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Each year, the Kentucky Derby produces many weird photos and plenty of strange history. While working with DerbyCraze.com for 2014 Kentucky Derby betting and news coverage, I regularly come across antique photos of the historic horse racing event - The Kentucky Derby. Obviously, one of the strangest things about the Kentucky Derby is how much things have changed. In its 140 years of history, the Library of Congress and the University of Louisville have archived the Kentucky Derby in photos. Decades later, these photographs have plenty of surprises and an unexpected intricate behind-the-scenes history.Two prominent early Kentucky Derby photographersMost of the photos below are from 1901 to 1942. With the exception of two, many of the photos in this article were taken by Caufield and Shook. According to the University of Louisville's photographic archive at Ekstrom Library, this dynamic photographer duo began a studio business in 1903 with the motto, "We photograph anything, day or night." The first photos in this article taken by them were actually from two years before they opened the studio. As it appears, these 1901 photos were the start of something big. In 1924, Caufield and Shook became the official photographers of the Kentucky Derby and stayed in that contract until 1960. Today, the University of Louisville holds over half a million negatives and tens of thousands of Caufield and Shook vintage prints from the early 1900's, and a large number of them are from the Kentucky Derby.Confusing dates for early 1900's Kentucky DerbysToday, we associate the Kentucky Derby with certain calendar events. For example, it is part of the Triple Crown Races, and the Kentucky Derby is always the first of the three races. Most people that live in Kentucky that are horse racing fans know that the Kentucky Derby is always the first Saturday in May. Interestingly, this calendar date relationship did not always exist.Instead, the Triple Crown was not organized every year in the early 1900's. In some cases, the Preakness was run before the Kentucky Derby. In other words, if you think the dates for some of these photos coincided with the first Saturday in May, think again. The first Kentucky Derby that was held to the first Saturday in May standard was the May 7, 1932 Derby. The first Kentucky Derby was actually held in the middle of May on May 17, 1875.The Kentucky Derby has always been weird?When you go to the modern Kentucky Derby parties, you see people dressed in freaky hats and elegant clothing. The Infield always has a feeling of being in Spring Break mode. It makes you wonder if the Kentucky Derby has always been this weird. Even when everyone is on their best behavior, outside circumstances seem to push the Kentucky Derby toward the bizarre. For example, in 1943, they called it the "Streetcar Derby" because World War II oil rations meant Louisville residents took trolleys to Churchill Downs and traveling horse racing fans were refused tickets. Were Kentucky Derby photos from the early 1900's really that strange? Take a look at the vintage photos in this slideshow and see for yourself. For more Kentucky Derby vintage photos, arrange a visit to see the Caufield and Shook exhibit at the University of Louisville.
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