Kentucky Derby

Kentucky Derby

Grade I race
"The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports" "The Run for the Roses"
Location	Churchill Downs Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Inaugurated	May 17, 1875 (146 years ago)
Race type	Flat / Thoroughbred
Sponsor	Brown-Forman[1]
Website	www.kentuckyderby.com
Race information
Distance	1+1⁄4 miles (10 furlongs; 2 km)
Record	1:59.40, Secretariat (1973, 1+1⁄4 miles) 2:34.50, Spokane (1889, 1+1⁄2 miles)
Surface	Dirt
Track	Left-handed
Qualification	3-year-old
Weight	Colt/Gelding: 126 lbs (57.2 kg) Filly: 121 lb (55 kg)
Purse	US$3 million[2] 1st: $1,860,000

The Kentucky Derby /ˈdɜːrbi/ is a horse race held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, almost always on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The competition is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds at a distance of one and a quarter miles (2.0 km) at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds (57 kilograms) and fillies 121 pounds (55 kilograms).^[3]

It is dubbed "The Run for the Roses", stemming from the blanket of roses draped over the winner. It is also known in the United States as "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports" or "The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports" because of its approximate duration. It is the first leg of the American Triple Crown, followed by the Preakness Stakes, and then the Belmont Stakes. Of the three Triple Crown races, the Kentucky Derby has the distinction of having been run uninterrupted since its inaugural race in 1875. The race was rescheduled to September 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Preakness and Belmont Stakes races had taken hiatuses in 1891–1893 and 1911–1912, respectively. Even with the Olympics and major professional sports leagues canceled at those points, the Derby, Preakness, and Belmont took place during the Great Depression and both World Wars.^[4]

A horse must win all three races to win the Triple Crown.^[5] In the 2015 listing of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), the Kentucky Derby tied with the Whitney Handicap as the top Grade 1 race in the United States outside the Breeders' Cup races.^[6]

The attendance at the Kentucky Derby ranks first in North America and usually surpasses the attendance numbers of all other stakes races including the Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes, and the Breeders' Cup.^[7]

The 147th Kentucky Derby was broadcast on NBC on Saturday, May 1, 2021. The horse Medina Spirit crossed the finish line first.^[8]

History[]

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In 1872, Col. Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr., grandson of William Clark of the Lewis and Clark expedition, traveled to England, visiting Epsom in Surrey where The Derby had been running annually since 1780.^[9] From there, Clark went on to Paris, France, where a group of racing enthusiasts had formed the French Jockey Club in 1863. They had organized the Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp, which at the time was the greatest race in France.

Returning home to Kentucky, Clark organized the Louisville Jockey Club to raise money for building quality racing facilities just outside the city. The track would soon become known as Churchill Downs, named for John and Henry Churchill, who provided the land for the racetrack.^[10] The naming went official in 1937.^[11]

The Kentucky Derby was first run at 1+1⁄2 miles (12 furlongs; 2.4 km) the same distance as the Epsom Derby, before changing lengths in 1896 to its current 1+1⁄4 miles (10 furlongs; 2 km). On May 17, 1875, in front of an estimated crowd of 10,000 people, a field of 15 three-year-old horses contested the first Derby. Under jockey Oliver Lewis, a colt named Aristides, who was trained by future Hall of Famer Ansel Williamson, won the inaugural Derby. Later that year, Lewis rode Aristides to a second-place finish in the Belmont Stakes.

Although the first race meeting proved a success, the track ran into financial difficulties, and in 1894 the New Louisville Jockey Club was incorporated with the new capitalization and improved facilities. Despite this, the business floundered until 1902 when Col. Matt Winn of Louisville put together a syndicate of businessmen to acquire the facility. Under Winn, Churchill Downs prospered, and the Kentucky Derby then became the preeminent stakes race for three-year-old thoroughbred horses in North America.

Thoroughbred owners began sending their successful Derby horses to compete in two other races. These two are the Preakness Stakes at the Pimlico Race Course, in Baltimore, and the Belmont Stakes in Elmont, New York. The three races offered large purses, and in 1919 Sir Barton became the first horse to win all three races. However, the term Triple Crown didn't come into use for another eleven years. In 1930, when Gallant Fox became the second horse to win all three races, sportswriter Charles Hatton brought the phrase into American usage. Fueled by the media, public interest in the possibility of a "superhorse" that could win the Triple Crown began in the weeks leading up to the Derby. Two years after the term went in use, the race (until that time ran in mid-May since inception) changed the date to the first Saturday in May. This change allows for a specific schedule for the Triple Crown races. Since 1931, the order of Triple Crown races has been the Kentucky Derby first, followed by the Preakness Stakes and then the Belmont Stakes. Before 1931, eleven times the Preakness was run before the Derby. On May 12, 1917, and again on May 13, 1922, the Preakness and the Derby took place on the same day. On eleven occasions the Belmont Stakes was run before the Preakness Stakes, and in 2020, the Belmont was run first, then the Kentucky Derby, and the Preakness Stakes last.

On May 16, 1925, the first live radio broadcast of the Kentucky Derby aired on WHAS as well as on WGN in Chicago.^[12] On May 7, 1949, the first television coverage of the Kentucky Derby took place, produced by WAVE-TV, the NBC affiliate in Louisville. This coverage was aired live in the Louisville market and sent to NBC as a kinescope newsreel recording for national broadcast. On May 3, 1952, the first national television coverage of the Kentucky Derby took place, aired from then-CBS affiliate WHAS-TV.^[13] In 1954, the purse exceeded US$100,000 for the first time. In 1968, Dancer's Image became the first horse to win the race and then faced disqualification. A urine test revealed traces of phenylbutazone (an anti-inflammatory painkiller drug) inside Dancer's Image. Forward Pass won after a protracted legal battle by the owners of Dancer's Image (which they lost). Forward Pass thus became the eighth winner for Calumet Farm. Unexpectedly, the regulations at Kentucky thoroughbred race tracks were changed some years later, allowing horses to run on phenylbutazone. In 1970, Diane Crump became the first female jockey to ride in the Derby, finishing 15th aboard Fathom.^[14]

The fastest time ever run in the Derby was in 1973 at 1:59.4 minutes, when Secretariat broke the record set by Northern Dancer in 1964 – a record time yet to be topped. Also during that race, he did something unique in Triple Crown races: for each successive quarter ran, his times were faster. Although the races do not record times for non-winners, in 1973 Sham finished second, two and a half lengths behind Secretariat in the same race. Using the thoroughbred racing convention of one length equaling one-fifth of a second to calculate Sham's time, he also finished in under two minutes. Another sub-two-minute finish, only the third, was set in 2001 by Monarchos at 1:59.97, the first year the race used hundredths of seconds instead of fifths in timing.^[15]

In 2005, the purse distribution for the Derby changed, so that horses finishing fifth would henceforth receive a share of the purse; previously only the first four finishers did so.^[16]

The Kentucky Derby began offering $3 million in purse money in 2019. Churchill Downs officials have cited the success of historical race wagering terminals at their Derby City Gaming facility in Louisville as a factor behind the purse increase.^[2] The Derby first offered a $1 million purse in 1996; then doubled to $2 million in 2005.^[2]

In 2020, The Kentucky Derby was postponed from May 2 to September 5 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[17] This was the second time in history the race had been postponed, the other being in 1945. Churchill Downs used a new singular 20-stall starting gate for the 2020 Kentucky Derby, replacing the previous arrangement that used a standard 14-stall gate and an auxiliary six-stall gate.^[18] The old setup contributed to congestion at the start of the race, especially in the gap between the two gates.^[18]

The Kentucky Derby is the oldest continuously held major sporting event in the United States (1875).

Attendance[]

Millions of people from around the world bet at various live tracks and online sportsbooks.^[19] In 2017, a crowd of 158,070 watched Always Dreaming win the Derby, making it the seventh biggest attendance in the history of the racetrack. The track reported a wagering total of $209.2 million from all the sources on all the races on the Kentucky Derby Day program. It was a 9 percent increase compared to the total of $192.6 million in 2016 and an increase of 8 percent over the previous record set in 2015 of $194.3 million.^[20] TwinSpires, a platform for betting online and a partner of the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders' Cup, recorded $32.8 million in handle on the Churchill Down races for the Kentucky Derby Day program. This record was a 22 percent increase over the preceding year. On the Kentucky Derby race alone, the handle of TwinSpires was $20.1 million, which is a 22 percent rise compared to the prior year.^[21]

The race often draws celebrities. HM Queen Elizabeth II, on a visit to the United States, joined the racegoers at Churchill Downs in 2007.^[22]

Sponsorship[]

The 2004 Kentucky Derby marked the first time that jockeys—as a result of a court order—were allowed to wear corporate advertising logos on their clothing.^[23][24]

Norman Adams has been the designer of the Kentucky Derby Logo since 2002. On February 1, 2006, the Louisville-based fast-food company Yum! Brands, Inc. announced a corporate sponsorship deal to call the race "The Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands."^[25] In 2018 Woodford Reserve replaced Yum! Brands as the presenting sponsor.^[1]

Traditions[]

In addition to the race itself, several traditions play a significant role in the Derby atmosphere. The mint julep—an iced drink consisting of bourbon, mint, and sugar syrup—is the traditional beverage of the race. The historic beverage comes served in an ice-frosted silver julep cup. However, most Churchill Downs patrons sip theirs from souvenir glasses (first offered in 1939 and available in revised form each year since) printed with all previous Derby winners.^[26] Also, burgoo, a thick stew of beef, chicken, pork, and vegetables, is a popular Kentucky dish served at the Derby.^[27]

The infield—a spectator area inside the track—offers general admission prices but little chance of seeing much of the race, particularly before the jumbotron installation in 2014.^[28][29] Instead, revelers show up in the infield to party with abandon. By contrast, "Millionaire's Row" refers to the expensive box seats that attract the rich, the famous and the well-connected. Women appear in elegant outfits lavishly accessorized with large, elaborate hats. Following the Call to the Post, as the horses start to parade before the grandstands, the University of Louisville Cardinal Marching Band plays Stephen Foster's "My Old Kentucky Home". This song is a tradition which began in 1921.^[30] The event attracts spectators from a large area, flying in hundreds of private aircraft to Louisville International Airport.^[31]

The Derby is frequently referred to as "The Run for the Roses", because a lush blanket of 554 red roses is awarded to the Kentucky Derby winner each year. The tradition originated in 1883 when New York City socialite E. Berry Wall presented roses to ladies at a post-Derby party. Churchill Downs founder and president, Col. M. Lewis Clark, attended that event. This gesture is believed to have led Clark to the idea of making the rose the race's official flower. However, it was not until 1896 that any recorded account referred to draping roses on the Derby winner. The Governor of Kentucky awards the garland and the Kentucky Derby Trophy. Pop vocalist Dan Fogelberg composed the song "Run for the Roses", released in time for the 1980 running of the race.^[32]

Riders Up![]

"Riders Up!" is the traditional command from the Paddock Judge for jockeys to mount their horses in advance of the upcoming race. Since 2012, a dignitary or celebrity attendee recites this phrase.

Festival[]

In the weeks preceding the race, numerous activities took place for the Kentucky Derby Festival. Thunder Over Louisville—an airshow and fireworks display—generally begins the festivities in earnest two weeks before the Derby.

Records[]

Speed record:

• Mile and a Quarter: 1:59.4 – Secretariat (1973)
• Mile and a Half: 2:34.5 – Spokane (1889)

Margin of Victory:

• 8 lengths – Old Rosebud (1914), Johnstown (1939), Whirlaway (1941), Assault (1946)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 5 – Eddie Arcaro (1938, 1941, 1945, 1948, 1952)
• 5 – Bill Hartack (1957, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1969)
• 4 – John Velazquez (2011, 2017, 2020, 2021)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 7 – Bob Baffert (1997, 1998, 2002, 2015, 2018, 2020, 2021)
• 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)

Longest shot to win the Derby:

• 91 to 1 – Donerail (1913)

Miscellaneous:

• In 2010, Calvin Borel set a new record, being the first jockey to win 3 out of 4 consecutive Kentucky Derbys.^[33]
• In 2018, Justify became the first horse since Apollo in 1882, to win the Derby without having raced as a two-year-old.^[34]
• In 2019, Country House won the Kentucky Derby after Maximum Security was disqualified.^[35][36]

Winners[]

Triple Crown winners are in bold.

Kentucky Derby winners^[37]

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Distance (miles)	Track condition	Time[a]
2021	Medina Spirit	John Velazquez	Bob Baffert	Zedan Racing Stables	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:01.02
2020	Authentic	John Velazquez	Bob Baffert	Spendthrift Farm LLC, MyRaceHorse Stable, Madaket Stables LLC, Starlight Racing	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:00.61
2019	Country House[b]	Flavien Prat	Bill Mott	Mrs. J.V. Shields Jr., E. J. M. McFadden Jr. and LNJ Foxwoods	1+1⁄4	Sloppy	2:03.93
2018	Justify	Mike E. Smith	Bob Baffert	China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners, Starlight Racing, WinStar Farm	1+1⁄4	Sloppy	2:04.20
2017	Always Dreaming	John Velazquez	Todd Pletcher	MeB Racing, Brooklyn Boyz, Teresa Viola, St. Elias, Siena Farm, West Point	1+1⁄4	Wet Fast (sealed)	2:03.59
2016	Nyquist	Mario Gutierrez	Doug O'Neill	J. Paul Reddam	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:01.31
2015	American Pharoah	Victor Espinoza	Bob Baffert	Zayat Stables, LLC	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:03.02
2014	California Chrome	Victor Espinoza	Art Sherman	Steve Coburn & Perry Martin	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:03.66
2013	Orb	Joel Rosario	Claude McGaughey III	Stuart S. Janney III & Phipps Stable	1+1⁄4	Sloppy	2:02.89
2012	I'll Have Another	Mario Gutierrez	Doug O'Neill	J. Paul Reddam	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:01.83
2011	Animal Kingdom	John Velazquez	H. Graham Motion	Team Valor International	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:02.04
2010	Super Saver	Calvin Borel	Todd Pletcher	WinStar Farm	1+1⁄4	Sloppy	2:04.45
2009	Mine That Bird	Calvin Borel	Bennie L. Woolley Jr.	Double Eagle Ranch et al.	1+1⁄4	Sloppy	2:02.66
2008	Big Brown	Kent Desormeaux	Richard E. Dutrow Jr.	IEAH Stables /	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:01.82
2007	Street Sense	Calvin Borel	Carl Nafzger		1+1⁄4	Fast	2:02.17
2006	Barbaro	Edgar Prado	Michael R. Matz		1+1⁄4	Fast	2:01.36
2005	Giacomo	Mike E. Smith	John Shirreffs	Jerry & Ann Moss	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:02.75
2004	Smarty Jones	Stewart Elliott	John Servis		1+1⁄4	Sloppy	2:04.06
2003	Funny Cide	José A. Santos	Barclay Tagg	Sackatoga Stable	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:01.19
2002	War Emblem	Victor Espinoza	Bob Baffert	Thoroughbred Corp.	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:01.13
2001	Monarchos	Jorge F. Chavez	John T. Ward Jr.	John C. Oxley	1+1⁄4	Fast	1:59.97
2000	Fusaichi Pegasus	Kent Desormeaux	Neil Drysdale	Fusao Sekiguchi	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:01.0
1999	Charismatic	Chris Antley	D. Wayne Lukas	Bob & Beverly Lewis	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:03.2
1998	Real Quiet	Kent Desormeaux	Bob Baffert	Michael E. Pegram	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:02.2
1997	Silver Charm	Gary Stevens	Bob Baffert	Bob & Beverly Lewis	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:02.4
1996	Grindstone	Jerry Bailey	D. Wayne Lukas	Overbrook Farm	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:01.0
1995	Thunder Gulch	Gary Stevens	D. Wayne Lukas	Michael Tabor	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:01.2
1994	Go for Gin	Chris McCarron	Nick Zito	William J. Condren & Joseph M. Cornacchia	1+1⁄4	Sloppy	2:03.6
1993	Sea Hero	Jerry Bailey	MacKenzie Miller	Rokeby Stables	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:02.4
1992	Lil E. Tee	Pat Day	Lynn S. Whiting		1+1⁄4	Fast	2:03.0
1991	Strike the Gold	Chris Antley	Nick Zito		1+1⁄4	Fast	2:03.0
1990	Unbridled	Craig Perret	Carl Nafzger	Frances A. Genter	1+1⁄4	Good	2:02.0
1989	Sunday Silence	Pat Valenzuela	Charlie Whittingham	H-G-W Partners	1+1⁄4	Muddy	2:05.0
1988	Winning Colors	Gary Stevens	D. Wayne Lukas	Eugene V. Klein	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:02.2
1987	Alysheba	Chris McCarron	Jack Van Berg		1+1⁄4	Fast	2:03.4
1986	Ferdinand	Bill Shoemaker	Charlie Whittingham	Elizabeth A. Keck	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:02.8
1985	Spend A Buck	Ángel Cordero Jr.	Cam Gambolati		1+1⁄4	Fast	2:00.2
1984	Swale	Laffit Pincay Jr.	Woody Stephens	Claiborne Farm	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:02.4
1983	Sunny's Halo	Eddie Delahoussaye	David C. Cross Jr.		1+1⁄4	Fast	2:02.2
1982	Gato Del Sol	Eddie Delahoussaye	Edwin J. Gregson	Hancock & Peters	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:02.4
1981	Pleasant Colony	Jorge Velásquez	John P. Campo	Buckland Farm	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:02.0
1980	Genuine Risk	Jacinto Vásquez	LeRoy Jolley	Diana M. Firestone	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:02.0
1979	Spectacular Bid	Ronnie Franklin	Bud Delp		1+1⁄4	Fast	2:02.4
1978	Affirmed	Steve Cauthen	Laz Barrera	Harbor View Farm	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:01.2
1977	Seattle Slew	Jean Cruguet	William H. Turner Jr.		1+1⁄4	Fast	2:02.2
1976	Bold Forbes	Ángel Cordero Jr.	Laz Barrera		1+1⁄4	Fast	2:01.6
1975	Foolish Pleasure	Jacinto Vásquez	LeRoy Jolley		1+1⁄4	Fast	2:02.0
1974	Cannonade	Ángel Cordero Jr.	Woody Stephens	John M. Olin	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:04.0
1973	Secretariat	Ron Turcotte	Lucien Laurin	Meadow Stable	1+1⁄4	Fast	1:59.4
1972	Riva Ridge	Ron Turcotte	Lucien Laurin	Meadow Stud	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:01.8
1971	Canonero II	Gustavo Ávila	Juan Arias		1+1⁄4	Fast	2:03.2
1970	Dust Commander	Mike Manganello	Don Combs		1+1⁄4	Good	2:03.4
1969	Majestic Prince	Bill Hartack	Johnny Longden	Frank M. McMahon	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:01.8
1968	Forward Pass[c]	Ismael Valenzuela	Henry Forrest	Calumet Farm	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:02.2
1967	Proud Clarion	Bobby Ussery	Loyd Gentry Jr.	Darby Dan Farm	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:00.6
1966	Kauai King	Don Brumfield	Henry Forrest		1+1⁄4	Fast	2:02.0
1965	Lucky Debonair	Bill Shoemaker	Frank Catrone	Ada L. Rice	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:01.2
1964	Northern Dancer	Bill Hartack	Horatio Luro	Windfields Farm	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:00.0
1963	Chateaugay	Braulio Baeza	James P. Conway	Darby Dan Farm	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:01.8
1962	Decidedly	Bill Hartack	Horatio Luro		1+1⁄4	Fast	2:00.4
1961	Carry Back	Johnny Sellers		Katherine Price	1+1⁄4	Good	2:04.0
1960	Venetian Way	Bill Hartack			1+1⁄4	Good	2:02.4
1959	Tomy Lee	Bill Shoemaker	Frank E. Childs		1+1⁄4	Fast	2:02.2
1958	Tim Tam	Ismael Valenzuela	Jimmy Jones	Calumet Farm	1+1⁄4	Muddy	2:05.0
1957	Iron Liege	Bill Hartack	Jimmy Jones	Calumet Farm	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:02.2
1956	Needles	David Erb	Hugh L. Fontaine		1+1⁄4	Fast	2:03.4
1955	Swaps	Bill Shoemaker	Mesh Tenney	Rex C. Ellsworth	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:01.8
1954	Determine	Raymond York	William Molter	Andrew J. Crevolin	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:03.0
1953	Dark Star	Henry E. Moreno	Eddie Hayward	Cain Hoy Stable	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:02.0
1952	Hill Gail	Eddie Arcaro	Ben A. Jones	Calumet Farm	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:01.6
1951	Count Turf	Conn McCreary	Sol Rutchick		1+1⁄4	Fast	2:02.6
1950	Middleground	William Boland	Max Hirsch	King Ranch	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:01.6
1949	Ponder	Steve Brooks	Ben A. Jones	Calumet Farm	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:04.2
1948	Citation	Eddie Arcaro	Ben A. Jones	Calumet Farm	1+1⁄4	Sloppy	2:05.4
1947	Jet Pilot	Eric Guerin	Tom Smith	Maine Chance Farm	1+1⁄4	Slow	2:06.8
1946	Assault	Warren Mehrtens	Max Hirsch	King Ranch	1+1⁄4	Slow	2:06.6
1945	Hoop Jr.	Eddie Arcaro	Ivan H. Parke	Fred W. Hooper	1+1⁄4	Muddy	2:07.0
1944	Pensive	Conn McCreary	Ben A. Jones	Calumet Farm	1+1⁄4	Good	2:04.2
1943	Count Fleet	Johnny Longden	Don Cameron	Fannie Hertz	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:04.0
1942	Shut Out	Wayne D. Wright	John M. Gaver Sr.	Greentree Stable	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:04.4
1941	Whirlaway	Eddie Arcaro	Ben A. Jones	Calumet Farm	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:01.4
1940	Gallahadion	Carroll Bierman	Roy Waldron	Milky Way Farm	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:05.0
1939	Johnstown	James Stout	Jim Fitzsimmons	Belair Stud	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:03.4
1938	Lawrin	Eddie Arcaro	Ben A. Jones	Herbert M. Woolf	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:04.8
1937	War Admiral	Charley Kurtsinger	George Conway	Glen Riddle Farm	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:03.2
1936	Bold Venture	Ira Hanford	Max Hirsch	Morton L. Schwartz	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:03.6
1935	Omaha	Willie Saunders	Jim Fitzsimmons	Belair Stud	1+1⁄4	Good	2:05.0
1934	Cavalcade	Mack Garner	Bob Smith	Brookmeade Stable	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:04.0
1933	Brokers Tip	Don Meade	Herbert J. Thompson	Edward R. Bradley	1+1⁄4	Good	2:06.8
1932	Burgoo King	Eugene James	Herbert J. Thompson	Edward R. Bradley	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:05.2
1931	Twenty Grand	Charley Kurtsinger	James G. Rowe Jr.	Greentree Stable	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:01.8
1930	Gallant Fox	Earl Sande	Jim Fitzsimmons	Belair Stud	1+1⁄4	Good	2:07.6
1929	Clyde Van Dusen	Linus McAtee	Clyde Van Dusen		1+1⁄4	Muddy	2:10.8
1928	Reigh Count	Chick Lang	Bert S. Michell	Fannie Hertz	1+1⁄4	Heavy	2:10.4
1927	Whiskery	Linus McAtee		Harry P. Whitney	1+1⁄4	Slow	2:06.0
1926	Bubbling Over	Albert Johnson	Herbert J. Thompson	Edward R. Bradley	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:03.8
1925	Flying Ebony	Earl Sande	William B. Duke	Gifford A. Cochran	1+1⁄4	Sloppy	2:07.6
1924	Black Gold	J. D. Mooney			1+1⁄4	Fast	2:05.2
1923	Zev	Earl Sande		Rancocas Stable	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:05.4
1922	Morvich	Albert Johnson	Fred Burlew	Benjamin Block	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:04.6
1921	Behave Yourself		Herbert J. Thompson	Edward R. Bradley	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:04.2
1920	Paul Jones	Ted Rice	William M. Garth		1+1⁄4	Slow	2:09.0
1919	Sir Barton	Johnny Loftus	H. Guy Bedwell	J. K. L. Ross	1+1⁄4	Heavy	2:09.8
1918	Exterminator	Willie Knapp	Henry McDaniel	Willis Sharpe Kilmer	1+1⁄4	Muddy	2:10.8
1917	Omar Khayyam	Charles Borel	Charles T. Patterson		1+1⁄4	Fast	2:04.6
1916	George Smith	Johnny Loftus	Hollie Hughes	John Sanford	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:04.0
1915	Regret	Joe Notter	James G. Rowe Sr.	Harry P. Whitney	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:05.4
1914	Old Rosebud		Frank D. Weir		1+1⁄4	Fast	2:03.40
1913	Donerail	Roscoe Goose			1+1⁄4	Fast	2:04.8
1912	Worth	Carroll H. Shilling	Frank M. Taylor		1+1⁄4	Muddy	2:09.4
1911	Meridian	George Archibald			1+1⁄4	Fast	2:05.0
1910	Donau	Frederick Herbert	George Ham		1+1⁄4	Fast	2:06.4
1909	Wintergreen	Vincent Powers			1+1⁄4	Slow	2:08.2
1908	Stone Street	Arthur Pickens			1+1⁄4	Heavy	2:15.2
1907	Pink Star	Andy Minder	William H. Fizer		1+1⁄4	Heavy	2:12.6
1906	Sir Huon	Roscoe Troxler		Bashford Manor Stable	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:08.8
1905	Agile		Robert Tucker	Samuel S. Brown	1+1⁄4	Heavy	2:10.75
1904	Elwood				1+1⁄4	Fast	2:08.5
1903	Judge Himes				1+1⁄4	Fast	2:09.0
1902	Alan-a-Dale	Jimmy Winkfield	Thomas C. McDowell	Thomas C. McDowell	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:08.75
1901	His Eminence	Jimmy Winkfield			1+1⁄4	Fast	2:07.75
1900	Lieut. Gibson				1+1⁄4	Fast	2:06.25
1899	Manuel	Fred Taral		A. H. & D. H. Morris	1+1⁄4	Fast	2:12.0
1898	Plaudit	Willie Simms	John E. Madden	John E. Madden	1+1⁄4	Good	2:09.0
1897	Typhoon II				1+1⁄4	Heavy	2:12.5
1896	Ben Brush	Willie Simms	Hardy Campbell Jr.	Mike F. Dwyer	1+1⁄4	Dusty	2:07.75
1895	Halma		Byron McClelland	Byron McClelland	1+1⁄2	Fast	2:37.5
1894	Chant		H. Eugene Leigh	H. Eugene Leigh & Robert L. Rose	1+1⁄2	Fast	2:41.0
1893	Lookout				1+1⁄2	Fast	2:39.25
1892	Azra	Alonzo Clayton		Bashford Manor Stable	1+1⁄2	Heavy	2:41.5
1891	Kingman	Isaac Murphy			1+1⁄2	Fast	2:52.25
1890	Riley	Isaac Murphy	Edward Corrigan	Edward Corrigan	1+1⁄2	Muddy	2:45.0
1889	Spokane			Noah Armstrong	1+1⁄2	Fast	2:34.5
1888	Macbeth II				1+1⁄2	Fast	2:38.25
1887	Montrose	Isaac Lewis			1+1⁄2	Fast	2:39.25
1886	Ben Ali	Paul Duffy		J. B. A. Haggin	1+1⁄2	Fast	2:36.5
1885	Joe Cotton		Abraham Perry		1+1⁄2	Good	2:37.25
1884	Buchanan	Isaac Murphy		Samuel S. Brown &	1+1⁄2	Good	2:40.25
1883	Leonatus	William Donohue		Jack P. Chinn & George W. Morgan	1+1⁄2	Heavy	2:43.0
1882	Apollo[d]				1+1⁄2	Fast	2:40.25
1881	Hindoo	Jim McLaughlin	James G. Rowe Sr.	Dwyer Bros. Stable	1+1⁄2	Fast	2:40.0
1880	Fonso				1+1⁄2	Dusty	2:37.50
1879	Lord Murphy				1+1⁄2	Fast	2:37.00
1878	Day Star				1+1⁄2	Dusty	2:37.25
1877	Baden-Baden	Billy Walker	Edward D. Brown		1+1⁄2	Fast	2:38.0
1876	Vagrant	Robert Swim	James Williams	William Astor Jr.	1+1⁄2	Fast	2:38.25
1875	Aristides	Oliver Lewis	Ansel Williamson	H. Price McGrath	1+1⁄2	Fast	2:37.75

Notes

designates a filly.

Sire lines[]

• the Darley Arabian (1700c) sire line (all branched through the Eclipse (1764) line)^[39] produced 129 Derby winners (121 colts, 5 geldings, 3 fillies), including all winners from 1938 to present.^[40] The main branches of this sire line are:
  • the King Fergus (1775) branch (all branched through the Voltigeur (1847) line), produced 14 winners. His sire line continued primarily through his son Vedette (1854) with 12 winners, due to his sons (1865) with 6 winners (nearly exclusively through (1898) with 5 winners, most recently Count Turf in 1951) and Galopin (1872) with 6 winners (exclusively through St. Simon (1881), most recently Go For Gin in 1994).^[41][42][43]
  • the Potoooooooo (1773) branch^[44] produced 115 winners (all branched through the Waxy (1790) line), including all winners from 1995 to present. The primary branch of this sire line is through Whalebone (1807), which has produced 110 winners. In turn, the primary branch continues through Sir Hercules (1826), which has produced 88 winners (including all winners since 2006), and then the Birdcatcher (1833) branch^[45] which produced 76 winners. From Birdcatcher, the branch of The Baron (1842) has produced 66 winners, of which 64 winners trace to Stockwell (1849).^[46] Stockwell's son Doncaster (1870) sired Bend Or (1877), whose sire line accounts for 62 winners.^[47] The main branch of the Bend Or sire line continued through his son Bona Vista (1889) with 53 winners, exclusively through the Phalaris (1913) line, which has dominated in the last several decades (including all winners from 2006 to present) through the following sons:^[48][49]
    • the Pharamond (1925) branch (4 winners all through the Tom Fool (1949) line, most recently Silver Charm in 1997);^[48]
    • the Sickle (1924) branch (22 winners all branched through the Native Dancer (1950) line, nearly exclusively through Raise a Native (1961) with 21 winners, continued primarily through Mr Prospector (1970) with 14 winners (through 8 different sons: Fusaichi Pegasus, winner of the 2000 Kentucky Derby, and 7 other sons through their progeny (most recently Country House in 2019), with his son Fappiano (1977) accounting for 6 winners (most recently Always Dreaming in 2017));
    • the Pharos (1920) branch (27 winners all branched through the Nearco (1935) line, through his sons Royal Charger (1942), Nearctic (1954), and Nasrullah (1940)). The Royal Charger branch produced 5 winners (most recently Barbaro in 2006), the Nearctic branch produced 8 winners, exclusively through his son Northern Dancer (1961) with his win in the 1964 Kentucky Derby, and direct male progeny of 7 winners (most recently Medina Spirit in 2021), while the Nasrullah branch produced 14 winners primarily due to his son Bold Ruler (1954) with 10 winners (most recently California Chrome in 2014).
    • Special notes:
      • The Waxy (1790) branch produced two main lines: the primary branch of Whalebone (1807) which produced 110 winners, and the secondary branch of Whisker (1812) which produced 5 winners (exclusively through the King Tom (1851) line), most recently 1909 Kentucky Derby winner Wintergreen.^[50]
      • An offshoot of the Whalebone (1807) branch, the Camel (1822) branch (18 winners exclusively through the Touchstone (1831) line), produced 2005 Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo through his grandson Orlando's (1841) branch.^[51][52] Since then, each winner of the Kentucky Derby has gone through Whalebone's more frequent sire line branch of Sir Herecules (1826). The Orlando branch (6 winners exclusively through the Himyar (1875) line) is the less common of the two branches derived through Camel. Orlando's brother Newminster (1848) produced 12 winners (primarily through the Hyperion (1930) line with 8 winners), most recently Chateaugay in 1963.^[53]
      • The Sir Hercules (1826) branch produced two main lines: the primary branch of Birdcatcher (1833) which produced 76 winners, and the secondary branch of Faugh-a-Ballagh (1841) which produced 12 winners (exclusively through the Leamington (1853) line), most recently 1908 Kentucky Derby winner Stone Street.^[54]
      • The Birdcatcher (1833) branch produced two main lines: the primary branch of The Baron (1842) which produced 66 winners, and the secondary branch of (1857) which produced 10 winners (primarily through the Swynford (1907) line with 8 winners), most recently 1965 Kentucky Derby winner Lucky Debonair.^[55]
      • The Bend Or (1877) branch produced two main lines: the primary branch of Bona Vista (1889) which produced 53 winners, and the secondary branch of Ormonde (1883) which produced 8 winners (exclusively through the Teddy (1913) line), most recently 1957 Kentucky Derby winner Iron Liege.^[56]
• the Byerley Turk (1680c) sire line^[57][58][59] produced 11 winners (8 colts, 3 geldings). The main branches of this sire (all branched through the Herod (1758) line) are:
  • the Highflyer (1774) branch produced 1 winner, most recently Macbeth II in 1888^[60]
  • the Florizel (1768) branch produced 3 winners (all branched through the Lexington (1850) line), most recently in 1899^[61][62][63]
  • the (1773) branch produced 7 winners (all branched through the (1787) line). The main branches of this sire line are:
    • the (1801) branch produced 1 winner, most recently Kingman in 1891^[64]
    • the Selim (1802) branch produced 6 winners (all branched through the Glencoe (1831) line). The main branches of this sire line are:
      • the (1849) branch produced 1 winner, most recently Day Star in 1878^[65]
      • the (1850) branch produced 5 winners (all branched through the Virgil (1864) line), most recently Alan-a-Dale in 1902^{[66][67][68][69][70]}
• the Godolphin Arabian (1724c) sire line^[71] produced 7 winners (6 colts, 1 gelding).^[40] The main branches of this sire (all branched through the West Australian (1850) line) are:
  • the (1861) branch produced 3 winners, including:
    • the Barcaldine (1878) branch produced 1 winner, most recently Omar Khayyam in 1917^[72]
    • the (1874) branch produced 2 winners (all branched through The Finn (1912) line), most recently Flying Ebony in 1925^[73][74]
  • the Australian (1858) branch produced 4 winners, including:
    • Baden-Baden (1874), winner of the 1877 Kentucky Derby^[75]
    • the (1870) branch produced 1 winner, most recently Montrose in 1887^[76]
    • the Spendthrift (1876) branch produced 2 winners (all branched through the Man o' War (1917) line), most recently War Admiral in 1937^[77][78]

Kentucky Derby winners with male-line descendants including other Kentucky Derby winners

• Northern Dancer (1964 winner) – 7 colts; most recently Medina Spirit (2021)^{[79][80][81][82][83][84][85]}
• Ben Brush (1896 winner) - 3 winners (2 colts, 1 filly); most recently Whiskery (1927)^{[44][86][87][88]}
• Seattle Slew (1977 winner) – 3 colts; most recently California Chrome (2014)^[89][90][91]
• Unbridled (1990 winner) – 3 winners (2 colts, 1 gelding); most recently American Pharoah (2015)^[92][93][94]
• Hindoo (1881 winner) – 2 colts; most recently Alan-a-Dale (1902)^[59]
• Bold Venture (1936 winner) – 2 colts; most recently Middleground (1950)^[95][96]
• Reigh Count (1928 winner) – 2 colts; most recently Count Turf (1951)^[97][98]
• Pensive (1944 winner) – 2 colts; most recently Needles (1956)^[99][100]
• Majestic Prince (1969 winner) – 2 colts; most recently Super Saver (2010)^[101][102]
• Halma (1895 winner) – 1 colt; Alan-a-Dale (1902)^[59]
• Leonatus (1883 winner) – 1 colt; Pink Star (1907)^[103]
• Bubbling Over (1926 winner) – 1 colt; Burgoo King (1932)^[104]
• Gallant Fox (1930 winner) – 1 colt; Omaha (1935)^[105]
• Count Fleet (1943 winner) – 1 colt; Count Turf (1951)^[98]
• Ponder (1949 winner) – 1 colt; Needles (1956)^[100]
• Determine (1954 winner) – 1 colt; Decidedly (1962)^[106]
• Swaps (1955 winner) – 1 colt; Chateaugay (1963)^[53]
• Grindstone (1996 winner) – 1 gelding; Mine That Bird (2009)^[93]

See also[]

• Kentucky Oaks
• Kentucky Derby Festival
• American thoroughbred racing top attended events
• Kentucky Derby top four finishers
• List of graded stakes at Churchill Downs
• "The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent and Depraved", a seminal example of New Journalism by Hunter S. Thompson.
• Triple Crown Productions
• Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
• Grand Slam of Thoroughbred Racing
• List of attractions and events in the Louisville metropolitan area
• Derby Pie
• List of Kentucky Derby broadcasters
•  Kentucky portal

References[]

Further reading[]

• David Domine, Insiders' Guide to Louisville. Guilford, Connecticut: Globe-Pequot Press, 2010.
• James C. Nicholson, The Kentucky Derby: How the Run for the Roses Became America's Premier Sporting Event. Lexington, Kentucky: University Press of Kentucky, 2012.

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Kentucky Derby.

Look up run for the roses in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• Official website
• Kentucky Derby Museum
• The Courier-Journal's Derby Site
• History of the Kentucky Derby
• ESPN.com – attending the Kentucky Derby
• Kentucky Derby News