Kentucky Derby 2011: A Brief History of the Race in Photos

Julep Marvelous
Possibly the most famous Kentucky Derby tradition is that of the mint julep cocktail. Made of bourbon, sugar syrup, water, lots of ice, and a mint sprig, the mint julep is most traditionally served in a very cold silver julep cup. Most Derby attendees, however, consume the julep in that year's glass souvenir cup, a new one of which is printed every year with the names of every Derby winner ever. Introduced in the late 1930s, the souvenir Derby cup was made out of plastic for several years during the 1940s as a result of a war-related glass shortage.

• Tragedy and Triumph at the Derby