Kentucky Derby hats, Kentucky Derby
Louisville Courier Journal-USA TODAY Sports

Legend has it, you’re not even allowed in at Churchill Downs if you aren’t participating in the timeless tradition of impressive Kentucky Derby hats. That may or may not be true, but it should be.

After all, wouldn’t you feel almost embarrassed to show up to the 150th Kentucky Derby without something spectacular on top of your head? I feel like I would, and I’m not even a hat guy.

Thankfully, none of the spectators below had to risk facing such embarrassment because their Kentucky Derby hat game was the tops.

Everyone showed up to Churchill Downs, even people you weren’t thinking of on a random Saturday in May, like Jameis Winston.

“I don’t know who I’m picking to win yet, but I know we gonna be eating Ws.”

Real quote from Jameis Winston

Okay, we couldn’t help but notice a few of these fellas, Jack Harlow, Emmitt Smith, Jimmy Fallon, Isiah Pacheco, and even Smokey Robinson, snuck by without a hat, but we won’t hold it against them. There’s a slight breeze blowing, so maybe it just blew away, or maybe they were having someone hold onto their precious attire.

Either way, let’s move on to the real stars of the show: the hatmasters.

Nice hat, bro. This guy gets it.

Oops. That one didn’t have a hat (we don’t think), but, still cool.

Plus, there’s this… Fine choice, too, by the way.

That’s it. That’s all the hats we have for the 2024 Kentucky Derby.

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