40 years after a hit single, will the Beastie Boys come to Derby?

'Tis the season for celebrities across the country to descend on Kentucky.

With the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby just days away, Louisville becomes a who's who of Hollywood and A-list stars.

Celebrities are invited to Kentucky Derby parties, like the Barnstable-Brown Derby Eve Gala, whose guest list includes *NSYNC member Lance Bass, R&B singer Patti LaBelle and other star-studded names.

Even Louisville's mayor annually releases a guest list for race day.

But this year, a horse trainer is sending out an invite to a band who released a rebellious rap anthem 40 years ago.

Kenny McPeek, who won the Kentucky Oaks and Derby in 2024, is inviting the surviving members of the Beastie Boys to Churchill Downs. McPeek trains 2026 Kentucky Derby contender Right to Party.

2026 Kentucky Derby horse Right To Party on the track during a morning workout at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. April 20, 2026

Right to Party is named after the band's song “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party)." The hip-hop/punk band was composed of Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz on guitar, Adam "MCA" Yauch on bass and Michael "Mike D" Diamond on drums.

McPeek's invitation to the bandmates extended to more than just attending the Derby. He's also asked them to take part in a Derby tradition: the walkover. It's like a human parade, in which trainers and their owners walk on the dirt track with their three-year-old colt from the backside to the paddock ahead of the legendary race.

"We've got someone that's pursuing bringing the Beastie Boys to Louisville," McPeek said April 27. "We reached out to their agent and let them know they're invited. I think it'd be a fun experience."

In 2012, the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Yauch died that same year from cancer.

Right to Party, who was foaled in Kentucky and owned by longtime breeder Chester Broman Sr., has raced four times in his career, including three times this year placing first, second and third, earning $220,000. His exercise rider, Robbie Albarado, is the same exercise rider who rode 2025 Kentucky Oaks winner Thorpedo Anna and 2025 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan.

The smash hit is one of the band's best-known songs. Part of its history-making 1987 album "Licensed to Ill," the song reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 hit singles, the group's highest-charted hit. In 2004, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame included the song on its landmark list of the "500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll."

"Maybe they want to do the walkover with the horse," McPeek said of the Beastie Boys. "Maybe they want to sing, you never know."

Stephanie Kuzydym is an enterprise and investigative sports reporter, with a focus on the health and safety of athletes. Reach her at skuzydym@courier-journal.com or@stephkuzy.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Beastie Boys invited to Kentucky Derby by trainer of 'Right to Party'