Didn't make it to Churchill Downs for opening night? Here are 5 things you missed

It's safe to say Louisville has been preparing for the 150th Kentucky Derby since well before the historic race last year.

It's finally, almost here. With one week before the historic milestone, Churchill Downs welcomed in crowds Saturday for the opening night of its Spring Meet like no other before. Kentucky Derby week kicked off with a full night of horse racing, entertainment, and fashion.

Didn't make it to the track on Saturday? Here are five things you missed on opening night.

The new paddock's debut

Race 1 of opening night was the first time Churchill Downs' new, $200 million paddock was used for a race. Often referred to as "the heartbeat of the track," horses are paraded through the paddock before each race. The newly reconfigured paddock is taller, larger, and grander than the 35-year-old paddock it replaced. Among the biggest changes is the relocation and 180-degree turn of the paddock stalls, which means that many racegoers were greeted by this dynamic change as soon as they walked through the track's main gates.

The Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby draw

New this year, Churchill Downs took a break after the third race of the night for the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby post position draw. Traditionally, the post position draw doesn't happen on a race day, and it isn't open to the general public, so this was an exciting twist for opening night. In horse racing, a competitor's position out of the gate and around the first turn can make or break their chance to win.

Churchill Downs uses a traditional draw method , which means one racing official pulls a piece of paper with a horse’s name on it from a pile while another official pulls a gate number from a separate pile.

Louisville's iconic Rodes takes over the red carpet

The Rodes name has been part of the Louisville fashion industry for nearly 110 years. The historic retailer, Rodes For Him & For Her , has a mission of embracing international style and local traditions. During opening night, the iconic company offered an exclusive fashion show that gave a sneak peek at the 2024 Kentucky Derby fashion trends.

A fun display of wearable art

Art met fashion at the Clubhouse Corridor as three regional artists showcased their Kentucky Derby-inspired original couture pieces, from the KMAC Couture 2024 “Runway for the Roses." The display featured a dynamic selection of wearable art.

DJ Sam Sneed performs for racegoers

Churchill Downs welcomed DJ Sam Sneed as entertainment for opening night. Sneed has been part of the Louisville music scene for more than two decades. On Saturday Sneed added a party-like feel to the first race of the season in the new paddock area.

Reach features columnist Maggie Menderski at mmenderski@courier-journal.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Didn't make it to Churchill Downs for opening night? Here are 5 things you missed