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Daily Calendar for Saturday, May 3, 2025

Kentucky Derby

America’s most famous horse race, the Kentucky Derby, has been held continuously since 1875 at Louisville, Kentucky, and has become one of the country’s largest civic celebrations (and betting opportunity). Not bad when you consider that the event lasts only two minutes! 

Modeled on England’s Epsom Derby, it is for three-year-old Thoroughbreds and was originally run at a mile and a half (now at a mile and a quarter). Colonel Meriwether Lewis Clark organized the first race, and since he wanted the occasion to be festive, he gave a Derby breakfast for his friends before the first running (mint juleps anyone?). 

Dances, parties, and carnival-like gaiety have long been a feature of Derby week. The Derby is the first event in the “Triple Crown” series, followed by the Preakness (the second Saturday after the Derby) and the Belmont Stakes (the fifth Saturday after the Derby).

Try making your own Kentucky Derby Pie. And we also have a Mint Punch recipe.

Died

  • Adolphe Charles Adam (composer) –
  • Frank Levingston (at time of death, was oldest surviving WWII veteran) –

Born

  • Bing Crosby (singer) –
  • Mary Astor (actress) –
  • Sugar Ray Robinson (boxer) –
  • James Brown (singer) –
  • Frankie Valli (singer) –
  • Doug Henning (magician) –
  • Dulé Hill (actor) –

Events

  • First toll bridge (toll for animals began), Rowley, Massachusetts–
  • Washington, D.C., was incorporated as a city–
  • First U.S. telecast of a book review–
  • First broadcast of National Public Radio’s All Things Considered–
  • The Old Man of the Mountain located in Franconia Notch, NH, fell from his perch–
  • Three veterans’ names were added to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial–
  • Dale Davis, a legally blind 78-year old man from Alta, Iowa, bowled a perfect game during league play–

Weather

  • The temperature dipped to 39 degrees Fahrenheit in Phoenix, Arizona–
  • Nearly a foot of rain fell within eight hours in New Orleans–
  • The area west of Mooresville, North Carolina, had baseball-size hail–
  • Lake Kemp, Texas, had baseball-size hail–
  • Red River flood peaked in Manitoba–
  • Tornadoes struck Oklahoma, killing 44 people and causing $1.3 billion in damage.–
  • Powerful Cyclone Nargis slammed into Myanmar’s Irrawaddy delta–

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