| 5th Kentucky Derby | |
| Class: | Grade I stakes race |
| Horse Race: | Kentucky Derby |
| Location: | Churchill Downs |
| Date: | May 20, 1879 |
| Winning Horse: | Lord Murphy |
| Winning Jockey: | Charlie Shauer |
| Winning Trainer: | George Rice |
| Winning Owner: | Geo. W. Darden & Co. |
| Surface: | Dirt |
| Previous: | 1878 |
| Next: | 1880 |
The 1879 Kentucky Derby was the 5th running of the Kentucky Derby. The race took place on May 20, 1879.[1] The winning horse Lord Murphy set a new Derby record with a winning time of 2:37.00.[2]
| Finished | Post | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time / behind | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Lord Murphy | Charles Shauer | George Rice | Geo. W. Darden & Co. | 2:37.00 | ||
| 2nd | Falsetto | Isaac Murphy | J.W.H. Reynolds | ||||
| 3rd | Strathmore | Hightower | George Cadwallader | ||||
| 4th | Trinidad | Alonzo Allen | Daniel Swigert | ||||
| 5th | One Dime | L. Jones | G. W. Bowen & Co. | ||||
| 6th | General Pike | John Stoval | Gen. Abe Buford | ||||
| 7th | Ada Glenn | Ramey | G. D. Wilson | ||||
| 8th | Buckner | D. Edwards | H. W. Farris | ||||
| 9th | Wissahickon | L. Hawkins | H. Price McGrath |