The Royal Court visits the Little Sisters and Residents of St. Joseph’s Home for the Aged and shares in an Ice Cream Social. The Royal Court includes: Morgan Cooksey, Julia Springate, Eriauna Stratton, Grace Trimble and Grace Wainwright. The Little Sisters and the Residents will get a second chance to see the Derby Princesses at the Pegasus Parade.
A common question from the Residents was, “How did you get selected to be a Derby Princes?” Here is the official answer to that question from the Derby Festival Website. So, young ladies take note!
“Each year, it begins with more than 100 applicants. Then, 30 finalists are selected. Finally, five young women are selected as the Royal Court® Princesses. These young women represent the Kentucky Derby Festival and the city of Louisville as official ambassadors for the springtime tradition of the Festival. Over the two-week period, they attend nearly 70 events.
One of the Princesses will be crowned the Derby Festival Queen by a spin-of-the-wheel at the annual Fillies Derby Ball on April 11. Each woman will receive a $2,000 scholarship ($1,000 from the Fillies and $1,000 from the Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation).Candidates for the Princess Program must maintain a minimum 3.0 grade point average and are selected by a panel of three out-of-state judges. Criteria for selection includes knowledge of the Derby Festival, poise, intelligence, personality and campus and community involvement. The Derby Festival’s Royal Court Program is coordinated by The Fillies, Inc., a volunteer group that works closely with the Festival. “(Kentucky Derby Festival Website)
The Derby Princesses Visit St. Joseph’s