The food of the Kentucky Derby: 17 kitchens, 50,000 blackberries and 150,000 guests

Over 150,000 people attend the Kentucky Derby every year. The Kentucky Oaks, the headline race at Churchill Downs the day before the Derby, gets over 100,000 in attendance. The massive crowds are part of the spectacle of horse racing’s biggest event, but how do you feed all those people?That’s the challenge facing Robert Lopez. Lopez is the head chef at Churchill Downs, which means he and his team have to organize and execute on the logistics of keeping things moving at the dozens of restaurants, clubs and concession stands across the venue.Advertisement