How to Start the Wave at the Kentucky Derby

If you're thinking about starting the wave at the Kentucky Derby, you have picked quite a challenge. A venue for mint julep-sipping high society, the Kentucky Derby is hardly the place for what some may consider a lowbrow expression of sport appreciation. But if you have the courage to attempt it, you must know the basics.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Forget about trying to start the wave in the usual way. The wave was created originally to be performed in an arena in which the fans are seated in a circular formation. Seating for the Kentucky Derby, at the legendary Churchill Downs, is such that the race is viewed from one side of the track.
2. Consider enlisting the help of a few friends to pull off the wave at the Kentucky Derby successfully. You should plan on five of you and your friends, one person sitting at each level in the stands, to execute the wave simultaneously. Hopefully, the person sitting at the end of your section will return the wave so that the stands will be filled with undulating rows of spectators.
3. To start the wave, all you do is to go from a seated position to standing up essentially and then sit back down. Bend your upper body forward with your arms reaching forward as well and then rise up, legs first and then follow with the arms and upper body until you're standing straight with your arms above your head. Then sit back down immediately. This is then repeated by everybody to the side of you where the wave is heading.
4. Perform the wave more than once until it catches on. Chances are that those fancy hat-wearing women at the Kentucky Derby won't have a clue what you're doing. You may even have to whisper to the person sitting next to you what your intentions are.

Tips & Warnings

• It's probably best not to perform the wave at the Kentucky Derby while the actual race is taking place; you don't want to spook the horses by accident.