The Kentucky Derby

I had the privilege of covering the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby for AFP (Agence France Presse) at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Having worked alongside a talented staff of AFP wire shooters in Washington, it was a treat to have my work appear on the same wire. A real plus of shooting the Derby is working amongst all the professional sports photographer who descend upon Kentucky in the first week of May, as well as friends and fellow PJ's from WKU.


Steam rises from racehorse Miss Havisham as she is given a bath by stablehands in the stable area of Churchill Downs after her morning workout in Louisville, Kentucky on the morning of the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Kentucky on Saturday, May 7, 2011. AFP PHOTO/LUKE SHARRETT


Patty Ethington of Louisville, Kentucky strolls through the grandstand at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky after the running of the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic on the afternoon of the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Kentucky on Saturday, May 7, 2011. Horse number 7, Get Stormy, took first place. AFP PHOTO/LUKE SHARRETT



Garrett Gomez atop Banned places first in the 20th running of The American Turf Classic on Kentucky Oaks Day on the eve of the 137th Running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky on Friday, May 6, 2011. AFP PHOTO/LUKE SHARRETT



Charles "Derbyman" Matasich of Proctorville, Ohio (M) poses for photos with his granddaughter 11-year-old Kelly Rae Begil by the paddock at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky on the morning of the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Kentucky on Saturday, May 7, 2011. Today is the 44th time Matasich has witnessed the Kentucky Derby in person. AFP PHOTO/LUKE SHARRETT



A racing fan places her bet early in the day in the infield of Churchill Downs on the morning of the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Kentucky on Saturday, May 7, 2011. AFP PHOTO/LUKE SHARRETT



Dressed as Colonel Sanders, Robin Orth of Washington, D.C. poses for pictures with racing fans at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky on the afternoon of the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Kentucky on Saturday, May 7, 2011. AFP PHOTO/LUKE SHARRETT



Hall of fame jockey Kent Desormeaux shares a laugh with assistants in the jockey's room between races at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky on the afternoon of the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Kentucky on Saturday, May 7, 2011. AFP PHOTO/LUKE SHARRETT



Jockey Gabriel Saez atop Summer Soiree leads the pack around the first turn of the 137th running of the Kentucky Oaks on the eve of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky on Friday, May 6, 2011.  Jockey Martin Garcia atop fillie Plum Pretty, seen here in second place, overtook Summer Soiree to cross the finish line in first place. AFP PHOTO/LUKE SHARRETT



John R. Velazquez atop Animal Kingdom (4th from L) runs in first place toward the finish line to win the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky on Saturday, May 7, 2011. AFP PHOTO/LUKE SHARRETT



John R. Velazquez celebrates into a television camera atop Animal Kingdom after winning the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky on Saturday, May 7, 2011. Velazquez was scheduled to ride Uncle Mo but switched to Animal Kingdom after Uncle Mo was scratched from the lineup. AFP PHOTO/LUKE SHARRETT



Steam rises from racehorse Miss Havisham after receiving a bath from stablehands in the stable area of Churchill Downs following her morning workout in Louisville, Kentucky on the morning of the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Kentucky on Saturday, May 7, 2011. AFP PHOTO/LUKE SHARRETT


Thanks for looking!


**All photographs copyright Luke Sharrett and Agence France Presse**

Posted by Luke S at 11:17 PM