Creating the Garland of Lilies for Kentucky Oaks winner draws crowd at Middletown Kroger

MIDDLETOWN, Ky. (FOX 56) — It was a sight to be seen at the Kroger in Middletown the day before Kentucky Oaks.

When you walked in, the smell of Starfighter Lilies took over.

“My heart’s totally pounding right now. It’s just super exciting. The smell is intoxicating of the lilies,” said Meghan Smith, who was attending the event for the first time. “All you smell is lily; you know, it’s amazing.”

At 20 inches wide, 116 inches long, and weighing about 20 pounds, the iconic lily garland drew crowds of horse racing fans eager to witness its creation.

“This is the world’s greatest trophy. So you can come and have a little piece of your own history,” said Allison Gousha, Derby Event Coordinator for Kroger.

More than 140 fresh Starfighter Lilies were meticulously placed in water tubes and tied into place. The result was a stunning cascade of pink and white blooms, bordered in bold green leaves.

“They’re so vibrant and beautiful; it’s exactly what you would picture,” Smith told FOX 56.

The garland is meant to be an emblem of strength and femininity, draped over the winning filly.

Even the horses love it.

“We all know horses love peppermint. They really like the smell of these starfighters. So they will take the garland to the horse a few times to let it smell it, and then usually, the horse accepts it and they can drape it over it,” Gousha told FOX 56 as she explained how the garland is presented to the winning filly.

What is it, though, that draws people in every year to witness this work of art come together?

For some, it’s just the uniqueness of the event. But for others, there’s a deeper, more meaningful connection.

“My great uncle was a jockey at Churchill and actually at Louisville Downs when it was still there. And so, we would go, and my grandmother taught me from a very young age how to read the stat books, how to look for the good horse. And it’s just a love. And like I said, it was a religion. It was our Super Bowl in my family,” said Smith.

For mother-daughter duo Maureen and Emma Gorman, lilies take Maureen back to when Emma was a baby.

“When Emma was born, one of my best friends sent over a huge bouquet of Stargazer Lilies and my entire house smelled like Stargazer Lilies. So, you know, it’s my favorite flower now. And anytime I smell Stargazer Lilies, it makes me remember bringing her home from the hospital.”

Creating the garland is a labor of love that celebrates the strength of the fillies, the passion of the fans and the beauty of the sport.