Churchill releases 2014 Derby, Oaks logos

The official event logos for Kentucky Derby 140 and

Kentucky Oaks 140 were released Friday by Churchill Downs,

and officially licensed apparel featuring the new marks are now available for

purchase online at KentuckyDerbyStore.com.

Both logos were designed by SME for the sixth consecutive

year. For this special anniversary year, SME took inspiration from the faceted,

brilliant nature of jewels and gemstones to treat the "140" year. The treatment

also references the decorative styling of jockey silks, enabling SME to deliver

an identity that pays homage to both the traditions and pedigree of these iconic

brands.

Maintaining the unique color palettes of the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky

Oaks, as well as the evergreen brand marks of the rose and stargazer lily, allows

both events to promote and differentiate their distinct identities.

Official Churchill Downs and Kentucky Derby merchandise is

on sale at the Churchill Downs Store and the Kentucky Derby Museum Gift Shop.

Merchandise is also available at the Churchill Downs Store located inside the

Louisville International Airport, and other select retail locations.

The $2 million Kentucky Derby is annually staged on the first Saturday in May at historic Churchill

Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Inaugurated in 1875, the legendary 1 1/4-mile race for

three-year-old Thoroughbreds is the oldest continuously held sporting event in North

America and the first leg of horse racing's challenging Triple Crown series.

The

Kentucky Derby is often called "The Run for the Roses," "The Most Exciting Two

Minutes in Sports" and "America's Race," and typically attracts a crowd in excess

of 150,000. In 2012, an unprecedented 165,307 were in attendance. A crowd of

151,616 endured inclement weather this year.