Ways to enjoy Kentucky Derby in Columbia

On the first Saturday in May, 20 horses take to the track at Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby, or what’s often called “the most exciting two minutes in sports.”

The Derby is the longest continually held sporting event in America, and it is one of the most prestigious horse races in the world.

Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, may be far away, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get into the Derby spirit this weekend.

WHERE TO GET A MINT JULEP

The official cocktail of the Kentucky Derby is the mint julep. The drink is a mix of bourbon, sugar, mint and crushed or shaved ice. It’s mandatory sipping on race day. Get one in Columbia at one of these places:

Motor Supply

Head barman Josh Streetman will have a special cocktail menu for the Kentucky Derby.

“I will be ready for mint juleps all weekend,” he said.

He’ll have those special julep cups and will make the drink with Buffalo Trace Bourbon. They’ll be $8 all weekend, and there will be a classic julep as well as a honey-cucumber-rye variation, also $8.

920 Gervais St.

Julep’s Bistro

The restaurant and bar has a drink called the derby, with Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Grand Marnier, sweet vermouth and fresh lime juice. It’s served on the rocks with a cherry.

And as the restaurant name suggests, they have mint juleps, too.

120 Sparkleberry Crossing Drive

Bourbon

Because the key ingredient in a mint julep is bourbon, you can’t go wrong with heading over to Bourbon on Main Street for some spectacular spirits.

1214 Main St.

WHICH HORSE TO ROOT FOR

It can be hard to pick a Derby horse, whether you base your choice on the horse with the best race history, owners, number or coolest name. The official Derby website has some tips if you really want to get serious.

Our pick is Mohaymen, who trained in Camden on his way to the Derby.

Owner Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum bought Mohaymen for a cool $2.2 million. (The horse’s name means “dominant” in Arabic.) Then he sent Mohaymen to Kevin Kahkola for breaking and early training in Camden, where he got used to wearing a saddle and carrying a rider, before sending him off to Kiaran McLaughlin’s barn in New York.

So you could say it was in Camden where Mohaymen really learned how to be a horse.

The Wynn Las Vegas listed Mohaymen at 8-1 odds of winning on Derby day. Sportsbook has him listed at 6-1. Nyquist and Mor Spirit are the favorites.

HOW TO WATCH

Coverage of the Kentucky Derby is 4-7:30 Saturday, May 7 on NBC. Lady Antebellum will sing the National Anthem about 5 p.m., and the horses are off at 6:34 p.m.

Visit www.kentuckyderby.com for more info.

This story was originally published May 3, 2016 at 5:12 PM with the headline "Ways to enjoy Kentucky Derby in Columbia."