And the winner of the 2020 Kentucky Turtle Derby is…

Typically on the first Saturday of May, people would be at Churchill Downs sipping on Mint Juleps, Oaks Lily, or whichever your drink of choice is gearing up to watch the Kentucky Derby. However, this year looked a little different.

The stands were empty, no horses on the tracks, and no bartenders making those delicious beverages. The Running of the Roses has been pushed to September 5 due to COVID-19, but that didn’t stop one bourbon distillery from having their very own derby.

Winner: What The Turtleneck

Old Forester held the 2020 Kentucky Turtle Derby. In a wire-to-wire finish, What The Turtleneck beat out Galapa-GO! for the coveted win. Finishing in third was Rocket To Nowhere.

Now, why turtles?

Well, the last time the derby had been postponed was in 1945 due to WWII and that year turtles were raced instead of horses. A little tribute to the last postponement.

The Turtle Derby still held on to some traditions with Kentucky Derby race caller Larry Collums calling the race, an actual bugler from Churchill Downs playing the call-to-post prior to the race, and hypothetical odds were released on the turtles that participated.

To remember the 2020 Turtle Derby, people can purchase a commemorative t-shirt and all proceeds will go to the Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation.

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