Garland of Roses ready for 152nd Kentucky Derby

One of the Kentucky Derby’s most iconic traditions came together Friday as the famous Garland of Roses was assembled ahead of the big race.

Nearly 1,000 Freedom Roses were delivered to Kroger in Middletown, but only the top 465 were selected for the final piece.

Each rose was carefully inspected for color, size, and quality by a team of experts before making the cut.

Floral artists then spent hours handcrafting the garland, a meticulous process that brings the long-standing Derby symbol to life.

“I stay in Louisville because of this, being able to say that I’m the one that creates that garland that trophy is awesome. It’s a huge pride and a huge honor that Kroger allows me to do this," said Allison Gousha, Kroger Derby event coordinator.

The nearly 40-pound Garland of Roses will be draped over the winning horse at Saturday’s 152nd Kentucky Derby, continuing the tradition known as the “Run for the Roses.”

You can tune in to the Kentucky Derby on Gulf Coast NBC.

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