Is it bad luck to wear green or carry $50 at the Kentucky Derby?
You’ll be swimming in a sea of bright colors during Kentucky Derby Week at Churchill Downs, but there’s one color you may want to avoid when selecting your outfit. The only color that is normally frowned upon is green, but only for horse owners or trainers.
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Because? Despite being the color of money, there is an ancient superstition that wearing green supposedly brings bad luck on race day.
Additionally, many people who bet on races think that carrying a $50 bill is bad luck.
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Kentucky Oaks 2025 Features Sights, Sounds and Fashion at Churchill Downs
Linda and Tony Rodriguez kiss while sheltering during a weather delay on Friday, May 2, 2025, during a severe weather delay before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs in Louisville.
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Kentucky Oaks 2025 Features Sights, Sounds and Fashion at Churchill Downs
Linda and Tony Rodriguez kiss while sheltering during a weather delay on Friday, May 2, 2025, during a severe weather delay before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs in Louisville.
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Kentucky Oaks 2025 Features Sights, Sounds and Fashion at Churchill Downs
A woman tries to wear a jacket to stay dry as a storm hits on Oaks Day in the late afternoon at Churchill Downs on May 2, 2025 in Louisville, Kentucky.
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Kentucky Oaks 2025 Features Sights, Sounds and Fashion at Churchill Downs
Racegoers brave the rain at Churchill Downs on Oaks Day, a day before the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby. Friday, May 2, 2025
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Kentucky Oaks 2025 Features Sights, Sounds and Fashion at Churchill Downs
Racegoers brave the rain at Churchill Downs on Oaks Day, a day before the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby. Friday, May 2, 2025
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Kentucky Oaks 2025 Features Sights, Sounds and Fashion at Churchill Downs
Dee Dee Luxe of New York, New York, walks through the Churchill Down paddock with her French Bulldog “Barla” on Friday morning.
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Kentucky Oaks 2025 Features Sights, Sounds and Fashion at Churchill Downs
Jeff Ketterman of Corydon, Indiana, wore a heart style font from the 1950s sitcom “I Love Lucy” with “I Love Lueyville” on his hat while attending Oaks Day with his wife Carrie at Churchill Downs on May 2, 2025 in Louisville, Kentucky.
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Kentucky Oaks 2025 Features Sights, Sounds and Fashion at Churchill Downs
A couple gathers in front of Twin Spiers in the Oaks at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY on May 2, 2025.
More ‘What’s up with that?’ What is the Kentucky Derby winner’s circle at Churchill Downs?
“I’ve always heard that bringing a $50 bill, or even touching one, having one around, is bad luck, so you’ll never see a $50 bill here at Churchill Downs, at least not coming through the windows of the mutuals and especially a lot of the players,” said Kevin Kerstein, publicity manager at Churchill Downs.
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Learn more about some of the biggest superstitions surrounding the Kentucky Derby in this “What’s That?” video.
Contact reporter Kirby Adams at kadams@courier-journal.com.
This article originally appeared in Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky Derby Superstitions About Wearing Green and Carrying $50 Bills
