And they’re off!
The Kentucky Derby is an official holiday in Kentucky. As a born and bred Kentuckian all my mysteries are set in the bluegrass state.
The official flower of the Derby is the rose. How pretty!
Before 1896 every woman who attended any Derby party or the Derby itself was presented with a long-stem rose. The roses were such a sensation, that the president of Churchill Downs, Col. Lewis Clark, adopted the rose as the race's official flower in 1896.
Every year after that while the owners of the horse lift up the trophy high above their heads, the horse is draped with a blanket of deep red roses that consists of 400 handpicked roses out of 7,000 roses. After the roses are picked, it takes over seven hours to make the blanket and add seal of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
The blanket is 122 inches long, 22 inches wide, and weighs nearly 40 pounds! WOW!
It wasn’t until 1925 did the catch phrase A RUN FOR THE ROSES get picked up.
If you could pick the flower for the Derby, what would you suggest?
Synopsis:
And they're off!
Gambling on horse racing is Kentucky's number one sport but when Kentucky Derby Thoroughbred picked to win the Derby, Rails and Nails, ends up poisoned, SKUL special agent Mick Jasper and rookie witch Maggie Park, who keeps her witch powers a secret, are called in to investigate a world of illegal gambling where a run for the roses can prove to be deadly.
Gambling on horse racing is Kentucky's number one sport but when Kentucky Derby Thoroughbred picked to win the Derby, Rails and Nails, ends up poisoned, SKUL special agent Mick Jasper and rookie witch Maggie Park, who keeps her witch powers a secret, are called in to investigate a world of illegal gambling where a run for the roses can prove to be deadly.
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Blog – http://tonyakappes.blogspot.com/
GoodReads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4423580.Tonya_Kappes
Tonya has written over 35 novels and 4 novellas, all of which have graced numerous bestseller lists including USA Today. Best known for stories charged with emotion and humor, and filled with flawed characters, her novels have garnered reader praise and glowing critical reviews. She lives with her husband, two very spoiled schnauzers in northern Kentucky and grew up in the small southern Kentucky town of Nicholasville. Now that her four little boys are all grown men, Tonya writes fulltime but can be found at her Old Kentucky Home with a sweet tea or coffee in hand while rockin’ on her front porch.
Be sure to check out the exclusive website for the Kenni Lowry Mystery Series where you can take a virtual vacation in Cottonwood. Check out the recipes and adult coloring sheets! There’s so much fun in Cottonwood. Click here!
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Love the tidbits on the roses, I never thought about how heavy the blanket would be. I think roses are beautiful and the fact that they have been tied to the Derby for so many years it is so appropriate.
ReplyDeletekeep roses, Preakness has the Black-eyed Susan.
ReplyDeletedenise
Hi Tonya! No other flower says "Derby" like the rose. In case you missed my post on your facebook page, I baked your mama's Kentucky Derby pie last week and it was absolutely delish! Thanks again for the recipe!
ReplyDelete