu for the event featuring the tantalising ‘Millionaire’s Row’ – a decadent blend ofWoodford Reserve, mint leaves and chipotle syrup infused with three drops of chipotle tincture.

Mint Juleps are a traditional part of the proceedings

Fashion First

From the garish to the grandiose, it’s the hats not the horses that take centre stage at the world’s most famous racing meet. Bringing a slice of Louisville to London, on Saturday 6^th May The Bloomsbury Club Bar, which is being specially decorated with a garland of red roses, will be the place to see and be seen.

The Churchill Downs by Diana Robinson 

Back the Best

With all these treats for the senses it’s easy to forget about the two-minute dash itself. Make the race just that touch more exciting by backing a winner. But how do you spot the pick of the paddock? It turns out, in racing, you can judge a book by its cover. Alert horses are winners, keep an eye out for pricked ears and heads held high – confidence is key. Cool, calm and collected, you can bet that the first past the post won’t be jumpy or restless before the race – horses with the fidgets are wasting their precious energy before the race has even begun. 

Bonus: Our picks for the 2017 Kentucky Derby; McCraken(5/1), Always Dreaming(6/1), Classic Empire(5/1)

Book a stay at The Bloomsbury

Images taken from Flickr.