Run for the Roses

Run for the Roses

A nickname for the Kentucky Derby horse race, at which the winning horse is adorned with a garland of roses. I never thought much of horse racing until I saw the Run for the Roses in person at Churchill Downs—what a spectacle!
See also: Rose, run
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • get on (one's) horse
  • get on horse
  • get on one’s horse
  • each way
  • road apple
  • back the wrong horse
  • bear away the bell
  • rush (one's) fences
  • rush your fences
  • better get on my horse
References in periodicals archive
Like any successful spring event, the Run for the Roses promotion takes advance planning, which starts mid-summer.
Stop and sell the roses
The Kentucky Derby - How The Run For The Roses Became America's Premier Sporting Event James C Nicholson $24.95 Published by University Press of Kentucky - amazon.com PUBLISHED to coincide with the first Saturday in May, the traditional date of the Kentucky Derby, this wonderfully illuminating book manages a couple of neat tricks.
A work rich in anecdote and affection
The withdrawal of Uncle Mo significantly increases hopes the Aidan O'Brien-trained colt can become a first European-trained winner of the 'Run for the Roses'.
St Nic may send me to monastery
The home-bred colt went to post having won all six of his previous starts and duly became the first undefeated horse since Seattle Slew in 1977 to land the 'Run for the Roses'.
Racing: Impressive Smarty Jones blooms in Run for the Roses; KENTUCKYDERBY
Last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner finished second, beaten a short-head, to Rebelline in Sunday's Gladness Stakes, and bookmakers immediately pushed out his price for the "Run for the Roses" at Churchill Downs.
O'Brien hints at trip for Johannesburg
The Aidan O'Brien trainee takes on 18 opponents in the 'Run For The Roses', including big-race favourite Orb, representing 'Shug' McGaughey.
It's tough for Moore
He is the one they all have to beat in the Run for the Roses in May.
Union advertises Kentucky claims; HISTORY'S WARNING Classic disappointment looms large in Rags family history
ALMOST lost in all the hype of Guineas weekend is that fact that it's the Run for the Roses at Churchills Downs tonight.
HORSERACING : PUNTER'S DIARY; Kelso track may have Beef on the menu for Festival
Last year he rode in the Kentucky Derby, and would have been at Churchill Downs again this weekend but for the injury that keeps Street Cry out of the 'Run for the Roses'.
Dettori banking on Godolphin's edge
The voice of the Kentucky Derby is behind the mic on each day of the festival, and gave the Bell-Ringer Handicap here so much welly you might have thought it was the Run For The Roses itself.
Living life to the full at Ripon's Yorkshire festival; BEST OF THE BLOGS What our top writers are saying on
After three victories out of three with a total winning margin of nearly 30 lengths, Big Brown is the one creating all the buzz around the 134th running of the famous 'Run for the Roses' at Churchill Downs.
CHURCHILL DOWNS
Coral go 10-1 from 5-1 for the 'Run For The Roses' at Churchill Downs next month after his defeat by Rebelline while William Hill make Aidan O'Brien's colt an 8-1 chance from 9-2.
HORSE RACING: Gossamer heads for Guineas
Turf history at Goodwood GOODWOOD is set to witness a little piece of thoroughbred history tonight, with the racing debut of the final foal produced by Winning Colors - the last filly to win the Kentucky Derby and one of only three female winners ever of the Run for the Roses, who died in 2008.
PEDIGREE POINTERS
KENTUCKY DERBY Sip on mint juleps, place a bet on the Fillies for the Lillies or try your luck on the Run for the Roses at the Kentucky Derby on May 3 at Churchill Downs Racetrack.
Travel: Late deals.. no time like the present; Joanne Layton selects the best last-minute deals, hot destinations and travel spots
PREVIEW: USA Kentucky Derby G1 Churchill Downs 1m2f dirt 3yo (11.34, live on RUK) SHEIKH MOHAMMED takes his most formidable swing yet at the Kentucky Derby - and first in seven years - as Desert Party looks to turn the tables on stablemate Regal Ransom, to whom he was second in the UAE Derby, in the 135th 'Run for the Roses', writes Dan Farley.
Godolphin has best chance yet of coming up roses in the big one