A Sutherland Belle
“Nobody can be exactly like me. Sometimes even I have trouble doing it.”

The Kentucky Oaks “Lilies for the Fillies”

Kentucky Oaks Dinner Party

You can tell what still matters by what people refuse to let go of. The Kentucky Derby is one of those things.

Not just a race; a weekend shaped by history, carried forward with care.

Run at Churchill Downs since 1875, it has held its place in a world that rarely slows down. In Kentucky, it is more than an event. It is part of the identity of a place.

The story begins the day before with the Kentucky Oaks. The race for the fillies. A quieter kind of strength, steady and assured.

The fillies are the little sister. The one who steps forward first. The one who sets the tone for everything that follows.

And you see it in the pink. Not as decoration, but as a quiet tribute to women who have carried more than most ever see, and did so with grace intact.

By the time Derby Day arrives, the weekend is already in motion.

At Churchill Downs, the stands fill. At home, tables are set. Different places, same rhythm.

Because tradition, at its best, is not preserved. It is practiced.

More than sixteen million people will tune in. Not for the odds, but for the feeling.

The surge when the gates open. The sound of a crowd rising as one. The instinct to root for something, even if you didn’t know its name moments before.

There is always a favorite. There is always an underdog. And for two minutes, it all hangs in the balance, but what stays with you is not just who wins.

It is the way the moment holds. The way people lean in. The way something larger than any one person takes center stage.

You see it in the details. In the way a table is set with intention. In the way a glass is passed before it is asked for. In the understanding that presence is a form of respect.

That is Southern pride. Not loud. Not performative. Enduring.

They remember why it was worth keeping in the first place.

Because being part of this was never about where you’re from.

It is about honoring what came before you.

And choosing to carry it forward.

Even if only for a day, you understand what it means to belong to something greater than yourself.

Kentucky Oaks: May 1, 2026

Kentucky Derby: May 2, 2026

Some traditions aren’t remembered. They are lived.

Official Kentucky BBQ Shrimp & Fava Bean Relish

Experience the bold Southern flavors of the 2026 Kentucky Derby with this official Kentucky BBQ Shrimp and Fava Bean Relish, served onsite at Churchill Downs. Large sautéed shrimp are seasoned with smoked paprika, then finished in a rich Kentucky BBQ butter sauce made with bourbon, sorghum, Worcestershire, garlic, and a touch of cayenne for signature Derby Day depth.

The shrimp are served in shallow bowls with plenty of warm bourbon butter sauce and topped with a bright fava bean relish featuring fresh tomatoes, English cucumber, red onion, mint, and parsley. This vibrant combination balances richness with freshness, creating a standout seafood dish worthy of the Kentucky Derby menu.

Perfect for a Kentucky Derby party, Kentucky Oaks celebration, or elevated Derby Day dinner, this Kentucky BBQ shrimp recipe brings together tradition, hospitality, and unmistakable Bluegrass flavor.

Click for Recipe Card

INGREDIENTS

For the Shrimp

  • 3 lbs large shrimp (13/15), peeled & deveined
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika

For the BBQ Butter Sauce

  • 1 cup unsalted butter
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 shallot, minced
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • ½ tsp cayenne
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • ¼ cup bourbon
  • 1 tbsp sorghum
  • 2 tbsp chopped parsley
  • Salt to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Melt butter over medium heat.
  2. Add shallot & garlic, cook 2 minutes.
  3. Add paprika, cayenne.
  4. Deglaze with bourbon (reduce 1–2 minutes).
  5. Add Worcestershire, lemon, sorghum.
  6. Simmer 3–4 minutes.
  7. Finish with parsley.

Fava Bean Relish

  • 2 cups shelled fava beans or 2 (15.5 ounce) cans large butterbeans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 cup fresh diced tomatoes
  • ½ cup diced English cucumber
  • ¼ cup finely diced red onion
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp chopped mint
  • 1 tbsp chopped parsley
  • Salt & cracked pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Blanch fava beans 3 minutes or add butter beans directly to bowl.
  2. Shock in ice water.
  3. Peel outer skin if large.
  4. Toss with cucumber, onion, olive oil, lemon, herbs, salt.
  5. Chill.

PREPERATION

  1. Toss shrimp with oil, salt, pepper, paprika.
  2. Sauté in large skillet 2 minutes per side.
  3. Pour BBQ butter over shrimp.
  4. Simmer 1–2 minutes.
  5. Serve shrimp in shallow bowls with plenty of sauce and spoon fava relish over the top.

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