Quarterback Jaxson Dart of the New York Giants and his model girlfriend, Marissa Ayers, made a stylish entrance on the red carpet at the Kentucky Derby held at Churchill Downs.
Ayers, an influencer known for her work as a boxing ring girl and who has been romantically linked with Dart for nearly a year, chose a captivating light blue dress and a chic fascinator to complement their high-profile appearance.
Also spotted enjoying the festivities was the 74-year-old NFL coach Bill Belichick, who attended the event with his 25-year-old girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, a former cheerleader.
The couple participated in Friday’s Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs, an event delayed beyond the usual 6 p.m. start due to TV scheduling, causing some discontent among local attendees.
Jaxson Dart and model girlfriend Marissa Ayers dazzled on the Kentucky Derby red carpet
Bill Belichick and girlfriend Jordon Hudson were also in attendance at Churchill Downs
Hudson turned heads in a sophisticated black dress with a matching fascinator for Saturday’s races, accompanied by Belichick, who was dressed in a sharp suit.
Adding to the star-studded lineup, former NFL player Rob Gronkowski is also expected to attend the Kentucky Derby alongside his longtime partner, Camille Kostek.
Gronkowski, who won four Super Bowls under Belichick with the New England Patriots, donned a smart navy blazer, a blue shirt and beige pants in Louisville.
Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model Kostek posed on the red carpet in a black and polka dot dress, along with a matching bag and hat.
Big names from other sports are also in attendance for the Kentucky Derby, including retired NBA player Avery Johnson and ex-WNBA star Sue Bird, who recently announced her split from girlfriend and soccer icon Megan Rapinoe.
Nate Burleson, the former NFL wide receiver who now works as a presenter for CBS, sported one of the most eye-catching outfits on the red carpet after pulling up to Churchill Downs in a white pinstriped suit jacket with images of two giant roses on the front and matching shorts.
It promises to be another memorable Kentucky Derby on Saturday evening, despite the race being reduced to 19 horses at the very last minute.
The Puma has been scratched from the starting lineup, meaning the 152nd edition of the Derby will be run with one less horse than the maximum 20.
Ex-NFL star Rob Gronkowski and long-time partner Camille Kostek posed on the red carpet
Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and girlfriend Erin Bracken are also at the Kentucky Derby
Sue Bird (left) and Avery Johnson (right) were among other sports stars in attendance
A number of racegoers are in Louisville for Saturday’s highly-anticipated Kentucky Derby
Churchill Downs officials announced The Puma was out because of a swollen leg from a skin infection.
He was ruled out less than 12 hours before the 6:57pm ET post time, past the deadline for Corona de Oro to draw into the field off the also-eligible list.
The horse trained by Gustavo Delgado Sr. and son Gustavo Delgado Jr. opened at odds of 10-1 and was bet down to 8-1 by Friday.
‘It’s incredibly disappointing, but the swelling should go down within a day or two,’ Delgado Jr. said. ‘It´s just really bad timing.’
The father-son training duo was looking to win its second Derby after doing so with Mage in 2023. Another father-son duo, Bill and Riley Mott, is the first to each have a horse in the race since 1964.
