Horse Racing - The Kentucky Derby

 

One of throughbred horse racings Triple Crown events, the Kentucky Derby is held on the first Saturday of May each year. Horse racing in Kentucky has a rich history, dating back to 1789 when the first race course was laid out in Lexington. However, it was almost 100 years later, in 1875, that Churchill Downs officially opened and began its tradition as "Home of the Kentucky Derby." The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of horse racing's Triple Crown events. Held two weeksbefore the Preakness Stakes and prior to the Belmont Stakes.

The Kentucky Derby - History

The Kentucky Derby is one of the most famous and prestigous horse races in the world. It is the first leg of the United States Triple Crown of horse racing. Churchill Downs where the race is held the first Saturday in May reach year, was started by a group headed by a man named M. Lewis Clark in 1874. The group built the racetrack on land owned by the Churchill family of Louisville, Kentucky. The track officially opened on May 17, 1875 and that was the day of the first Kentucky Derby won by Aristides.

The races from 1875-1895 were modeled after the English Derby and were 1.5 miles long. In 1896 they changed the length of the Kentucky Derby to 1.25 miles, and this is the current length of the dirt surface track.

However, the Derby was just another regional race until 1902, when Colonel Matt J. Winn took over the track. Although he had seen every Kentucky Derby since the beginning, Winn knew little about horse racing or running tracks. But he was a very good promoter.

After raising money to save Churchill Downs from bankruptcy, Winn began making frequent trips to New York, then the center of American racing, to persuade owners to enter their horses in the Kentucky Derby. His persistence paid off. By 1920, the Derby had become the best-known race in North America and it was attracting the top three-year-olds from all over the country.

Today as the first leg in the pursuit of the Triple Crown the Kentucky Derby is viewed by many as the most exciting two minutes in sports. The twin spires atop the homestretch grandstands were added in 1895 and remain one of the most recognized structures in all of sports.

 

The Kentucky Derby - Winners

Year	Winner	Time	Jockey	Trainer	Place	Show
1875	Aristides	2:37¾	Oliver Lewis	Ansel Anderson	Volcano	Verdigris
1876	Vagrant	2:38¼	Bobby Swim	James Williams	Creedmore	Harry Hill
1877	Baden-Baden	2:38	Billy Walker	Ed Brown	Leonard	King William
1878	Day Star	2:37¼	Jimmy Carter	Lee Paul	Himyar	Leveler
1879	Lord Murphy	2:37	Charlie Shauer	George Rice	Falsetto	Strathmore
1880	Fonso	2:37½	George Lewis	Tice Hutsell	Kimball	Bancroft
1881	Hindoo	2:40	Jim McLaughlin	James Rowe Sr.	Lelex	Alfambra
1882	Apollo	2:40¼	Babe Hurd	Green Morris	Runnymede	Bengal
1883	Leonatus	2:43	Billy Donohue	John McGinty	Drake Carter	Lord Raglan
1884	Buchanan	2:40¼	Isaac Murphy	William Bird	Loftin	Audrain
1885	Joe Cotton	2:37¼	Babe Henderson	Alex Perry	Bersan	Ten Booker
1886	Ben Ali	2:36½	Paul Duffy	Jim Murphy	Blue Wing	Free Knight
1887	Montrose	2:39¼	Isaac Lewis	John McGinty	Jim Gore	Jacobin
1888	Macbeth II	2:38¼	George Covington	John Campbell	Gallifet	White
1889	Spokane	2:34½	Thomas Kiley	John Rodegap	Proctor Knott	Once Again
1890	Riley	2:45	Isaac Murphy	Edward Corrigan	Bill Letcher	Robespierre
1891	Kingman	2:52¼	Isaac Murphy	Dud Allen	Balgowan	High Tariff
1892	Azra	2:41½	Lonnie Clayton	John Morris	Huron	Phil Dwyer
1893	Lookout	2:39¼	Eddie Kunze	Wm. McDaniel	Plutus	Boundless
1894	Chant	2:41	Frank Goodale	Eugene Leigh	Pearl Song	Sigurd
1895	Halma	2:37½	Soup Perkins	Byron McClelland	Basso	Laureate
1896	Ben Brush	2:07¾	Willie Simms	Hardy Campbell	Ben Eder	Semper Ego
1897	Typhoon II	2:12½	Buttons Garner	J.C. Cahn	Ornament	Dr. Catlett
1898	Plaudit	2:09	Willie Simms	John E. Madden	Lieber Karl	Isabey
1899	Manuel	2:12	Fred Taral	Robert Walden	Corsini	Mazo
1900	Lieut. Gibson	2:06¼	Jimmy Boland	Charles Hughes	Florizar	Thrive
1901	His Eminence	2:07¾	Jimmy Winkfield	F.B. Van Meter	Sannazarro	Driscoll
1902	Alan-A-Dale	2:08¾	Jimmy Winkfield	T.C. McDowell	Inventor	The Rival
1903	Judge Himes	2:09	Hal Booker	J.P. Mayberry	Early	Bourbon
1904	Elwood	2:08½	Shorty Prior	C.E. Durnell	Ed Tierney	Brancas
1905	Agile	2:10¾	Jack Martin	Robert Tucker	Ram's Horn	Layson
1906	Sir Huon	2:08 4/5	Roscoe Troxler	Pete Coyne	Lady Navarre	James Reddick
1907	Pink Star	2:12 3/5	Andy Minder	W.H. Fizer	Zal	Ovelando
1908	Stone Street	2:15 1/5	Arthur Pickens	J.W. Hall	Sir Cleges	Dunvegan
1909	Wintergreen	2:08 1/5	Vincent Powers	Charles Mack	Miami	Dr. Barkley
1910	Donau	2:06 2/5	Fred Herbert	George Ham	Joe Morris	Fighting Bob
1911	Meridian	2:05	George Archibald	Albert Ewing	Governor Gray	Colston
1912	Worth	2:09 2/5	C.H. Shilling	Frank Taylor	Duval	Flamma
1913	Donerail	2:04 4/5	Roscoe Goose	Thomas Hayes	Ten Point	Gowell
1914	Old Rosebud	2:03 2/5	John McCabe	F.D. Weir	Hodge	Bronzewing
1915	Regret (F)	2:05 2/5	Joe Notter	James Rowe Sr.	Pebbles	Sharpshooter
1916	George Smith	2:04	Johnny Loftus	Hollie Hughes	Star Hawk	Franklin
1917	Omar Khayyam	2:04 3/5	Charles Borel	C.T. Patterson	Ticket	Midway
1918	Exterminator	2:10 4/5	William Knapp	Henry McDaniel	Escoba	Viva America
1919	Sir Barton	2:09 4/5	Johnny Loftus	H. Guy Bedwell	Billy Kelly	Under Fire
1920	Paul Jones	2:09	Ted Rice	Billy Garth	Upset	On Watch
1921	Behave Yourself	2:04 1/5	Charles Thompson	Dick Thompson	Black Servant	Prudery
1922	Morvich	2:04 3/5	Albert Johnson	Fred Burlew	Bet Mosie	John Finn
1923	Zev	2:05 2/5	Earl Sande	David Leary	Martingale	Vigil
1924	Black Gold	2:05 1/5	John Mooney	Hanly Webb	Chilhowee	Beau Butler
1925	Flying Ebony	2:07 3/5	Earl Sande	William Duke	Captain Hal	Son of John
1926	Bubbling Over	2:03 4/5	Albert Johnson	Dick Thompson	Bagenbaggage	Rock Man
1927	Whiskery	2:06	Linus McAtee	Fred Hopkins	Osmand	Jock
1928	Reigh Count	2:10 2/5	Chick Lang	Bert Michell	Misstep	Toro
1929	Clyde Van Dusen	2:10 4/5	Linus McAtee	Clyde Van Dusen	Naishapur	Panchio
1930	Gallant Fox	2:07 3/5	Earl Sande	Jim Fitzsimmons	Gallant Knight	Ned O.
1931	Twenty Grand	2:01 4/5	Charley Kurtsinger	James Rowe Jr.	Sweep All	Mate
1932	Burgoo King	2:05 1/5	Eugene James	Dick Thompson	Economic	Stepenfetchit
1933	Brokers Tip	2:06 4/5	Don Meade	Dick Thompson	Head Play	Charley O.
1934	Cavalcade	2:04	Mack Garner	Bob Smith	Discovery	Agrarian
1935	Omaha	2:05	Willie Saunders	Jim Fitzsimmons	Roman Soldier	Whiskolo
1936	Bold Venture	2:03 3/5	Ira Hanford	Max Hirsch	Brevity	Indian Broom
1937	War Admiral	2:03 1/5	Charley Kurtsinger	George Conway	Pompoon	Reaping Reward
1938	Lawrin	2:04 4/5	Eddie Arcaro	Ben Jones	Dauber	Can't Wait
1939	Johnstown	2:03 2/5	James Stout	Jim Fitzsimmons	Challedon	Heather Broom
1940	Gallahadion	2:05	Carroll Bierman	Roy Waldron	Bimelech	Dit
1941	Whirlaway	2:01 2/5	Eddie Arcaro	Ben Jones	Staretor	Market Wise
1942	Shut Out	2:04 2/5	Wayne Wright	John Gaver	Alsab	Valdina Orphan
1943	Count Fleet	2:04	Johnny Longden	Don Cameron	Blue Swords	Slide Rule
1944	Pensive	2:04 1/5	Conn McCreary	Ben Jones	Broadcloth	Stir Up
1945	Hoop Jr	2:07	Eddie Arcaro	Ivan Parke	Pot O'Luck	Darby Dieppe
1946	Assault	2:06 3/5	Warren Mehrtens	Max Hirsch	Spy Song	Hampden
1947	Jet Pilot	2:06 4/5	Eric Guerin	Tom Smith	Phalanx	Faultless
1948	Citation	2:05 2/5	Eddie Arcaro	Ben Jones	Coaltown	My Request
1949	Ponder	2:04 1/5	Steve Brooks	Ben Jones	Capot	Palestinian
1950	Middleground	2:01 3/5	William Boland	Max Hirsch	Hill Prince	Mr. Trouble
1951	Count Turf	2:02 3/5	Conn McCreary	Sol Rutchick	Royal Mustang	Ruhe
1952	Hill Gail	2:01 3/5	Eddie Arcaro	Ben Jones	Sub Fleet	Blue Man
1953	Dark Star	2:02	Hank Moreno	Eddie Hayward	Native Dancer	Invigorator
1954	Determine	2:03	Raymond York	Willie Molter	Hasty Road	Hasseyampa
1955	Swaps	2:01 4/5	Bill Shoemaker	Mesh Tenney	Nashua	Summer Tan
1956	Needles	2:03 2/5	David Erb	Hugh Fontaine	Fabius	Come On Red
1957	Iron Liege	2:02 1/5	Bill Hartack	Jimmy Jones	Gallant Man	Round Table
1958	Tim Tam	2:05	Ismael Valenzuela	Jimmy Jones	Lincoln Road	Noureddin
1959	Tomy Lee	2:02 1/5	Bill Shoemaker	Frank Childs	Sword Dancer	First Landing
1960	Venetian Way	2:02 2/5	Bill Hartack	Victor Sovinski	Bally Ache	Victoria Park
1961	Carry Back	2:04	John Sellers	Jack Price	Crozier	Bass Clef
1962	Decidedly	2:00 2/5	Bill Hartack	Horatio Luro	Roman Line	Ridan
1963	Chateaugay	2:01 4/5	Braulio Baeza	James Conway	Never Bend	Candy Spots
1964	Northern Dancer	2:00	Bill Hartack	Horatio Luro	Hill Rise	The Scoundrel
1965	Lucky Debonair	2:01 1/5	Bill Shoemaker	Frank Catrone	Dapper Dan	Tom Rolfe
1966	Kauai King	2:02	Don Brumfield	Henry Forrest	Advocator	Blue Skyer
1967	Proud Clarion	2:00 3/5	Bobby Ussery	Loyd Gentry	Barbs Delight	Damascus
1968	Forward Pass	—	Ismael Valenzuela	Henry Forrest	Francie's Hat	T.V. Commercial
1969	Majestic Prince	2:01 4/5	Bill Hartack	Johnny Longden	Arts and Letters	Dike
1970	Dust Commander	2:03 2/5	Mike Manganello	Don Combs	My Dad George	High Echelon
1971	Canonero II	2:03 1/5	Gustavo Avila	Juan Arias	Jim French	Bold Reason
1972	Riva Ridge	2:01 4/5	Ron Turcotte	Lucien Laurin	No Le Hace	Hold Your Peace
1973	Secretariat	1:59 2/5	Ron Turcotte	Lucien Laurin	Sham	Our Native
1974	Cannonade	2:04	Angel Cordero Jr.	Woody Stephens	Hudson County	Agitate
1975	Foolish Pleasure	2:02	Jacinto Vasquez	LeRoy Jolley	Avatar	Diabolo
1976	Bold Forbes	2:01 3/5	Angel Cordero Jr.	Laz Barrera	Honest Pleasure	Elocutionist
1977	Seattle Slew	2:02 1/5	Jean Cruguet	Billy Turner	Run Dusty Run	Sanhedrin
1978	Affirmed	2:01 1/5	Steve Cauthen	Laz Barrera	Alydar	Believe It
1979	Spectacular Bid	2:02 2/5	Ron Franklin	Bud Delp	General Assembly	Golden Act
1980	Genuine Risk (F)	2:02	Jacinto Vasquez	LeRoy Jolley	Rumbo	Jaklin Klugman
1981	Pleasant Colony	2:02	Jorge Velasquez	John Campo	Woodchopper	Partez
1982	Gato Del Sol	2:02 2/5	E. Delahoussaye	Eddie Gregson	Laser Light	Reinvested
1983	Sunny's Halo	2:02 1/5	E. Delahoussaye	David Cross Jr.	Desert Wine	Caveat
1984	Swale	2:02 2/5	Laffit Pincay Jr.	Woody Stephens	Coax Me Chad	At The Threshold
1985	Spend A Buck	2:00 1/5	Angel Cordero Jr.	Cam Gambolati	Stephan's Odyssey	Chief's Crown
1986	Ferdinand	2:02 4/5	Bill Shoemaker	Chas. Whittingham	Bold Arrangement	Broad Brush
1987	Alysheba	2:03 2/5	Chris McCarron	Jack Van Berg	Bet Twice	Avies Copy
1988	Winning Colors (F)	2:02 1/5	Gary Stevens	D. Wayne Lukas	Forty Niner	Risen Star
1989	Sunday Silence	2:05	Pat Valenzuela	Chas. Whittingham	Easy Goer	Awe Inspiring
1990	Unbridled	2:02	Craig Perret	Carl Nafzger	Summer Squall	Pleasant Tap
1991	Strike The Gold	2:03	Chris Antley	Nick Zito	Best Pal	Mane Minister
1992	Lil E. Tee	2:03	Pat Day	Lynn Whiting	Casual Lies	Dance Floor
1993	Sea Hero	2:02 2/5	Jerry Bailey	Mack Miller	Prairie Bayou	Wild Gale
1994	Go For Gin	2:03 3/5	Chris McCarron	Nick Zito	Strodes Creek	Blumin Affair
1995	Thunder Gulch	2:01 1/5	Gary Stevens	D. Wayne Lukas	Tejano Run	Timber Country
1996	Grindstone	2:01	Jerry Bailey	D. Wayne Lukas	Cavonnier	Prince of Thieves
1997	Silver Charm	2:02 2/5	Gary Stevens	Bob Baffert	Captain Bodgit	Free House
1998	Real Quiet	2:02 1/5	Kent Desormeaux	Bob Baffert	Victory Gallop	Indian Charlie
1999	Charismatic	2:03 1/5	Chris Antley	D. Wayne Lukas	Menifee	Cat Thief
2000	Fusaichi Pegasus	2:01 1/5	Kent Desormeaux	Neil Drysdale	Aptitude	Impeachment
2001	Monarchos	1:59 4/5	Jorge Chavez	John Ward	Invisible Ink	Congaree
2002	War Emblem	2:01.13	Victor Espinoza	Bob Baffert	Proud Citizen	Perfect Drift
2003	Funny Cide	2:01.19	Jose Santos	Barclay Tagg	Empire Maker	Peace Rules
2004	Smarty Jones	2:04.06	Stewart Elliott	John Servis	Lion Heart	Imperialism
2005	Giacomo	2:02.75	Mike Smith	John Shirreffs	Closing Argument	Afleet Alex
2006	Barbaro	2:01.36	Edgar Prado	Michael Matz	Bluegrass Cat	Steppenwolfer
2007	Street Sense	2:02.00	Calvin Borel	Carl Nafzger	Hard Spun	Curlin
2008	Big Brown	2:01 4/5	Kent Desormeaux	Rick Dutrow Jr.	Eight Belles (f)	Denis of Cork
2009	Mine That Bird	2:02.66	Calvin Borel	Bennie Woolley, Jr.	Pioneer of The Nile	Musket Man
2010	Super Saver	2:04.45	Calvin Borel	Todd Pletcher	Ice Box	Paddy O'Prado
2011	Animal Kingdom	2:02.04	John Velazquez	H. Graham Motion	Nehro	Mucho Macho Man
2012	I'll Have Another	2:01.83	Mario Gutierrez	Doug O'Neill	Bodemeister	Dullahan
2013	Orb	2:02.89	Joel Rosario	Claude McGaughey III	Golden Soul	Revolutionary
2014	California Chrome	2:03.66	Victor Espinoza	At Sherman	Commanding Curve	Danza
2015	American Pharoah	2:03.02	Victor Espinoza	Bob Baffert	Firing Line	Dortmund
2016	Nyquist	2:01.31	Mario Gutierrez	Doug O'Neill	Exaggerator	Gun Runner
2017	Always Dreaming	2:03.59	John Velazquez	Todd Pletcher	Lookin At Lee	Battle of Midway
2018	Justify	2:04.20	Mike E. Smith	Bob Baffert	Good Magic	Audible
2019	Country House	2.03.93	Flavien Prat	Bill Mott	Code of Honor	Tacitus
2020	Authentic	2:00:61	John Velazquez	Bob Baffert	Tiz the Law	Mr. Big News
2021	Mandaloun	2:01.02	Florent Geroux	Brad Cox	Hot Rod Charlie	Essential Quality
2022	Rich Strike	2:02.61	Sonny Leon	Eric Reed	Epicenter	Zandon
2023	Mage	2:01.57	Javier Castellano	Gustavo Delgado	Two Phil's	Angel of Empire
2024	Mystik Dan	2:03.34	Brian Hernandez Jr.	Kenneth G. McPeek	Sierra Leone	Forever Young (JPN)