Kentucky Derby hats tradition, explained: Complete Churchill Downs fashion guide, from fascinators to DIY

Kentucky Derby hats tradition, explained: Complete Churchill Downs fashion guide, from fascinators to DIY originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . Anyone tuning into the Kentucky Derby each May sees not only plenty of horses, but plenty of hats.

The fashion at Churchill Downs is, at times, just as impressive as the fastest horses in America, and the tradition of wearing eye-popping hats is only growing year after year. The Kentucky Derby itself lasts only about two minutes, but the day itself is quite an event. As more than 150,000 fans pack every inch of Churchill Downs, it's hard not to notice that the race to wear the most extravagant hat is often as competitive as the derby.

Here's a complete guide to Kentucky Derby hats, including how you can purchase or make your own. MORE: When was the last Triple Crown winner? Why do fans wear hats at the Kentucky Derby?

The tradition of hats at the Kentucky Derby is as old as the race itself. The creator of Churchill Downs, Meriweather Lewis Clark Jr. , designed races based on British tradition, which included a dress code.