What the Turtleneck can claim the title of America’s fastest turtle after this weekend’s Kentucky Turtle Derby.
While the Kentucky Derby was postponed this year for just the second time in the race’s lavishly-hatted and mint-juleped 146 years, fans didn’t need to wait until Sept. 5 to get a taste of tradition.
When the Derby was delayed for its first and only other time in 1945 during World War II — and moved from the standard Saturday in May to June — an electrifying head-to-head competition involving animal adversaries was still held on the original date: a turtle race.
Yes, a race featuring the notoriously slow and shelled reptiles took the place of the horse derby.
And the Kentucky Turtle Derby was back again this year, hosted by Old Forester bourbon. This past Saturday, May 2, people were able to watch eight turtles compete in the “Slowest Eight Minutes in Sports” on Old Forester’s YouTube channel.
Triple Crown horse racing announcer Larry Collmus called the race remotely, and Churchill Downs race bugler Steve Buttleman played for viewers from his home prior to the event.
The eight turtles who competed were Seattle Slow, Green Mamba, Sir Hides-A-Bunch, Galapa-Go!, What the Turtleneck, Rocket to Nowhere, Steve and American Tortuga.
The turtles literally just had to move their bodies out of a circle. The entire race took about two minutes, just like the traditionally derby.
What the Turtleneck took first place, Galapa-Go? second and Rocket to Nowhere took third. Green Mamba and Sir Hides-A-Bunch did not move.
You can watch the entire race unfold below:
Commemorative Kentucky Turtle Derby race shirts are available for purchase until May 9. Shirts cost $24.99 and net proceeds will go to the Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation.
This article appears in Apr 15 – May 5, 2020.