Celebrate April Fools' Day with Kentucky-themed Tervis Tumblers!

So, April Fools' Day isn't my favorite.

My humor has never run toward pranks, puns, and cheap jokes. Plus, it's April 1st -- that means my total attention is turned toward sports. The NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament is wrapping up. Keeneland's Opening Day is mere moments away. And, a whole lot of my friends are starting to focus on baseball. I can barely let real life intrude on my thoughts, let alone silly jokes. (Unless it's DeMarcus's CD, natch...)

I do want to let y'all know about an April Fools' event that is no joke. Today only, you can use the code APRILFOOLS on all Tervis Tumbler online orders to receive 20% off your purchase. Since I never, ever have enough Tervises, this is an offer I take pretty seriously.

Here are a few fun Tervis Tumbler Kentucky designs y'all will love!

It's a UK wine glass, y'all. Kind of perfect for when the Wildcats take on Bucky Badger this weekend.


This Derby mug would be perfect for any Kentuckian's office!


The Cardinals fans in my neighborhood have been proudly wearing their red all weekend. I LOVE team loyalty after a close defeat! This U of L Tervis lets you go L's up in style.


 This year's Derby design reminds you that we're only about a month away from the most exciting two minutes in sports!


This UK water bottle is on my short list of upcoming splurge purchases!


And what Kentucky girl doesn't need a pink UK Tervis?


Head over to Tervis today and take advantage of these serious savings!

{This post contains affiliate links.}
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The HerKentucky Guide to the Keeneland Dress Code

Happy Horse Racing Season, y'all! One of the questions that we receive most here at HerKentucky is "What should I wear to Keeneland?"  We hear from a whole lot of folks who wonder about the dress codes for the Paddock, the Clubhouse, and all spaces in-between. Tomorrow is Opening Day -- one of Lexington's biggest autumn holidays -- so we thought we'd revisit the HerKentucky Guide to Keeneland's Dress Code to get you ready.  



Of course, if you're still in doubt, you can always visit our favorite Lexington boutiques -- AJ's CasualsBella RoseMonkee's and The Peppermint Palm -- and get some ideas! Most of all, I hope you look nice, win big, and enjoy the races!! -- HCW




Every year, in springtime and autumn, it seems that tons of new visitors arrive at HerKentucky  with variants of the same search: "What should I wear to Keeneland?"  I always want to reach out through Google, find all of y'all in Jacksonville, Ontario, and everywhere in-between, give you a hug and say "look nice and be yourself."

Now, the dress codes for Keeneland vary pretty wildly according to your location.  That really is my favorite thing about this racetrack.  There's a way to have fun at any budget, and at any level of dress.  But, as we've said before here at HerKentucky, visitors to Keeneland just try a little harder.

If you're going to stay near the Paddock -- General AdmissionGrandstand, or Equestrian Room -- there's no need to dress up very much.  Guys are fine in khakis and polo shirts, and girls can wear slacks.  In fact, you may even see folks wearing (gasp!) jeans.  These are the areas nearest the track itself, and people are truly there to watch (and bet on) the horses. With that said, don't be surprised to see a lot of dresses and sport coats in the lower-levels.  In recent years, a culture of dressy tailgating (think Steeplechase) has popped up among college students and twenty-somethings, and the second floor (General Admission) Sports Bar often resembles a campus bar or fraternity semi-formal.  While the dress code says "casual", there's plenty of Vineyard Vines and Lilly Pulitzer to be seen.


If you'll be dining in the upper-level, enclosed dining rooms-- The Lexington, Kentucky, or Phoenix Rooms-- then expect to dress for a business event.  The Lexington and Kentucky rooms -- dining rooms often reserved for business and social gatherings-- have a "business formal" dress code; these areas require men to don a coat and tie, and skirts/dresses/dressy slacks for ladies.  The Phoenix Room-- another reserved dining room-- is "business casual", requiring collared shirts and slacks for men and dresses/pantsuits for ladies.  During the week, many professionals take long business lunches in these areas, as is reflected in their dress code. 

The members-only Clubhouse similarly requires coat and tie for men and dressy pants/skirts for ladies.  I find that a skirt suit or a dress paired with a pretty cardigan or wrap is always appropriate for the upper levels.  In general, if you'd wear it to church or a business meeting, you're golden.  Most of all, remember to look nice because you'll see plenty of people!

What do y'all wear to Keeneland?


{all images via Keeneland.}
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Tailgate in Style with a Lilly Pulitzer Cooler from Lifeguard Press!

When I first started going to horse races, people didn't tailgate. You simply went to the race track, got some refreshments, socialized, and watched the races. These days, Keeneland Tailgates promise a full day of fun, complete with cornhole tournaments, elaborate food and drinks, and well-coordinated outfits. Oh, my, the outfits! Lilly Pulitzer dresses matched perfectly to bow ties. To party in a parking lot, y'all. I like to think of Keeneland tailgates as Kentuckians' answer to the SEC football tailgates that our friends in the deeper South so painstakingly plan.


HerKentucky has teamed up with Lifeguard Press to celebrate our birthday -- and the arrival of tailgating season -- in style with this gorgeous Lilly Pulitzer Insulated Cooler. Whether fall takes you to horse races, football games, or a weekend getaway, you can carry your drinks and refreshments in style!



You can enter to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. The winner will be announced Monday, September 30.

Good luck! And please let us know: Where will you be tailgating this fall?

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HerKentucky Derby Days: Marley Lilly Giveaway!

Can y'all believe it? Derby is just a few days away!

Whether you consider Derby to be the greatest two minutes in sports, the most fashionable day of the year, or the one day that you put mint in your bourbon, it's the day that Kentucky shines on an international stage. Here at HerKentucky, we're getting in the Derby spirit by partnering with some incredible companies to bring you some great prizes.


Now, everybody knows that you can't do Derby without a hat, so the first giveaway of HerKentucky Derby Days is a personalized hat from Marley Lilly. How cute is this?


The Monogrammed Floppy Outline Hat will be perfect for any spring or summer activity, from the beach to the racetrack. You can personalize this straw hat by choosing among 6 different color outlines, 8 hat colors and a rainbow of monogram colors. This would be a perfect piece to wear to a Derby party!


You can enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below.

Good luck, and Happy Derby Days!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

{Contest ends at Midnight on Sunday night, April 21st. Winner will be contacted on Monday, April 22. 
All opinions expressed in this post are our own. No member of the HerKentucky staff was compensated for this post.}
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The HerKentucky Guide to the Blue Grass Stakes


We've talked a lot about Keeneland here on HerKentucky lately. We've shared our ideas on what you should wear and what you definitely shouldn't wear. We've told you how to place a wager like a pro (or at least an informed amateur). You should be all set for a trip to the track, right?

Now, if you find yourself at the race track tomorrow, you can anticipate a huge crowd, even by "Saturdays at Keeneland" standards. The eighty-ninth running of the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes will commence tomorrow afternoon at 5:40 p.m. The Blue Grass Stakes (G1), is perhaps the most important race of Keeneland's racing year, generating at least one Derby contender. That's a lot of information to take in, but it's pretty easy to talk about Big Races like a pro.  Here's what you need to know:


Graded Races

  • Obviously, the really fast horses run in the big money, high stakes races. These races are graded by purse amounts. (A "purse" is the total amount of money paid out to the owners of the winning horses. Usually, horses placing first through fifth are eligible for a portion of the purse.)
  •  Any race considered for grading must have a total purse value of at least $75,000. The Grades are "Listed" -- at least $75K; "Grade III" -- at least $100K; "Grade II" -- at least $150K; and "Grade I" -- at least $200K.
  • The Blue Grass Stakes is a Grade I Race with a $750,000 purse.
Derby Prep
  • Purse earnings formerly determined horses' eligibility for the Kentucky Derby. As of this racing season, horses qualify for Derby through a points system. You can find the entire list of Derby qualifying races here.
  • The winner of the Blue Grass Stakes is awarded 100 points and is guaranteed a slot in the Kentucky Derby. This is the highest point-value race run in Kentucky.
Blue Grass Stakes Stats
  • The Blue Grass Stakes was first staged in 1911.
  • The race is 1 1/8 miles and is run on synthetic turf.
  • The fastest time for the current Stakes distance is 1:47.94, as run by Dullahan in 2012.
  • The Blue Grass Stakes is currently sponsored by Toyota.
  • There are 14 horses (and one "also-eligible") in this year's field. You can study their stats here.
One more tip: Wear the cutest dress you own, because everybody will be at the track tomorrow!

Happy Racing!

{images via Keeneland.}


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The HerKentucky Guide to Keeneland's Dress Code


The search terms that most often lead new readers to HerKentucky involve the Keeneland dress code. We get a whole lot of folks who wonder what they should wear to the Paddock, the Clubhouse, and all spaces in-between. Tomorrow is Opening Day -- one of Lexington's biggest spring holidays -- so we thought we'd revisit the HerKentucky Guide to Keeneland's Dress Code, which we originally posted last year, to get you ready.  

Of course, if you're still in doubt, you can always visit our favorite Lexington boutiques -- AJ's Casuals, Bella Rose, Monkee's and The Peppermint Palm -- and get some ideas! Most of all, I hope you look nice, win big, and enjoy the races!! -- HCW


Every year, in springtime and autumn, it seems that tons of new visitors arrive at HerKentucky  with variants of the same search: "What should I wear to Keeneland?"  I always want to reach out through Google, find all of y'all in Jacksonville, Ontario, and everywhere in-between, give you a hug and say "look nice and be yourself."

Now, the dress codes for Keeneland vary pretty wildly according to your location.  That really is my favorite thing about this racetrack.  There's a way to have fun at any budget, and at any level of dress.  But, as we've said before here at HerKentucky, visitors to Keeneland just try a little harder.

If you're going to stay near the Paddock -- General AdmissionGrandstand, or Equestrian Room -- there's no need to dress up very much.  Guys are fine in khakis and polo shirts, and girls can wear slacks.  In fact, you may even see folks wearing (gasp!) jeans.  These are the areas nearest the track itself, and people are truly there to watch (and bet on) the horses. With that said, don't be surprised to see a lot of dresses and sport coats in the lower-levels.  In recent years, a culture of dressy tailgating (think Steeplechase) has popped up among college students and twenty-somethings, and the second floor (General Admission) Sports Bar often resembles a campus bar or fraternity semi-formal.  While the dress code says "casual", there's plenty of Vineyard Vines and Lilly Pulitzer to be seen.

If you'll be dining in the upper-level, enclosed dining rooms-- The Lexington, Kentucky, or Phoenix Rooms-- then expect to dress for a business event.  The Lexington and Kentucky rooms -- dining rooms often reserved for business and social gatherings-- have a "business formal" dress code; these areas require men to don a coat and tie, and skirts/dresses/dressy slacks for ladies.  The Phoenix Room-- another reserved dining room-- is "business casual", requiring collared shirts and slacks for men and dresses/pantsuits for ladies.  During the week, many professionals take long business lunches in these areas, as is reflected in their dress code. 
The members-only Clubhouse similarly requires coat and tie for men and dressy pants/skirts for ladies.  I find that a skirt suit or a dress paired with a pretty cardigan or wrap is always appropriate for the upper levels.  In general, if you'd wear it to church or a business meeting, you're golden.  Most of all, remember to look nice because you'll see plenty of people!

What do y'all wear to Keeneland?


{all images via Keeneland.}
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Keeneland Style Guide

Every year, in springtime and autumn, it seems that tons of new visitors arrive at HerKentucky  with variants of the same search: "What should I wear to Keeneland?"  I always want to reach out through Google, find all of y'all in Jacksonville, Ontario, and everywhere in-between, give you a hug and say "look nice and be yourself."

Now, the dress codes for Keeneland vary pretty wildly according to your location.  That really is my favorite thing about this racetrack.  There's a way to have fun at any budget, and at any level of dress.  But, as we've said before here at HerKentucky, visitors to Keeneland just try a little harder.

If you're going to stay near the Paddock -- General Admission, Grandstand, or Equestrian Room -- there's no need to dress up very much.  Guys are fine in khakis and polo shirts, and girls can wear slacks.  In fact, you may even see folks wearing (gasp!) jeans.  These are the areas nearest the track itself, and people are truly there to watch (and bet on) the horses. With that said, don't be surprised to see a lot of dresses and sport coats in the lower-levels.  In recent years, a culture of dressy tailgating (think Steeplechase) has popped up among college students and twenty-somethings, and the second floor (General Admission) Sports Bar often resembles a campus bar or fraternity semi-formal.  While the dress code says "casual", there's plenty of Vineyard Vines ties and Lilly Pulitzer to be seen.

If you'll be dining in the upper-level, enclosed dining rooms-- The Lexington, Kentucky, or Phoenix Rooms-- then expect to dress for a business event.  The Lexington and Kentucky rooms -- dining rooms often reserved for business and social gatherings-- have a "business formal" dress code; these areas require men to don a coat and tie, and skirts/dresses/dressy slacks for ladies.   The Phoenix Room-- another reserved dining room-- is "business casual", requiring collared shirts and slacks for men and dresses/pantsuits for ladies.  During the week, many professionals take long business lunches in these areas, as is reflected in their dress code. 

The members-only Clubhouse similarly requires coat and tie for men and dressy pants/skirts for ladies.  I find that a skirt suit or a dress paired with a pretty cardigan or wrap is always appropriate for the upper levels.  In general, if you'd wear it to church or a business meeting, you're golden.  Most of all, remember to look nice because you'll see plenty of people!

What do y'all wear to Keeneland?
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