Equally important is its rich tradition. Men and women dress up.
Celebrities convene on Louisville.
The University of Louisville marching band plays My Old Kentucky Home . This year, the festivities take place on Saturday, May 5. Loni Anderson's got big, round, um, hats. The post time is at 6 p.m. EST, so most social drinkers get to the party by around 4 p.m. in order to hit their stride by race time. Even if they don't tune in, guests can drink, mingle, eat and drink some more, with the races as a favorable backdrop.