America’s most famous horse race may be celebrating a milestone this year, but the hats are the real stars of the show.

Spectators of the 150th annual Run for the Roses have already shown out at the 2024 Kentucky Derby. Here are the must-see fashions from Churchill Downs:

Fashion has been nearly as important as the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs since the beginning. Now, 150 years later, some argue the two are equal.

Derby fashion was on full display at the 4th annual Hats and Horses event on Saturday. More than 100 people attended the event at the Captain Anderson’s Event Center.Those attending sported hats, fancy dresses and their derby best.

This year’s Kentucky Derby has already began packing the stands with well-dressed onlookers ready for the day’s races. As is tradition at Churchill Downs, folks sport their finest (or most outlandish) hats to impress the crowd and the folks at home watching on television or looking at photos.

Every year guests don their best - and oftentimes, craziest - hats for the Kentucky Derby in Louisville. Hats have been synonymous with the annual horse race since it was established by Col. Meriwether Clark Jr.

The hats at the Kentucky Derby are usually exceptional, but nothing quite stands out in a crowd like a horse-inspired hat — or a straight-up horse on your head. In honor of that, here are 15 outrageous horse-themed hats from the Kentucky Derby in recent years.