The 2021 Kentucky Derby is Saturday and set to start at 6:57 p.m. ET on NBC, but the festivities at Churchill Downs began long before that.
Along with the tradition of some fun and outrageous hats paired with refreshing mint juleps, celebrities and athletes were in attendance — though it doesn’t appear to be nearly as many as usual. Those celebrating the Run for the Roses included reigning Super Bowl champ and MVP Tom Brady and reigning NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers, who was there with actor and fiancée Shailene Woodley, Packers teammates David Bakhtiari and Randall Cobb, former Packer A.J. Hawk and actor Miles Teller.
“It’s not always like this, but the weather’s obviously amazing today, but it’s just the excitement,” Rodgers told TwinSpires Racing on Saturday from Churchill Downs when asked why he loves to watch the Kentucky Derby in person.
“It’s different this year with less people, but there’s not many things more exciting than the feeling — whether it’s the first race of the day or the Kentucky Derby or the [Kentucky] Oaks yesterday – when the horses all get in the stall and they’re off. It’s exciting, and when they come down the backstretch, there’s not many greater feelings, especially when your horse is in the lead.”
The guy in this video looks a lot like @AaronRodgers12 but that’s not what his name tag says😂😂
@normmacdonald pic.twitter.com/VKiMtUWfoY
— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) May 1, 2021
Here’s a look at some of the athletes at the 2021 Kentucky Derby on Saturday (and we’ll continue to update this as we spot more):
.@TomBrady's @KentuckyDerby fashion: 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/PirQDMUwz1
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) May 1, 2021
Aaron Rodgers is @KentuckyDerby ready. 🌹 (via FrankieShebby/IG) pic.twitter.com/wQVuljVwd9
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) May 1, 2021
