Perfect! Mine That Bird pays Derby Museum visit for new long shot exhibit

A Kentucky Derby Museum release (Mine That Bird above)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (March 4, 2024) – Get ready for a heart-pounding night as Mine That Bird, the long-shot champion of the 2009 Kentucky Derby®, begins a temporary residence at the Kentucky Derby Museum during the final event of the 2024 Legends Series with Maker’s Mark® on March 27, 2024, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

As the star of the evening, Mine That Bird will be showcased in the Museum’s Stable, offering attendees an extraordinary opportunity to witness a Kentucky Derby winner in person. Tickets are available to purchase on the Museum’s website. Only at the Derby Museum can guests immerse themselves in Derby history and taste legendary bourbon all at the same time!

“We are thrilled to bring Mine That Bird to the Museum’s Stable for this extraordinary Legends event,” said Mark Allen, Mine That Bird’s owner. “It’s a unique opportunity for fans to get close to a living legend and explore the captivating history of long shots in the Kentucky Derby.”

The Legends Series, hosted by renowned bourbon connoisseur Fred Minnick, has always been a highlight on the Museum’s annual calendar, bringing together horse racing fans and bourbon enthusiasts. This event promises to be an extraordinary experience, coinciding with the unveiling of the new Long Shots mini-exhibit, which features artifacts from five of the longest shots to ever win the Derby.

“The Legends Series has always been a fun way to experience Derby history and bourbon at the same time, and this year’s event takes it to a whole new level,” said Patrick Armstrong, President and CEO of the Kentucky Derby Museum. “The special barrel of Maker’s Mark that we’ve selected for the Museum showcases the excitement and thrill of what a long shot win is all about. It’s a taste of victory, a celebration of the unexpected, and a nod to the unpredictable nature of the Derby itself.”

Rob Samuels, 8th-generation distiller and Managing Director of the Maker’s Mark Distillery, will lead an exclusive lineup of five tastings, which will include the rare Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged and the Kentucky Derby Museum’s Private Selection. Additional highlights of the evening include dinner on the newly renovated Oaks Terrace, a sneak peek at the brand new Long Shots display before it opens to the public, and the opportunity to purchase bottles of the limited supply of the Museum’s Private Barrel Selection.

Guests will also have the opportunity to participate in a live auction for a prize package that includes generous donations of several rare memorabilia items from Derby-winning long shots, and the funds raised will benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the Museum.

Tickets for this event are available now on the Museum’s website. Mine That Bird will only be at the Derby Museum through mid-April, so don’t miss this chance to be part of history!

Jennie Rees is a communications and advocacy specialist in the horse industry who spent 32 years covering horse racing for The (Louisville) Courier-Journal before taking a corporate buyout. In addition to handling communications for the Kentucky HBPA, Rees is Kentucky Downs’ publicity director, manages in-season racing publicity for Ellis Park and serves as a consultant to the National HBPA. Other projects include the Preakness Stakes, Indiana Grand’s Indiana Derby Week and work for various HBPA affiliates and horsemen’s associations.