Kentucky Derby: History of the over-the-top, unique hats

Eric Reed, trainer of Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike, shares his thoughts on the upcoming Travers Stakes in Saratoga Springs, New York.

One of the longest-standing traditions at the Kentucky Derby is wearing brightly colored derby hats throughout the horse races by men and women.

The derby was founded in 1875 at the Churchill Downs horse racing stadium and has become a fixture in American culture and media for centuries. 

The fashion trends and traditions resemble late 19th-century high-class British clothing.

FUN AND EXTRAVAGANT KENTUCKY DERBY HATS THROUGH THE YEARS

Read more to discover who started the tradition and how attendees decorate their hats.

The Kentucky Derby has many Southern-based traditions that date back to its founding in the 19th century, shortly after the end of the Civil War. 

One tradition that its founder, Col. Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr., promoted was that the attendees should dress in high-class European-style clothing during the annual race. Women especially were encouraged to wear high-fashion clothes with fancy accessories such as hats, bags and shoes. 

The Kentucky Derby is known for hosting a variety of traditions every year, including the annual wearing of large, brightly colored Derby hats. (Carmen Mandato / Getty Images / File)

Over the years, the Kentucky Derby became known for its attendees wearing flamboyant spring-themed hats. 

Starting in the 1960s, television cameras were introduced to the race, giving the attendees a reason to show and wear more extravagant hats at the Derby. 

Typically, the hats worn by women are large with bright colors paired with a spring dress.

The traditional style of hat worn at the race is known as a Derby hat. 

The hat-wearing tradition over the years