(The winner of the 151st Kentucky Derby — Sovereignty / All Photos by Holly M. Smith)

(Governor Andy Beshear knows now who is #1 / All Photos by Holly M. Smith)

Editor’s Note: 

Kentucky Derby 151 has come. Has gone. Has left a mark.

What a weekend for Godolphin?

What a weekend for Churchill Downs — with record handle and the largest TV audience in history.

What a day for Thoroughbred racing — as the horses glistened against the water falling and the water pooling.

What a day for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, who added to his impressive life-long achievement awards.

What a day for jockey Junior Alvarado, who claimed his first title on the first Saturday in May.

What a day for Sovereignty — the grandest horse of them all.

It was “What a Day,” alright.

A Day to celebrate. A Day to remember.

And, to help us do just that, here are the photos from our master artist — Holly M. Smith:

Let the Rains, er, Games Begin…

Kodak Black:

Spirit of St. Louis: 

And, the walk over begins…

Admire Daytona & Luxor Cafe:

Flying Mohawk’s Jayson Werth:

Sovereignty: 

American Promise’s Peeps: 

Journalism: 

Final Gambit:

American Promise: 

Luxor Cafe: 

Trainer Whit Beckman: 

Burnham Square: 

East Avenue: 

Publisher: 

Tiztastic:

Coal Battle: 

Sandman: 

Sovereignty: 

Chunk of Gold: 

Owen Almighty: 

Baeza: 

Citizen Bull: 

Final Gambit: 

American Promise: 

Admire Daytona: 

Journalism:

Burnham Square: 

Flying Mohawk:

Publisher: 

Tiztastic: 

Coal Battle: 

Sandman: 

Sovereignty: 

Chunk of Gold:

Owen Almighty: 

Baeza: 

And, They Are Off & Running in the 151st Kentucky Derby…

Other Photos From Around the Oval on Saturday…

Liberal Arts Saddle Cloth:

Simply in Front, is just that…

The Soggy Gate Crew, and, no, it’s not the name of a new rock band…

Simply in Front:

Kelly Wheeler, the Assistant Trainer to Eddie Kennealy: 

And, More Simply in Front:

Macho Music, Winner of the Pat Day Mile:

Built:

Jockey Nic Juarez: 

Macho Music:

Xavier Legette: 

Shaboozy & Crowd: 

Think Big was running big…

Giant Mischief:

Hoist the Gold:

Banishing & Book ‘Em Danno: 

Mindframe: 

The Mint Julep on Display: 

Going Into the First Turn…

Zulu Kingdom: 

New Century: 

Zulu Kingdom:

An Owen Almighty Fan?

Scylla:n 

Kopion: 

Vavha:

Ways and Means: 

Emery: 

Miss Susan B.:

And…the winner is…

Kopion: 

The Coat That Floats: 

Scylla: 

Kopion: 

Sovereignty — the Winner of the 151st Kentucky Derby:

 

Dry Docked: 

Fountain Lake:

A Day Made for Goggles & Ducks: 

Classy Hats…

Muddy Boots: 

Liberal Arts: 

Photographer Kurtis Coady: 

Liberal Arts…