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The Kentucky Derby’s Garland of Roses took its recognizable cloth-backed form in 1932, but roses had been presented to Derby winners decades earlier. Today, Kroger floral designers make the garland by hand, sewing hundreds of roses onto a backing and giving every stem its own concealed water vial. Its central crown carries the tradition’s most deliberate symbol: a rose pointing upward for the struggle and heart it takes to reach the winner’s circle.
When did the Kentucky Derby start giving the winner a garland of roses?
Roses were associated with the Derby winner before the modern garland existed. The Kentucky Derby’s historical account documents a collar of white and pink roses presented to 1896 winner Ben Brush. It also cautions that records of earlier presentations are unclear, including whether the club formally sanctioned a garland or roses were presented consistently on Derby Day. A reported story about roses at a party after the 1883 Derby is a possible origin, not conclusive proof. The Derby’s history of the tradition says photographs at Churchill Downs show winners with a garland by 1906.
The designed blanket arrived in 1932
In 1932, Louisville florist shop owner Grace Walker designed the first Garland of Roses at the request of Churchill Downs official Samuel Culbertson. Earlier presentations often arranged roses in a horseshoe; Walker instead stitched more than 500 dark red roses and greenery onto a cloth-backed blanket. Burgoo King was the first Derby winner to wear this design. The figure of more than 500 applies to Walker’s original design, not the contemporary garland. The Derby’s historical account and media material describe the design and its origin.
“Run for the Roses” predates the design
Sports columnist Bill Corum popularized the phrase “Run for the Roses” in 1925—seven years before Walker’s designed blanket. Corum later served as Churchill Downs president from 1950 to 1958. The nickname and the modern garland are related traditions, but they did not begin at the same time. The Kentucky Derby’s account traces the phrase separately from the garland’s design.
#1 Best Overall
- Hi, dear: We suggest that you carefully check the product information before purchasing, which can reduce your return time. This product has small flowers(1.5"), and the flowers and leaves can be removed (a small amount of flowers falling into the box may affect your experience). When decorating, multiple vines need to be used together (one vine alone is not full), made of plastic and silk (there will be a plastic smell when received)
- Package: 8 vine plant hanging fake flower garland, 4 bags in total. 8.2FT (250CM) per vine, each plant with 45 flowers. 1.5"(3.8CM) in diameter of rose heads. 45 leaves per vine. When you connect these 8 vines end-to-end, the total length can reach 66ft. The single vine is not thick, but when you wrap 8 pcs rose vines side by side together, you will get an 8.2 ft bigger flower vine which is puffy & thick enough to decorate your room. We used multiple vines wrapped side by side in our picture
- Multi-use rose vine: With the vibrant color, PONKING fake rose vines are ideal for your wedding, party, vlentines, Christmas, birthday, DIY bouquets, arch home room decor, etc. They could also decorate your space with the string lights(not included). Adding more romantic atmosphere to you all
- Material & Features: PONKING fake rose garland is made of silk and plastic. Durable silk and plastic flowers ensures durability and no risk of leaves or flowers dying. The rose vine spares you from endless watering. Different from real rose flowers, our artificial vines with rich color layers and natural appearance will never fade. They will last forever. Nice choice for your daughter's bedroom
- PONKING cares about you: ①Missing pieces refund support. ②Price difference refund support. Instead of returning the item, which could reduce your return time. ③Warm notice: Due to the difference in sunlight, display configuration, the color differences are inevitable. These faux flowers may be squeezed and deformed in transit. Wet the flowers, then use the hairdryer to recover them. Let us know if you have any problems with our artificial flowers
Who makes the Kentucky Derby Garland of Roses?
Kroger has crafted the garland since 1987, according to the Kentucky Derby and Kroger. The Derby’s 2025 media guide describes a public assembly event at the Middletown Kroger store in Louisville on the day before the race. Its timing and location are annual event details, rather than permanent specifications of how the garland is made.
How is the Kentucky Derby rose garland made?
According to the 2025 Kentucky Derby media guide, the creative process takes 10–12 hours. Floral designers hand-sew the roses onto a backing over thornless Sprengeri foliage. Each stem sits in its own water vial, concealed inside the backing.
Rank #2
- 【INCLUDES】: 4 pack artifical pink rose garland. Each garland has 9 pink roses.
- 【SIZE】: Each garland is 6.5 ft/200 cm long. On each garland there are 4 2.2-inch pink roses and 5 4-inch pink roses. These flowers are larger and more authentic than most of the flowers on the market.
- 【MATERIAL】: The artifical pink rose garland is made of high-grade crepe. The vine leaves have dense green color. And the flowers are full and lifelike, and the leaf veins are clear.
- 【Lush, Rich and Colorful】: The fake pink rose vine are lush, rich and colorful, and the material is durable forever without maintenance. A easy way to add a touch of color and romance to your home with these beautiful rose garland.
- 【Perfect Decoration】: The rose hanging vine plant is suitable for wedding, parties, arches, centerpiece decorations, flower basket, celebration, aisle, show windows, shop, restaurant, stairway, fences and many other events
| Published specification | What it describes |
|---|---|
| 465 Freedom roses | The precise count in the 2025 Kentucky Derby media guide. The Derby’s Living Traditions page rounds this to “more than 400.” |
| 2½ yards long by 14 inches wide | Dimensions given in the 2025 Kentucky Derby media guide. |
| Approximately 40 pounds | Weight stated by both the 2025 media guide and the Derby’s Living Traditions page. |
| 10–12 hours | Creative-process estimate in the 2025 media guide. |
The 465 count and the rounded “more than 400” description are compatible: one is a specific figure and the other a broader description. These specifications describe the contemporary garland, not Walker’s 1932 design.
The backing is green satin. It carries the Commonwealth seal at one end and the Twin Spires and current renewal number at the other. A crown of roses, greenery and ribbon sits in the center.
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- Package Contents: 2pcs Red Artificial Floral Garlands included in this set
- Realistic Appearance: Natural looking silk flowers and lifelike leaves makes these Rose Chain Garlands look like fresh real flowers vine, suitable for banister, pole, backdrop, and wall arrangement
- Product Specifications: Raw silk material of the flower and leaves, and the stem is made of soft plastic. Garland length: approx.8 feet / 2.4 meters each, the diameter of the flowers is around 8cm / 3inch, 16 flowers each, 66 leaves each
- Versatile Decoration: You can hang these vivid rose ivy garland on the wall, door, mirror or twist on the swing, stairs or any where you want to create a romantic and refreshing atmosphere at wedding receptions, Baby or Bridal Showers, Holiday, Birthday Parties, Office, Living Room Churches
- Care Instructions: The Faux flower vines may be squeezed and deformed during transportation, we suggested you use the iron to restore them to original shape
Why does the garland’s crown matter?
The crown includes a single rose pointing upward. The Kentucky Derby says it symbolizes “the struggle and heart necessary to reach the Derby Winner’s Circle.” The media guide also says the crown contains one rose for each Thoroughbred running in that year’s Derby. Together, these details make the crown both a symbolic centerpiece and a year-specific part of the design.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 【Packaging and Size】The package includes 9 pcs artificial rose vines. Each rose garland is 8 FT long, flower is 1.6 inches in diameter, each garland holds about 45 red flowers and 270 green leaves.
- 【Premium Materials】The vivid faux garland's flowers and leaves are made of soft silk cloth, stems are made of plastic. No glue. The petals are naturally curved, simulating the shape of a real flower, lifelike. The flowers and leaves are not easy to drop, and you can bend the branch easily.
- 【Abundant Application】Red rose garland decorations can create a romantic and fairytale atmosphere for your life. Suitable for many scenes such as wedding arch, birthday party, anniversary, Valentine's Day. It can be used to decorate dinner-table, gardens, fencing, sheds, swing frame, rattan chair, air-conditioning pipes, exposed wires, stairs, shop, restaurant, office, etc.
- 【Design elements】With two color matching, the hanging flower vines seem to be more beautiful and the effect is better. Using a unique dyeing process, two vibrant colors blend well in flower vine which can add a touch of nature to your life. The roses artificial flowers decorate your life and every festival, and make your life full of beauty and surprises.
- 【Easy to Care】Artificial floral garlands do not require much maintenance and care, do not have to water and no dead leaves. This outdoor artificial flowers garland is the perfect choice for someone who have no time to care fresh flowers, they will last forever. Nice gift for your family and friends.
Rank #4
- Hi, dear: We suggest that you carefully check the product information before purchasing, which can reduce your return time. This product has small flowers(1.5"), and the flowers and leaves can be removed (a small amount of flowers falling into the box may affect your experience). When decorating, multiple vines need to be used together (one vine alone is not full), made of plastic and silk (there will be a plastic smell when received)
- Package: 8 vine plant hanging fake flower garland, 4 bags in total. 8.2FT (250CM) per vine, each plant with 45 flowers. 1.5"(3.8CM) in diameter of rose heads. 45 leaves per vine. When you connect these 8 vines end-to-end, the total length can reach 66ft. The single vine is not thick, but when you wrap 8 pcs rose vines side by side together, you will get an 8.2 ft bigger flower vine, which is puffy & thick enough to decorate your room. We used multiple vines wrapped side by side in our picture
- Multi-use rose vine: With the vibrant color, PONKING fake rose vines are ideal for your wedding, party, vlentines, Christmas, birthday, DIY bouquets, arch home room decor, etc. They could also decorate your space with the string lights(not included). Adding more romantic atmosphere to you all
- Material & Features: PONKING fake rose garland is made of silk and plastic. Durable silk and plastic flowers ensures durability and no risk of leaves or flowers dying. The rose vine spares you from endless watering. Different from real rose flowers, our artificial vines with rich color layers and natural appearance will never fade. They will last forever. Nice choice for your daughter's bedroom
- PONKING cares about you: ①Missing pieces refund support. ②Price difference refund support. Instead of returning the item, which could reduce your return time. ③Warm notice: Due to the difference in sunlight, display configuration, the color differences are inevitable. These faux flowers may be squeezed and deformed in transit. Wet the flowers, then use the hairdryer to recover them. Let us know if you have any problems with our artificial flowers
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