2011 Kentucky Derby Logo unveiled
The official event logo for the 2011 Kentucky Derby - Kentucky Derby 137 - and Kentucky Oaks 137 were released Wednesday by Churchill Downs, and officially licensed apparel and gifts items featuring the new marks are now available for purchase online.
Both logos feature a horse and energizing color palettes with accent colors forecasted to be part of fashion trends for Spring 2011. They also showcase the Derby and Oaks “icon” marks – golden horseshoes with a red rose for Derby and a pink stargazer lily for Oaks – embedded within the overall logo design.
The official colors for Kentucky Derby 137 are teal and black. The Derby logo blends tradition in the serif font of the anniversary script with the forward motion and minimal design of a racehorse’s silhouette at its base. The bend in the Thoroughbred’s neck is reminiscent of the curves of a racetrack, and specifically of Churchill Downs’ picturesque “first turn,” which every year is one of the most-photographed angles of the legendary Kentucky Derby race.
The Oaks logo features an elegant white filly with an arched neck and hot pink mane framed by a grey medallion. A ribbon of pink – the official color of the Oaks – gracefully wraps around the grey circle that showcases the filly’s profile.
“The color palette and overall logo designs for the Kentucky Derby 137 and Kentucky Oaks 137 event marks are intended to celebrate spring in an exciting, artful way while incorporating both events’ iconic marks and brand color schemes in the mix,” explained Edward O’Hara, chief creative officer and senior partner of the New York-based SME Branding. SME, whose client list includes the New York Yankees and Major League Soccer, has designed the Kentucky Derby and Oaks event and brand marks since 2009.