The Kentucky Derby, often dubbed “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports,” boasts a storied history dating back to its inaugural race on May 17, 1875, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Founded by Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr., grandson of explorer William Clark, the Derby was inspired by European racing traditions like the Epsom Derby and the Grand Prix de Paris, but it quickly became a quintessentially American spectacle. It has run continuously for 150 years, even through world wars and pandemics, cementing its status as a cultural touchstone. The event is steeped in tradition—think mint juleps, extravagant hats, and the garland of roses draped over the winner—while drawing global attention with its blend of sport, pageantry, and Southern hospitality. Legendary horses like Secretariat, who set a still-unbroken record in 1973 with a time of 1:59.4, and iconic moments, such as the 1919 upset by 91-1 longshot Donerail, have etched the Derby into the annals of sporting greatness, making it a symbol of excellence and resilience.

However, the Derby’s legacy is now being overshadowed by its association with Yum! Brands, a Louisville-based multinational that became the race’s first presenting sponsor in 2006, rebranding it as “The Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands.” While Yum! Brands, the parent company of KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell, initially seemed a fitting partner due to its local roots, its deep ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for market access have cast a shadow over the Derby’s heritage. Yum! Brands’ aggressive expansion into China, starting with KFC’s first outlet in Beijing in 1987, has made it a darling of the Chinese market, with over 14,000 restaurants across 1,900 cities as of 2025, according to Yum China Holdings. This success, however, came at a steep price: Yum! has localized its operations to align with CCP expectations, granting Chinese managers significant autonomy and tailoring its menu to local tastes, as noted in a 2018 Harvard Business Review study. This adaptability, while commercially savvy, raises questions about the extent to which Yum! has acquiesced to CCP influence, especially given China’s stringent control over foreign businesses and the CCP’s history of leveraging economic partnerships for political gain.
 

Critics argue that Yum! Brands’ entanglement with the CCP tarnishes the Derby’s all-American legacy, turning a symbol of independence and tradition into a billboard for a company that has prioritized profits over principles. Yum!’s growth in China—where it now generates 35% of its global business, per a 2015 POLITICO report—relies on navigating the CCP’s regulatory maze, including antitrust reviews and compliance with state-driven economic policies, as seen with its 2011 acquisition of Little Sheep. This relationship has fueled perceptions of a “sell-out,” as Yum! has rebranded itself in China to appear less foreign, with Pizza Hut’s Chinese name “Bi Sheng Ke” (Must Succeed Customer) and KFC’s menu featuring congee and red bean drinks, moves that some see as cultural capitulation. The Derby, once a celebration of American grit, now risks being seen as a pawn in Yum!’s global strategy, its prestige diminished by a corporate sponsor whose ties to an authoritarian regime clash with the race’s historic values of freedom and authenticity. While Yum! stepped away from the sponsorship in 2017, the stain of its CCP connections lingers, leaving the Derby’s legacy at a crossroads between its proud past and a compromised present.