1. Kentucky Derby Day: May 2 is famous in Kentucky as the day of the Kentucky Derby, one of the most prestigious horse races in the world. The first Kentucky Derby was held in Louisville on May 17, 1875, and has since become an annual tradition on the first Saturday in May.

2. The Battle of Blair's Landing: On May 2, 1863, the Battle of Blair's Landing took place during the American Civil War. Union forces, led by General Nathaniel Banks, defeated Confederate forces in Louisiana, securing control of the Red River.

3. Birth of Colonel Harland Sanders: May 2, 1890, is the birthday of Colonel Harland Sanders, the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC). Sanders was born in Henryville, Indiana but spent much of his life in Kentucky, where he developed his famous fried chicken recipe.

4. John Hunt Morgan's Confederate Raiders: On May 2, 1864, Confederate General John Hunt Morgan led a raid into Kentucky and attacked Union forces in Cynthiana. Morgan's forces were eventually defeated, but the raid was a significant event in the Civil War.

5. Formation of Boone County: On May 2, 1798, Boone County was officially formed in what was then part of Virginia. The county was named for frontiersman Daniel Boone, who had blazed a trail through the area in the late 1700s. Today, Boone County is a thriving region of northern Kentucky.