LHC Maddie Duff '25 selected for Kentucky Derby Royal Court
LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 14, 2025) — Two University of Kentucky students are playing major roles in the traditions leading up to the Kentucky Derby.
Maddie Duff, a Lewis Honors College senior majoring in neuroscience and Appalachian studies; and Elizabeth King, a senior Presidential Scholar majoring in finance and music performance were selected as Derby Festival Princesses in the 2025 Royal Court Program.
Since 1959, the announcement of the Kentucky Derby Royal Court has helped open the Derby season, which culminates in the 151st running of the historic Thoroughbred race at Churchill Downs on May 3. The 1 1/4-mile Derby kicks off the American Triple Crown.
Five college students are selected annually to represent the Derby, the City of Louisville and the Commonwealth of Kentucky as Derby Princesses in the Royal Court. Each member of the Royal Court receives a $2,000 scholarship from The Fillies Inc. and the Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation.
Duff, from Prestonsburg, Kentucky, is the first woman from Eastern Kentucky to be elected as the UK Student Government Association’s student body president. She has impacted the UK community with her involvement as the former president of the Appalachian Career Training in Oncology and the Appalachian Health Initiative. Additionally, she serves as a Lewis Honors College ambassador and conducts research through UK’s College of Medicine.
King, from Georgetown, Kentucky, is a Gatton College of Business and Economics ambassador and is involved in the Women in Finance student organization. King is also the principal flutist for the UK Wind Symphony and was crowned UK homecoming queen in Fall 2024. She enjoys leading worship at the UK Christian Student Fellowship. Additionally, she serves as Miss Danville, with a mission to bring financial education to classrooms throughout the state with an initiative she founded called Mind Your Money.
Members of the Royal Court participate in community service initiatives, engaging with schools, businesses and civic groups to celebrate the Derby Festival. Among the many events they get to attend is one of the Derby Festival’s most cherished traditions — the Great Steamboat Race. They also get to attend the Derby Festival Mini Marathon and Full Marathon and meet the Louisville community at the Kroger Fest-a-ville.
Duff and King said the choice to apply for the Royal Court was born out of their experiences with progressively increasing leadership roles at UK. King said being a Gatton Ambassador “taught me how to serve next to an incredible team of powerhouse leaders,” like the other members of the court.
Although King said she did not make the court the first time she applied, she encouraged others to give some thought to participating in the two-stage interview process.
“Even if you don’t make it your first try, like me, just keep going,” King said. “You might surprise yourself with how much you learn about professional development and leadership on the journey.”
Duff and King will take part, along with the three other Royal Court members, in the Fillies Derby Ball March 22 in Louisville. At that event, one of the five Derby Princesses will be crowned Queen of the 2025 Royal Court, by spin of a wheel.
Visit the Kentucky Derby Royal Court website to learn more.