The Kentucky Derby has been called “The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports,” but why is it that this race is so important to so many people? “It has all the elements of an epic event — drama, color and excitement,” says NBC Sports racing commentator Tom Hammond. “Derby history is long and colorful, making it one of the most important sporting events in the world.”

In The Kentucky Derby Vault™: A History Of The Run For The Roses, Kentucky native and longtime turf writer Andrew Plattner offers his own unique insight into the history of the race and what it is that makes the Derby so special. As much a scrapbook as it is a history book, opening the Vault is like getting a tour through your own personal Kentucky Derby museum. Plattner mixes great race coverage with behind-the-scenes anecdotes and personal stories to present a view of the Derby that you won’t find anywhere else.

“The Kentucky Derby Vault is something every true Derby lover will enjoy, a great collection of the race’s best memorabilia, photos and stories,” says Hammond, who shares his personal connection to the Derby in the book’s foreword. John T. Ward Jr. contributes the afterword.