Disappointing photos of the Kentucky Derby

The Kentucky Derby is one of three popular horse races in the US, along with the Belmont Stakes and Preakness Stakes.

Between the three, millions of dollars are bet and hundreds of thousands of spectators come out to the tracks.

If a horse wins all three, which happens rarely, it receives the Triple Crown, the most prestigious honor in horse racing.

Technically, the Kentucky Derby is comprised of 14 races, but the most important one is No. 12.

It's been called the "most exciting two minutes in sports." Unfortunately, that also means No. 12 is quite easy to miss among the crowds and lines.

This photo shows crowds gathering ahead of the race in 2018, before the COVID-19 pandemic.

But the reality of betting in the Kentucky Derby is a lot more complicated, since everything from a horse's past performances to how many races it's participating in come into play.

As much as $233 million was wagered at the 2021 Kentucky Derby, according to the Courier Journal.

Again: The big race is two minutes long. You'll probably be waiting in line to place a bet longer than that.

As betting can have serious consequences, wagering your money might also not be the best idea.

To be fair, it does look like it can be a lot of fun in the right circumstances.

There were 51,838 people in total at the 2021 Kentucky Derby, according to the Courier Journal, and that was a reduced-capacity race. Before the pandemic, more than 150,000 spectators made their way to Churchill Downs.

Hats have been a part of Derby Day since the first race 147 years ago in 1875.

"When women got dressed up, especially when they were going to church and formal events, the woman's crowning glory was the hat," stylist and creative director of YRB magazine Darius Baptist told ABC News.

Celebrities from the Simpson sisters to Queen Elizabeth II to Kim Kardashian have attended the Kentucky Derby, all clad in their fabulous hats. Granted, they probably didn't have to wait in these lines ...

The mint julep has become the official drink of race day. It's bourbon, simple syrup, and mint.

As of 2021, it has rained around 47% of the time during the Kentucky Derby (to be specific, 69 out of 146 races), though it's never been canceled due to rain.

But if it does rain, you can kiss your pristine clothes goodbye. Mud gets splattered everywhere, especially if people have indulged in too many mint juleps.

Medina Spirit crossed the finish line at the 2021 race in an exciting photo finish, but things were not what they seemed.

Medina Spirit ended up failing a post-race drug test by testing positive for betamethasone, a corticosteroid. This led to him getting stripped of the title.

Medina Spirit died in December 2021, around seven months after the scandal. As Insider detailed, a Washington Post story revealed that 75 horses had died under trainer Bruce Baffert's care since 2000. He was later suspended from entering any horses into the Kentucky Derby for two years.