Two minutes—the Kentucky Derby, in early May, might be over before you even finish making your first

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• Mint Julep
• Bourbon Sour
• Benedictine Dip
• Roasted Beef Tenderloin with Henry Bain Sauce
• Cheesy Baked Rice
• Chocolate-Pecan Race Day Pie

Mint Julep. Avoid such disasters and prep the drinks early. Invite your friends over and throw a party with these recipes, from dainty cucumber dip to irresistible chocolate-pecan pie. (Most people wouldn’t eat all of these things together. But we don’t judge.) Don’t get mired in the fusty hats, the prickly roses, the cheesy song. Focus on the food and the horses, and then again on the food.