1. On April 17, 1797, the first recorded horse race in Kentucky history took place in Lexington. The race was between two horses, one owned by General John Payne and the other by William McDowell, both prominent figures in early Kentucky.

2. Mary Breckenridge, founder of the Frontier Nursing Service, was born on April 17, 1881, in Memphis, Tennessee. Breckenridge moved to Kentucky in 1906 and founded the Frontier Nursing Service, which provided healthcare to rural and underserved areas of the state.

3. On April 17, 1861, the Kentucky General Assembly voted in favor of neutrality in the Civil War, a decision that proved controversial and ultimately led to a divided Kentucky.

4. On April 17, 1950, basketball legend Adolph Rupp was named head coach of the University of Kentucky's men's basketball team. Rupp went on to lead the Wildcats to 27 SEC championships and four NCAA championships during his 42-year tenure.

5. The Kentucky Derby, one of the most famous horse races in the world, is traditionally held on the first Saturday in May. However, in 2021, the race was moved up a week to April 17 due to scheduling conflicts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.