This year’s Kentucky Derby was special. First of all, we have the 150th anniversary of the event, which attracted so many celebrities. Churchill Downs was also renovated to accommodate more fans, and they’ve featured some interesting new additions to the derby that made it even more special.
In other words, the Derby 150 was the most prestigious horse racing event in history. That’s why it is not surprising to find many celebrities that attend the Derby red carpet.
Horse racing is probably one of the most diverse sports in terms of fan base. We have individuals who don’t know much about horse racing attending big events like the Kentucky Derby, die-hard fans, celebrities, politicians, business people looking for networking, and people seeking the thrill of the race.
Throughout the years, we’ve seen many NFL stars that appreciate horse racing. Some of them were so in love with the sport that they invested in a horse.
Since we are talking about the most prestigious race in this year’s calendar, it was on a must-attend list of many NFL stars this year.
Let’s talk about some of the NFL stars who attended the 150th Kentucky Derby.
Aaron Rodgers
Here we have one of the most successful quarterbacks and a Super Bowl XLV champion that captured the attention at the Kentucky Derby. This wasn’t his first appearance on the Kentucky Derby as we’ve spotted Aaron Rodgers watching the race over the years.
He is mostly known for being a crucial player for the Packers, and that’s where he got most of his success. Last year he was traded to the Jets, which is a move that we’ve seen in the past as most quarterbacks from the Packers somehow end up in the Jets. However, his time with the New York Jets wasn’t that successful, as he suffered an injury to his left ankle in the first match of Week 1.
But one thing is for sure, he knows how to make an entrance. He didn’t go for a flamboyant outfit and chose the classical business casual look, but he looked like a boss.
Travis Kelce
Here we have a three-time Super Bowl champion who couldn’t miss the Kentucky Derby. Unlike Aaron Rodgers, this was his first time watching the Kentucky Derby, and apparently, he got that Beginner’s Luck.
Kelce was seen celebrating after the race and he said that he won his first horse racing bet. He even shared a video on social media saying “When you show up to the Kentucky Derby and your first bet hits”.
Travis was in the VIP area where he watched Mystik Dan win the Derby in one of the tightest photo finishes ever in the history of the competition. It is still unsure if Mystik Dan will be competing to be among the Belmont Stakes odds, as the horse also finished second in the Preakness.
Davante Adams
Born on December 24, 1992, Davante Lavell Adams plays wide receiver for the National Football League (NFL) Las Vegas Raiders in the United States. Adams, a football and basketball player at Palo Alto High School, was born in East Palo Alto, California. He was a second-team All-American in 2013 during his two seasons as a collegiate football player for the Fresno State Bulldogs. The Green Bay Packers picked him in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft.
Since he is a good friend of Aaron Rodgers, most of the photos we got from Churchill Downs have the two former teammates having a good time.
Emmett Smith
Here we have a former NFL legend who played as a running back and spent most of his career playing at the Dallas Cowboys. He was a Super Bowl champion three times, and MVP in one of them. Smith retired from professional football in 2004 after playing for the Arizona Cardinals for a short time.
But what caught our attention was his outfit. At first glance, there isn’t anything spectacular. He wore a classic shirt with white pants and a patterned blazer. But the lining of the blazer was full of family pictures that held a special value for him. We can see him flashing the images on the red carpet.
Warren Moon
Warren Moon is another NFL veteran who was spotted on the Kentucky Derby 150. He is a former professional football player who finished his career in the late 90s and tried to go back a couple of times but was unsuccessful.
He never won a Super Bowl, but his career highlights are quite impressive.
Moon was also dressed quite well. He rocked the Kentucky Derby wearing white pants and a white shirt. Topped with a light-mint color blazer and yellow tie. Of course, the hat is always necessary if you want to stand out.
Final Words
These are some of the NFL stars who caught the public’s attention during the Kentucky Derby race. We also saw other NFL stars like Jimmy Graham, David Bakhtiari, and A.J. Hawk.
