CELEBRITIES AT 2011 KENTUCKY DERBY

Dialed In

Ah! The one day a year I actually care about Sports. This year marks the 137th edition of the Kentucky Derby, held annually at Kentucky's historic Churchill Downs.  The Race run the first Saturday every May, often is a precursor to championship honours for three year-old horses. And the Celebrities are out in full force partying-it-up.

At last night's Brownstable Brown Gala, some familiar names came out to partake in the festivities and seen were the likes of Bill Paxton, Carson Kressley, Maria Menunos, Niki Taylor, Kate Gosselin, Ian Somerhalder, among others.

Gosselin, who admits not to being a Gambler was seen telling Cameras "I had to bet. I just had to!".  This came after spending a day at Churchill Downs watching the Kentucky Oaks, the female version of the Derby held one day before the main event itself.  Meanwhile, Menunos Tweeted her picks for the Derby and she had three horses in mind, "Pants on Fire, Dialed In and Midnight Interlude". Somerhalder on the other hand is rooting for long-shot Animal Kingdom.

Not so coincidentally, The Village People are all rooting for Mucho Macho Man, one of the top Contenders this year who is trained by a female Trainer named Kathy Ritzvo.  Also supporting the Horse are Carson Daly and Christy Turlington.

Expected to be at the Track today watching the race are the likes of Jordin Sparks, Martha Stewart, Miranda Lambert, Nick Lachey, Chris Meloni and more!

This year's Favourite is Dialed In, coming in off a win in the Florida Derby just a month ago.  Myself?  I'm rooting for more of a long-shot in Midnight Interlude, relatively inexperienced but coming off a huge win in the Santa Anita Derby last month in Arcadia, California.

NBCs Kentucky Derby coverage runs from 5 to 7 PM EST.  Don't forget to watch!

To learn more about this year's Derby Contenders, click here.

(Photo credit: KentuckyDerby.com/Reed Palmer Photography)