Here is everything you need to know about the Kentucky Derby. Once you get done reading this, check out “A Visual Guide to the Kentucky Derby” as well. It contains interesting facts, horse racing terminology, Derby fashion over the years, and more. View it by clicking here: A Visual Guide to the Kentucky Derby
General Facts About The Race:
The Kentucky Derby is a the biggest race in America. It is for three-year-old horses only, and held annually in Louisville, Kentucky on the first Saturday in May. The race is one and a quarter-mile long and open to both males and females. Males carry 126 pounds while females carry 121. The race is known as “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports” or you will also hear it called “The Run for the Roses.” It is the first leg of the Triple Crown and is followed by the Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. The race is considered an American Classic. It out draws all other races held in the United States each year. This years Derby will mark the 138th time the race has been ran. The race stands as one of the longest continuous sporting events in the United States. Simply put: this is the race every jockey, trainer, and owner dreams of winning.
How Do You Qualify?
The first thing you must do is nominate your horse for the race. Hundreds of horses nominate to the Kentucky Derby every year, and there are only twenty spots open for the race. To earn one of the coveted twenty spots, you must acquire “Graded Stakes Earnings.” As we talked about early in the beginners series, major stakes races are graded 1, 2, and 3. Anytime a horse runs in a graded stakes, those earnings count towards qualifying for the Derby. For example: The Arkansas Derby is a Grade 1 race with a total purse of $1,000,000. $600,000 goes to the winner, $200,000 for second, $100,000 for third, and $50,000 for fourth. So if your horse wins the race, he or she gets $600,000 in graded earnings and is safely in the Kentucky Derby. Usually a horse needs between $200,000 – $250,000 to get into the race. There are several chances to acquire graded earnings throughout the year as almost every track across the United States run at least one Derby “prep race.” Oaklawn Park, Gulfstream Park, Keeneland, Santa Anita, Aqueduct, Fair Grounds, Sunland, and Turfway Park all are known for producing several Kentucky Derby starters. Each of these track major focus centers around prepping horses for the Kentucky Derby.
Records:
- Most wins by a Jockey:
- 5 – Eddie Arcaro (1938, 1941, 1945, 1948, 1952)
- 5 – Bill Hartack (1957, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1969)
- Most wins by a Trainer:
6 – Ben A. Jones (1938, 1941, 1944, 1948, 1949, 1952)
- Most wins by an Owner:
8 – Calumet Farm (1941, 1944, 1948, 1949, 1952, 1957, 1958, 1968)
- Fastest Time:
1:59.40 – Secretariat (1973)
- Longest length to win the race:
8 lengths – Assault (1946) 8 lengths – Whirlaway (1941)
- Longest shot to win the Derby:
91 to 1 – Donerail (1913)
Winners:
Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time | |
2011 | Animal Kingdom | John Velazquez | H. Graham Motion | Team Valor | 2:02.04 | |
2010 | Super Saver | Calvin Borel | Todd Pletcher | WinStar Farm | 2:04.45 | |
2009 | Mine That Bird | Calvin Borel | Bennie L. Woolley, Jr. | Double Eagle Ranch et al. | 2:02.66 | |
2008 | Big Brown | Kent Desormeaux | Richard E. Dutrow, Jr. | IEAH Stables / P. Pompa | 2:01.82 | |
2007 | Street Sense | Calvin Borel | Carl Nafzger | James B. Tafel | 2:02.17 | |
2006 | Barbaro | Edgar Prado | Michael R. Matz | Lael Stables | 2:01.36 | |
2005 | Giacomo | Mike E. Smith | John Shirreffs | Jerry & Ann Moss | 2:02.75 | |
2004 | Smarty Jones | Stewart Elliott | John Servis | Someday Farm | 2:04.06 | |
2003 | Funny Cide | Jose Santos | Barclay Tagg | Sackatoga Stable | 2:01.19 | |
2002 | War Emblem | Victor Espinoza | Bob Baffert | Thoroughbred Corp. | 2:01.13 | |
2001 | Monarchos | Jorge F. Chavez | John T. Ward, Jr. | John C. Oxley | 1:59.97 | |
2000 | Fusaichi Pegasus | Kent Desormeaux | Neil Drysdale | Fusao Sekiguchi | 2:01.00 | |
1999 | Charismatic | Chris Antley | D. Wayne Lukas | Bob & Beverly Lewis | 2:03.20 | |
1998 | Real Quiet | Kent Desormeaux | Bob Baffert | Michael E. Pegram | 2:02.20 | |
1997 | Silver Charm | Gary Stevens | Bob Baffert | Bob & Beverly Lewis | 2:02.40 | |
1996 | Grindstone | Jerry Bailey | D. Wayne Lukas | Overbrook Farm | 2:01.00 | |
1995 | Thunder Gulch | Gary Stevens | D. Wayne Lukas† | Michael Tabor | 2:01.20 | |
1994 | Go for Gin | Chris McCarron | Nick Zito | Condren & Cornacchia | 2:03.60 | |
1993 | Sea Hero | Jerry Bailey | MacKenzie Miller | Rokeby Stables | 2:02.40 | |
1992 | Lil E. Tee | Pat Day | Lynn S. Whiting | W. Cal Partee | 2:03.00 | |
1991 | Strike the Gold | Chris Antley | Nick Zito | BCC Stable | 2:03.00 | |
1990 | Unbridled | Craig Perret | Carl Nafzger | Frances A. Genter | 2:02.00 | |
1989 | Sunday Silence | Pat Valenzuela | Charlie Whittingham | H-G-W Partners | 2:05.00 | |
1988 | Winning Colors ‡ | Gary Stevens | D. Wayne Lukas | Eugene V. Klein | 2:02.20 | |
1987 | Alysheba | Chris McCarron | Jack Van Berg | D. & P. Scharbauer | 2:03.40 | |
1986 | Ferdinand | Bill Shoemaker | Charlie Whittingham | Elizabeth A. Keck | 2:02.80 | |
1985 | Spend A Buck | Angel Cordero, Jr. | Cam Gambolati | Dennis Diaz | 2:00.20 | |
1984 | Swale | Laffit Pincay, Jr. | Woody Stephens | Claiborne Farm | 2:02.40 | |
1983 | Sunny’s Halo | Ed Delahoussaye | David C. Cross, Jr. | D. J. Foster Stable | 2:02.20 | |
1982 | Gato Del Sol | Ed Delahoussaye | Edwin J. Gregson | Hancock & Peters | 2:02.40 | |
1981 | Pleasant Colony | Jorge Velasquez | John P. Campo | Buckland Farm | 2:02.00 | |
1980 | Genuine Risk ‡ | Jacinto Vasquez | LeRoy Jolley | Diana M. Firestone | 2:02.00 | |
1979 | Spectacular Bid | Ronnie Franklin | Bud Delp | Hawksworth Farm | 2:02.40 | |
1978 | Affirmed † | Steve Cauthen | Laz Barrera | Harbor View Farm | 2:01.20 | |
1977 | Seattle Slew † | Jean Cruguet | William H. Turner, Jr. | Karen L. Taylor | 2:02.20 | |
1976 | Bold Forbes | Angel Cordero, Jr. | Laz Barrera | E. Rodriguez Tizol | 2:01.60 | |
1975 | Foolish Pleasure | Jacinto Vasquez | LeRoy Jolley | John L. Greer | 2:02.00 | |
1974 | Cannonade | Angel Cordero, Jr. | Woody Stephens | John M. Olin | 2:04.00 | |
1973 | Secretariat † | Ron Turcotte | Lucien Laurin | Meadow Stable | 1:59.40 | |
1972 | Riva Ridge | Ron Turcotte | Lucien Laurin | Meadow Stud | 2:01.80 | |
1971 | Canonero II | Gustavo Avila | Juan Arias | Edgar Caibett | 2:03.20 | |
1970 | Dust Commander | Mike Manganello | Don Combs | Robert E. Lehmann | 2:03.40 | |
1969 | Majestic Prince | Bill Hartack | Johnny Longden | Frank M. McMahon | 2:01.80 | |
1968* | Forward Pass | Ismael Valenzuela | Henry Forrest | Calumet Farm | 2:02.20 | |
1967 | Proud Clarion | Bobby Ussery | Loyd Gentry, Jr. | Darby Dan Farm | 2:00.60 | |
1966 | Kauai King | Don Brumfield | Henry Forrest | Ford Stable | 2:02.00 | |
1965 | Lucky Debonair | Bill Shoemaker | Frank Catrone | Ada L. Rice | 2:01.20 | |
1964 | Northern Dancer | Bill Hartack | Horatio Luro | Windfields Farm | 2:00.00 | |
1963 | Chateaugay | Braulio Baeza | James P. Conway | Darby Dan Farm | 2:01.80 | |
1962 | Decidedly | Bill Hartack | Horatio Luro | El Peco Ranch | 2:00.40 | |
1961 | Carry Back | Johnny Sellers | Jack A. Price | Katherine Price | 2:04.00 | |
1960 | Venetian Way | Bill Hartack | Victor J. Sovinski | Sunny Blue Farm | 2:02.40 | |
1959 | Tomy Lee | Bill Shoemaker | Frank E. Childs | Fred & Juliette Turner | 2:02.20 | |
1958 | Tim Tam | Ismael Valenzuela | Jimmy Jones | Calumet Farm | 2:05.00 | |
1957 | Iron Liege | Bill Hartack | Jimmy Jones | Calumet Farm | 2:02.20 | |
1956 | Needles | David Erb | Hugh L. Fontaine | D & H Stable | 2:03.40 | |
1955 | Swaps | Bill Shoemaker | Mesh Tenney | Rex C. Ellsworth | 2:01.80 | |
1954 | Determine | Raymond York | William Molter | Andrew J. Crevolin | 2:03.00 | |
1953 | Dark Star | Hank Moreno | Eddie Hayward | Cain Hoy Stable | 2:02.00 | |
1952 | Hill Gail | Eddie Arcaro | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 2:01.60 | |
1951 | Count Turf | Conn McCreary | Sol Rutchick | Jack J. Amiel | 2:02.60 | |
1950 | Middleground | William Boland | Max Hirsch | King Ranch | 2:01.60 | |
1949 | Ponder | Steve Brooks | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 2:04.20 | |
1948 | Citation † | Eddie Arcaro | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 2:05.40 | |
1947 | Jet Pilot | Eric Guerin | Tom Smith | Maine Chance Farm | 2:06.80 | |
1946 | Assault † | Warren Mehrtens | Max Hirsch | King Ranch | 2:06.60 | |
1945 | Hoop Jr. | Eddie Arcaro | Ivan H. Parke | Fred W. Hooper | 2:07.00 | |
1944 | Pensive | Conn McCreary | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 2:04.20 | |
1943 | Count Fleet † | Johnny Longden | Don Cameron | Fannie Hertz | 2:04.00 | |
1942 | Shut Out | Wayne D. Wright | John M. Gaver, Sr. | Greentree Stable | 2:04.40 | |
1941 | Whirlaway † | Eddie Arcaro | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 2:01.40 | |
1940 | Gallahadion | Carroll Bierman | Roy Waldron | Milky Way Farm | 2:05.00 | |
1939 | Johnstown | James Stout | Jim Fitzsimmons | Belair Stud | 2:03.40 | |
1938 | Lawrin | Eddie Arcaro | Ben A. Jones | Herbert M. Woolf | 2:04.80 | |
1937 | War Admiral † | Charley Kurtsinger | George Conway | Glen Riddle Farm | 2:03.20 | |
1936 | Bold Venture | Ira Hanford | Max Hirsch | Morton L. Schwartz | 2:03.60 | |
1935 | Omaha † | Willie Saunders | Jim Fitzsimmons | Belair Stud | 2:05.00 | |
1934 | Cavalcade | Mack Garner | Bob Smith | Brookmeade Stable | 2:04.00 | |
1933 | Brokers Tip | Don Meade | Herbert J. Thompson | Edward R. Bradley | 2:06.80 | |
1932 | Burgoo King | Eugene James | Herbert J. Thompson | Edward R. Bradley | 2:05.20 | |
1931 | Twenty Grand | Charley Kurtsinger | James G. Rowe, Jr. | Greentree Stable | 2:01.80 | |
1930 | Gallant Fox † | Earl Sande | Jim Fitzsimmons | Belair Stud | 2:07.60 | |
1929 | Clyde Van Dusen | Linus McAtee | Clyde Van Dusen | Herbert P. Gardner | 2:10.80 | |
1928 | Reigh Count | Chick Lang | Bert S. Michell | Fannie Hertz | 2:10.40 | |
1927 | Whiskery | Linus McAtee | Fred Hopkins | Harry P. Whitney | 2:06.00 | |
1926 | Bubbling Over | Albert Johnson | Herbert J. Thompson | Edward R. Bradley | 2:03.80 | |
1925 | Flying Ebony | E. Sande | W.B. Duke | Gifford A. Cochran | 2:07:60 | |
1924 | Black Gold | J. D. Mooney | Hanley Webb | Rosa M. Hoots | 2:05.20 | |
1923 | Zev | Earl Sande | David J. Leary | Rancocas Stable | 2:05.40 | |
1922 | Morvich | Albert Johnson | Fred Burlew | Benjamin Block | 2:04.60 | |
1921 | Behave Yourself | Charles Thompson | Herbert J. Thompson | Edward R. Bradley | 2:04.20 | |
1920 | Paul Jones | Ted Rice | Billy Garth | Ral Parr | 2:09.00 | |
1919 | Sir Barton † | Johnny Loftus | H. Guy Bedwell | J. K. L. Ross | 2:09.80 | |
1918 | Exterminator | William Knapp | Henry McDaniel | Willis Sharpe Kilmer | 2:10.80 | |
1917 | Omar Khayyam | Charles Borel | Charles T. Patterson | Billings & Johnson | 2:04.60 | |
1916 | George Smith | Johnny Loftus | Hollie Hughes | John Sanford | 2:04.00 | |
1915 | Regret ‡ | Joe Notter | James G. Rowe, Sr. | Harry P. Whitney | 2:05.40 | |
1914 | Old Rosebud | John McCabe | Frank D. Weir | Hamilton C. Applegate | 2:03.40 | |
1913 | Donerail | Roscoe Goose | Thomas P. Hayes | Thomas P. Hayes | 2:04.80 | |
1912 | Worth | Carroll H. Shilling | Frank M. Taylor | Henry C. Hallenbeck | 2:09.40 | |
1911 | Meridian | George Archibald | Albert Ewing | Richard F. Carman | 2:05.00 | |
1910 | Donau | Frederick Herbert | George Ham | William Gerst | 2:06.40 | |
1909 | Wintergreen | Vincent Powers | Charles Mack | Jerome B. Respess | 2:08.20 | |
1908 | Stone Street | Arthur Pickens | J. W. Hall | C. E. & J. W. Hamilton | 2:15.20 | |
1907 | Pink Star | Andy Minder | W. H. Fizer | J. Hal Woodford | 2:12.60 | |
1906 | Sir Huon | Roscoe Troxler | Pete Coyne | Bashford Manor Stable | 2:08.80 | |
1905 | Agile | Jack Martin | Robert Tucker | Samuel S. Brown | 2:10.75 | |
1904 | Elwood | Shorty Prior | Charles E. Durnell | Mrs. C. E. Durnell | 2:08.50 | |
1903 | Judge Himes | Hal Booker | John P. Mayberry | Charles R. Ellison | 2:09.00 | |
1902 | Alan-a-Dale | Jimmy Winkfield | Thomas C. McDowell | Thomas C. McDowell | 2:08.75 | |
1901 | His Eminence | Jimmy Winkfield | Frank B. Van Meter | Frank B. Van Meter | 2:07.75 | |
1900 | Lieut. Gibson | Jimmy Boland | Charles Hughes | Charles H. Smith | 2:06.25 | |
1899 | Manuel | Fred Taral | Robert J. Walden | A. H. & D. H. Morris | 2:12.00 | |
1898 | Plaudit | Willie Simms | John E. Madden | John E. Madden | 2:09.00 | |
1897 | Typhoon II | Buttons Garner | J. C. Cahn | J. C. Cahn | 2:12.50 | |
1896 | Ben Brush | Willie Simms | Hardy Campbell, Jr. | Mike F. Dwyer | 2:07.75 | |
1895 | Halma | Soup Perkins | Byron McClelland | Byron McClelland | 2:37.50 | |
1894 | Chant | Frank Goodale | H. Eugene Leigh | Leigh & Rose | 2:41.00 | |
1893 | Lookout | Eddie Kunze | William McDaniel | Cushing & Orth | 2:39.25 | |
1892 | Azra | Alonzo Clayton | John H. Morris | Bashford Manor Stable | 2:41.50 | |
1891 | Kingman | Isaac Murphy | Dud Allen | Jacobin Stable | 2:52.25 | |
1890 | Riley | Isaac Murphy | Edward Corrigan | Edward Corrigan | 2:45.00 | |
1889 | Spokane | Thomas Kiley | John Rodegap | Noah Armstrong | 2:34.50 | |
1888 | Macbeth II | George Covington | John Campbell | Chicago Stable | 2:38.00 | |
1887 | Montrose | Isaac Lewis | John McGinty | Labold Brothers | 2:39.25 | |
1886 | Ben Ali | Paul Duffy | Jim Murphy | J. B. A. Haggin | 2:36.50 | |
1885 | Joe Cotton | Erskine Henderson | Abe Perry | James T. Williams | 2:37.25 | |
1884 | Buchanan | Isaac Murphy | William Bird | William Cottrill | 2:40.25 | |
1883 | Leonatus | Billy Donohue | Raleigh Colston | Chinn & Morgan | 2:43.00 | |
1882 | Apollo | Babe Hurd | Green B. Morris | Morris & Patton | 2:40.00 | |
1881 | Hindoo | Jim McLaughlin | James G. Rowe, Sr. | Dwyer Bros. Stable | 2:40.00 | |
1880 | Fonso | George Lewis | Tice Hutsell | J. Snell Shawhan | 2:37.50 | |
1879 | Lord Murphy | Charlie Shauer | George Rice | Darden & Co | 2:37.00 | |
1878 | Day Star | Jimmy Carter | Lee Paul | T. J. Nichols | 2:37.25 | |
1877 | Baden-Baden | Billy Walker | Edward D. Brown | Daniel Swigert | 2:38.00 | |
1876 | Vagrant | Bobby Swim | James Williams | William Astor, Jr. | 2:38.25 | |
1875 | Aristides | Oliver Lewis | Ansel Williamson | Hal P. McGrath | 2:37.75 |
Notes and Tidbits:
– Apollo, the 1882 winner, is the only 3 year old horse to win the derby without having raced the year before as a 2 year old.
– D. Wayne Lukas is the only trainer to sweep the Triple Crown with two different horses. He did it in 1995.
– The Kentucky Derby is the oldest continuous sporting event in the United States.
– My Old Kentucky Home is played before every Kentucky Derby
– Jockey Clavin Borel won the Derby three times in for years between 2007 – 2010
– Only three fillies have ever won the Kentukcy Derby
– The official drink of the Kentucky Derby is the Mint Julep.