The Kentucky Derby provides significant economic benefits to the state of Kentucky and maintains cherished traditions. The annual event attracts thousands of visitors, bolstering local businesses and showcasing the thoroughbred racing and bourbon industries.

South Louisville

Jonathan Shell, the Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture, conveyed his excitement over the significance of the Kentucky Derby to the local economy and the enduring traditions that accompany it. The Derby, held annually in Louisville, attracts thousands of visitors and generates an estimated $405 million impact for Kentucky, benefiting local businesses and restaurants. Beyond just a sporting event, it spotlights the state's agriculture, including significant contributions from horse racing farms and the bourbon industry, with the latter consuming a considerable amount of Kentucky's corn production.

The tradition of the Kentucky Derby is well-preserved, with customs such as mint juleps and seersucker attire being celebrated each year. Shell underscored the sentimental value of the event, sharing personal anecdotes about his family's connection to horse racing. He expressed his sentimental attachment to the horse Burnham Square, recalling memories of his grandparents attending the Bluegrass Stakes in Keeneland. 

As the race approaches, sport analyst Mike Pataglia has identified Journalism as the favorite to win, followed by other contenders such as Sovereignty and Sandman. Commissioner Shell highlighted the international spotlight the Derby brings to Kentucky, emphasizing its pivotal role in promoting the state’s thoroughbred racing industry as well as local pride and tradition.



Kentucky Derby brings economic impact and tradition

Jonathan Shell, the Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture, joins us, and this has to be an exciting time for the great commonwealth. Absolutely. Kentucky is not just the backdrop of the Kentucky Derby, it is the heartbeat of the horse racing industry, and we are so proud to have tens of thousands of people here joining us today on Oaks Day. The Oaks is getting ready to run, and we are so excited about Derby tomorrow. Well, let's talk about Derby. I mean, you guys are expecting tens of thousands of people there in Louisville. It certainly brings in a lot of horse race-loving people from all over the world, but this is also big business as well, I have to imagine. Yes, sir. It has a $405 million impact to this commonwealth of Kentucky, and it helps our local businesses, our local restaurants. There's a huge farming component to this as well, a huge agriculture impact, whether it be the hay throughout the year, the trainers, all the jobs that are employed through these horse racing farms, and all the owners and everything. It is just truly an amazing event that just skyrockets the ability for Kentucky to be on an international stage. So, aside from that, it's also about the tradition, and we have seen so many traditions fall by the wayside, but the Kentucky Derby, it pretty much is the same thing year after year. You guys aren't getting rid of the mint juleps anytime soon. No, sir, and those mints are right here in Kentucky, and that beverage, the base of it is bourbon, and as you know, this is bourbon capital of the world right here in Kentucky, and we're so proud of the industry. It consumes about 15 to 20 million bushels of corn a year, a major agriculture impact as well, but we care about our traditions here in Kentucky, and the Kentucky Derby is one of the highlights of that tradition across the world and across the United States, and it is a spotlight for our industry, and it's a spotlight for thoroughbred racing and a spotlight for right here in Kentucky. All right, Commissioner, we got to talk about the horse racing, of course. Mike Pataglia, known as one of the premier horse analysts and race callers in the nation, this morning he said a horse named Journalism was picked as the favorite to win. Let's look at the top five horses and their odds. Journalism, a 3-1 favorite. Sovereignty, a 5-1 odd. Sandman, 6-1. Burnham Square, 12-1. Luxor Cafe, 15-1. Commissioner, I got to ask you, do you have a favorite in the race? I absolutely do, so every year I try to pick out a memory theme for myself, and last year it was about my grandmother and watching her smack the recliner in our living room as she was watching the Kentucky Derby and getting into it just like she was a jockey on the horse. This year it's a memory about my grandfather and my grandmother. They used to always go to the Bluegrass Stakes in Keeneland, and they knew that they would never get to go to the Derby, but if they were able to go to the Bluegrass Stakes and see that winner, they felt like there was a pretty good shot that it was going to win the Kentucky Derby, and so we're riding with Burnham Square tomorrow on the Derby race because he was the Bluegrass Stakes winner in memory of my grandfather and my grandmother in that tradition. All right, well, Commissioner, we got you down for Burnham Square, and real quick, we got to talk about traditions. I know the ladies have the hats, and the guys, a lot of fellows are going to be sporting seersucker tomorrow. Yes, sir. There's a lot of seersucker out here today. There'll be a lot of seersucker tomorrow. I don't know if you know this about me, but I'm kind of a hat guy, too, and I love the way everything looks here. The women look amazing. The guys are here. The grounds look amazing. I mean, it is truly a it's a tradition like none other. Well, it certainly is, and I know millions of people around the country are going to be holding those big Kentucky Derby parties tomorrow, and there's going to be a lot of celebrating and a lot of drinking of the mint juleps. Commissioner Schell, thank you for joining us on Newsmax. Good luck tomorrow. Yes, sir. Thank you.

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