Kentucky Derby, Oaks 142 logos unveiled

Churchill Downs on Tuesday unveiled the official logos for the 2016 Kentucky

Derby (G1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1). The logos were designed by SME, a New York-based

marketing agency that has developed the official Derby and Oaks marks since

2007. The 142nd running of the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby will take

place on May 6 and 7, 2016, respectively.

For the Kentucky Derby 142 logo, Churchill Downs and SME chose a

1920s-inspired design to evoke the glamour of Derby's past and present and

capture the mystique of winning America's Greatest Race. The simple identity of

the jockey silks icon around the horseshoe rose and numeral 142 offers classic

sophistication. The font chosen for the word "Kentucky" is reminiscent of movie

title cards from the 1920s to reinforce the vintage look. The more contemporary

font used for the word "Derby" provides balance to the composition and completes

the logo. For the 142 event mark, a traditional color palette in classic Derby

red and gold is accentuated with an energetic forest green and a strong

foundational charcoal gray.

The Kentucky Oaks 142 logo continues the horseshoe imagery established two

years ago that features the stargazer lily and the number of years the race has

been run. The use of pink in the design reflects the Oaks Day "Pink Out" theme

and Churchill Downs' continued commitment to generate awareness regarding breast

and ovarian cancer education.

The logos will be used on a wide variety of Kentucky Derby and Oaks

merchandise, including apparel for the whole family, the iconic silver Mint

Julep cups, glassware, jewelry and other collectibles and gift items. Women's

and men's T-shirts featuring the logo are available now at

KentuckyDerbyStore.com.

Additional official merchandise will be available online, at Churchill Downs,

the Louisville International Airport, the Kentucky Derby Museum Gift Shop and

other retail outlets in time for the holidays.