LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) – The Rolling Stones rocked in the shadow of the twin spires at Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby, in a pairing Friday night of two entertainment icons.

Fans came from hundreds of miles away to see the aging rockers, who returned to Louisville for the first time since 1989. It is the first major concert at the venue.

“This is a pivotal band in rock history,” said Dan Raymer, who drove from Nashville, Tenn. “You’ve got two iconic things together here.”

The Stones came out rocking with “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” and “It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll” as fans danced in a light but steady rain.

“Hello, Louisville!” Jagger, wearing a trench coat and fedora adorned with glitter, shouted to the crowd. “Sorry about the weather.”

Jagger pointed to a row of well-groomed evergreens lining the turf track in front of him, noting the historic venue. The massive stage was adjacent to the winner’s circle.

“This is the first time anyone has played in this particular gig,” he said. “We’ve got the sacred hedge in front of us.”

The group pandered to the Kentucky crowd by playing “Dead Flowers,” which mentions the Derby.

“I’ve been all over the world to see these guys,” said Dennis Parrish of Lexington, who has attended concerts in England and Switzerland. “This time I didn’t have to travel that far.”

As fans partied outside the track before the concert, the scene looked like a typical race day, except for dozens of cars playing familiar hits from the Stones.

Longtime fans Roy and Pam Harvey of Cincinnati brought their 18-year-old son William for his first show.

“I’ve got all of their albums,” William Harvey said. His mother said she felt it was important that her son see the band before its members packed it in.

“We would’ve paid $500 for a ticket,” she said.

About 50,000 tickets went on sale for the show with prices topping $300.

Many fans felt it might be their last chance to see the band, which has been touring since the early 1960s. Mick Jagger, the lead singer, is 63, and Keith Richards is 62.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime show,” said Brad Willis, 21, a University of Louisville student. Willis said he thinks it might be the last time the band tours.

But Roy Harvey, who was sipping a beer and listening to “Brown Sugar,” said he believes the Stones will play until they can’t do it anymore.

“I think we’ll see Jagger out there until he croaks,” he said.

Jagger pleased the crowd, strutting across the massive stage as Richards played the riffs to “Let’s Spend the Night Together.”

The band is playing at several historic venues on its “A Bigger Bang” tour, including Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., Soldier Field in Chicago and Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. The tour opened over a year ago at Fenway Park in Boston.

Churchill Downs officials stunned fans with the announcement last month that the Stones were coming to Louisville. It’s the first major rock concert for the track, which has played host to 132 derbies.

A recent $121 million renovation of the stands at Churchill Downs made the concert possible, said John Asher, a spokesman at the track.