Impress friends, annoy strangers and win side bets with these obscure facts and lore about the world's greatest race.

Kentucky native Tom Hammond helps explain why the Derby conjures deep-rooted feelings of state pride.

We recently took a trip to Table Three Ten in Lexington, where we met with kick-ass Kentuckian and epic bartender extraordinaire Ryan Filchak for a happy hour discussion of the opulent history of Kentucky cocktails. While Mr. Filchak deftly wielded his shaker, muddler, and jigger, we sat back, relaxed, and got ready to sample the …