( CNN ) -- Through everything in John McGraw 's life during the past two decades , there has been one constant : He knows he will be in the infield of Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May . McGraw , a photographer and CNN iReporter from East Lansing , Michigan , went to his first Kentucky Derby when he was 20 , tagging along with some older friends who were really into horses . They drove down for the day -- and he was hooked . `` I also like to gamble , but it turned into more than just that , '' said McGraw , 39 . `` I just fell in love with the atmosphere . '' Early on , McGraw was just focused on having a good time . In the past few years , he has become passionate about still photography and trains his camera on the Derby 's biggest attraction , aside from the horses : the hats . How the 1 % roll at the Kentucky Derby . The 2014 event will be McGraw 's 20th Kentucky Derby in a row . Most years , he attends the races with a group of 10 to 30 people and camps out 20 minutes south of Louisville . He 'll be among upward of 70,000 fans in the infield , which the Derby 's official website says is `` an experience of acceptable excess and is forgivably risque . '' Fans with a little more money to spend who want a better view buy tickets to the grandstand , clubhouse or pricier seats . `` I do take photos of the grandstands and stuff like that , but in general , the hats , something draws me to them , '' he said . `` It reminds me of a time gone by . When you look at old photos of the early 1900s , all the women wore hats , and all the guys wore hats as well . '' Got a great Derby hat photo ? Send it to iReport ! CNN 's Christina Zdanowicz contributed to this story .
The Kentucky Derby is held the first Saturday in May . Photographer John Smith has been going for 20 years . The hats are the big thing , he says . Got a great Derby Day photo ? Leave it to me .