The Kentucky Derby Festival is pleased to announce that Republic Bank & Trust Company has signed a deal to become the first-ever title sponsor of the Festival’s Pegasus Parade. Republic took over sponsorship of the parade in 2002 and will continue as title sponsor through 2007. The locally-based banking company is also title sponsor of the Republic Bank Derby Festival Parade Preview.
The Republic Bank Pegasus Parade, first held in 1956, is the Derby Festival’s oldest and founding event. It began on a budget of $640 and now provides an impact in excess of $14 million to the local economy.
In 2004, spectacular weather conditions prevailed over the 49th annual parade, as a crowd estimated at 250,000 lined Broadway to see the wide variety of celebrities, colorful floats, marching bands, equestrians and large character inflatables. Thousands more saw the prade on television - broadcast live on local NBC-affiliate, WAVE 3 TV and hosted for the 23rd year by the Today Show's Willard Scott
The 50th Annual Republic Bank Pegasus Parade promises to be a spectacle of colorful floats, marching bands, giant inflatables, equestrians and celebrities parading down Broadway in downtown Louisville on Thursday, May 5th. | 
