1. Kentucky Derby Day: The Kentucky Derby, one of the most prestigious and well-known horse races in the world, is held annually on the first Saturday in May. In Kentucky, May 17, 1875, was the very first running of this iconic race.

2. Mammoth Cave National Park Established: On May 17, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed legislation that established Mammoth Cave National Park, located in south-central Kentucky. This park contains the world's longest known cave system, with more than 400 miles explored.

3. Muhammad Ali born: May 17, 1942, marks the birth of one of the most famous and influential boxers of all time, Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Clay. Ali, a Louisville native, won Olympic gold and several world championships before becoming an outspoken civil rights activist and cultural icon.

4. Fort Harrod built: On May 17, 1774, settler James Harrod established Fort Harrod, the first permanent settlement in Kentucky. The fort would serve as a base for further expansion into the state and played a key role in the American Revolution.

5. Confederate capital moves to Kentucky: When the Confederacy was forced to abandon its capital, Richmond, Virginia, in 1865, they relocated the capital to Danville, Kentucky, on May 17th of that year. Though the move was short-lived, it highlights Kentucky's complex role in the Civil War as a border state with divided loyalties.