| 45th Kentucky Derby | |
| Class: | Stakes race |
| Horse Race: | Kentucky Derby |
| Location: | Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky |
| Date: | May 10, 1919 |
| Winning Horse: | Sir Barton |
| Winning Jockey: | Johnny Loftus |
| Winning Trainer: | H.G. Bedwell |
| Winning Owner: | J.K.L. Ross |
| Conditions: | Heavy |
| Surface: | Dirt |
| Previous: | 1918 |
| Next: | 1920 |
The 1919 Kentucky Derby was the 45th running of the Kentucky Derby. The race took place on May 10, 1919.[1] [2] Winner Sir Barton went on to win in the Preakness and Belmont Stakes, becoming the first winner of the American Triple Crown.[3]
A New York Times writer believed that the Preakness Stakes was competing for attention with the Derby, as it was held four days following the Derby and offered a purse of $30,000, larger than the Derby's $20,000.[4] The author felt that the three-year old racing horses during the 1919 season were a "good crop" and that the course record of 2: set by Old Rosebud in 1914 could be broken.[4] Sennings Park, a horse who stayed through the winter at Churchill Downs, ran a mile at the track in 1:43 3/5, the best time of the season in late April.[5]
| + Final placings (1–12) | |||||||
| Finish | Post Position | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Final Odds | Stake |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Sir Barton | Johnny Loftus | H. Guy Bedwell | J. K. L. Ross | $20,825 | |
| 2 | 13 | Billy Kelly | Earl Sande | H. Guy Bedwell | J. K. L. Ross | $2,500 | |
| 3 | 8 | Under Fire | Mack Garner | Patrick Dunne | Patrick Dunne | $1,000 | |
| 4 | 7 | Vulcanite | Cecil Howard | John Hogan | William F. Polson | $275 | |
| 5 | 9 | Sennings Park | Harry Lunsford | Oswald A. Bianchi | Oswald A. Bianchi | – | |
| 6 | 2 | Be Frank | James Butwell | Walter B. Jennings | Cornelius M. Garrison | – | |
| 7 | 11 | Sailor | J. McIntyre | Kimball Patterson | James W. McClelland | – | |
| 8 | 5 | St. Bernard | Earl Pool | B. J. Brannon | B. J. Brannon | – | |
| 9 | 10 | Regalo | Frank Murphy | John C. Gallaher | Gallaher Bros. | – | |
| 10 | 6 | Eternal | Andy Schuttinger | Kimball Patterson | James W. McClelland | – | |
| 11 | 14 | Frogtown | John Morys | Henry E. McDaniel | Willis Sharpe Kilmer | – | |
| 12 | 3 | Vindex | Willie Knapp | James G. Rowe Sr. | Harry Payne Whitney | – | |
| Post Position | Horse | Win | Place | Show |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sir Barton | $7.20 | $6.70 | $6.00 |
| 13 | Billy Kelly | – | $6.70 | $6.00 |
| 8 | Under Fire | – | – | $10.80 |
For the first time in race history two horses from the same owner finished in first and second place. In addition, Ross became the first Canadian owner to have a horse win the Kentucky Derby.