Kentucky Derby Explained

Class:	Grade I
Horse Race:	Kentucky Derby
Location:	Churchill Downs Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Race Type:	Thoroughbred
Distance:	NaNmiles
Record:	1:59.4, Secretariat (1973) more
Surface:	Dirt
Track:	Left-handed
Qualification:	3-year-old
Weight:	Colt/Gelding: 126 lbs (57.2 kg) Filly: 121lb
Purse:	US$5 million^[1] 1st: $3.1 million

The Kentucky Derby is an American Grade I stakes race run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The race is run by three-year-old Thoroughbreds at a distance of NaN0NaN0. Colts and geldings carry 126lb and fillies 121lb.^[2]

Held annually on the first Saturday in May, the Derby is the first leg of the Triple Crown. It is preceded by the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival.^[3] The race is known as "The Run for the Roses", as the winning horse is draped in a blanket of roses.^{[4] [5]} Lasting approximately two minutes, the Derby has been alternately called "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports",^{[6] [7]} "The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports",^{[8] [9]} or "The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports", coined by Churchill Downs president Matt Winn.^{[10] [11]} At least two of these descriptions are thought to be derived from the words of sportswriter Grantland Rice, when in 1935 he said "Those two minutes and a second or so of derby running carry more emotional thrills, per second, than anything sport can show."^[12]

The race was first run in 1875. Unlike the other, older races of the Triple Crown—the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes—along with the Travers Stakes (the oldest comparable stakes race in the US), the Kentucky Derby and its sibling race, the Kentucky Oaks, have been run every year since inception. They were twice rescheduled within the same year, the first time due to World War II in 1945, and the second time due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The Derby and the Oaks are the oldest major sporting events in the US held annually since their beginning.^[13] Among thoroughbred stakes races, they are the oldest that have been held annually on the same track every year.

The Derby is the most-watched and most-attended horse race in the United States. The 2024 Kentucky Derby marked the 150th running of the race.

History

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.^[14] 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.^[15] The naming went official in 1937.^[16] The Kentucky Derby was first run at miles (12 furlongs; 2.4 km) the same distance as the Epsom Derby, before changing lengths in 1896 to its current 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.

Initially a successful venue, the track ran into financial difficulties due to a protracted, gambling-related horseman boycott removing it from the upper echelons of racing that would last until just after the turn of the 20th century. In 1894 the New Louisville Jockey Club was incorporated with the new capitalization and improved facilities. Despite this, the business floundered until 1902, when a syndicate led by Col. Matt Winn of Louisville acquired 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.^[17]

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" did not 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.^[18] 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.^[19] 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 face 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.^[20]

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. Also during that race, Secretariat did something unique in Triple Crown races: for each successive quarter run, 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.^[21]

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.^[22]

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. The Derby first offered a $1 million purse in 1996; it was doubled to $2 million in 2005.^[23]

In 2020, the Derby was postponed from May 2 to September 5 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[24] This was the second time in history the race had been postponed, the other being in 1945.^[4] 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. The old setup contributed to congestion at the start of the race, especially in the gap between the two gates.^[25]

Rich Strike, a reserve who only made it into the final field after a late scratching, won the race in 2022 at final odds of 80:1 and parimutuel betting payouts were even larger.^[26] In January 2024, the purse for the Kentucky Derby was increased to $5 million.^[1]

Attendance

Millions of people from around the world bet at various live tracks and online sportsbooks.^[27] 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.^[28] 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.^[29]

The race often draws celebrities. HM Queen Elizabeth II, on a visit to the United States, joined the racegoers at Churchill Downs in 2007.^[30]

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.^{[31] [32]}

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."^[33] In 2018, Woodford Reserve replaced Yum! Brands as the presenting sponsor.^[34]

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.^[35] Also, burgoo, a thick stew of beef, chicken, pork, and vegetables, is a popular Kentucky dish served at the Derby.^[36]

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.^{[37] [38]} 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 played on bugle by Steve Buttleman, 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.^[39] The event attracts spectators from a large area, flying in hundreds of private aircraft to Louisville International Airport.^[40]

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.^[41] New York sports columnist and future Churchill Downs president Bill Corum in 1925 began describing the race thusly, but the tradition originated in 1883 when New York City socialite E. Berry Wall presented roses to ladies at a post-Derby party. The Churchill Downs founder and president, Col. Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr., 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 and the Chairman of Churchill Downs Incorporated present the garland and the Kentucky Derby Trophy to the winner. Pop vocalist Dan Fogelberg composed the song "Run for the Roses", released in time for the 1980 running of the race.^[42]

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, the grand marshal recites this phrase.

Grand marshals

Festival

See main article: Kentucky Derby 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

Horse records

Secretariat set the record for speed in 1973 with a time of 1:59.4. During its first two decades when the Derby was run at miles, the record was 2:34.5, set by Spokane in 1889.

The largest margin of victory is 8 lengths, a feat tied by four different horses: Old Rosebud in 1914, Johnstown in 1939, Whirlaway in 1941, and Assault in 1946.

The highest odds of a winning horse were 91 to 1 for Donerail in 1913. The second-highest odds occurred in 2022, when Rich Strike went off at 80 to 1 and won the race.

Three horses have won the Kentucky Derby without competing as a two-year-old: Apollo (1882), Justify (2018), and Mage (2023).^[43]

Jockey records

107 jockeys have won the Kentucky Derby, with 27 doing so multiple times. Isaac Murphy (1890–91), Jimmy Winkfield (1901–02), Ron Turcotte (1972–73), Eddie Delahoussaye (1982–83), Calvin Borel (2009–10), and Victor Espinoza (2014–15) are the only jockeys to win the Derby in back-to-back years. Borel is the only jockey with three wins in a four-year span (2007, '09, '10).^[44]

Multi-time Kentucky Derby-Winning Jockeys !Jockey!Wins!Mounts!Years Won

Eddie Arcaro	5	style=text-align:center	21	1938, 1941, 1945, 1948, 1952
Bill Hartack		style=text-align:center	12	1957, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1969
Bill Shoemaker	style=text-align:center	4	style=text-align:center	26	1955, 1959, 1965, 1986
Isaac Murphy	3	style=text-align:center	11	1884, 1890, 1891
Earl Sande		style=text-align:center	8	1923, 1925, 1930
Ángel Cordero Jr.		style=text-align:center	17	1974, 1976, 1985
Gary Stevens		style=text-align:center	22	1988, 1995, 1997
Kent Desormeaux		style=text-align:center	22	1998, 2000, 2008
Calvin Borel		style=text-align:center	12	2007, 2009, 2010
Victor Espinoza		style=text-align:center	10	2002, 2014, 2015
John Velazquez		style=text-align:center	24	2011, 2017, 2020
Willie Simms	2	style=text-align:center	2	1896, 1898
Jimmy Winkfield		style=text-align:center	4	1901, 1902
Johnny Loftus		style=text-align:center	6	1916, 1919
Albert Johnson		style=text-align:center	7	1922, 1926
Linus McAtee		style=text-align:center	7	1927, 1929
Charley Kurtsinger		style=text-align:center	4	1931, 1937
Conn McCreary		style=text-align:center	10	1944, 1951
Ismael Valenzuela		style=text-align:center	8	1958, 1968
Ron Turcotte		style=text-align:center	5	1972, 1973
Jacinto Vásquez		style=text-align:center	8	1975, 1980
Eddie Delahoussaye		style=text-align:center	13	1982, 1983
Chris McCarron		style=text-align:center	18	1987, 1994
Chris Antley		style=text-align:center	17	1991, 1999
Jerry Bailey		style=text-align:center	8	1993, 1996
Mike Smith		style=text-align:center	28	2005, 2018
Mario Gutierrez		style=text-align:center	3	2012, 2016

Trainer records

116 trainers have won the Kentucky Derby, with 19 doing so multiple times. Six trainers have won the Derby in back-to-back years: Herbert J. Thompson (1932–33), Ben Jones (1948–49), Jimmy Jones (1957–58), Lucien Laurin (1972–73), D. Wayne Lukas (1995–96), and Bob Baffert (1997–98).

Multi-time Kentucky Derby-Winning Trainers!Trainer!Wins!Starts!Years Won

Ben Jones	6	style=text-align:center	11	1938, 1941, 1944, 1948, 1949, 1952
Bob Baffert		style=text-align:center	24	1997, 1998, 2002, 2015, 2018, 2020
Herbert J. Thompson	4	style=text-align:center	26	1921, 1926, 1932, 1933
D. Wayne Lukas		style=text-align:center	49	1988, 1995, 1996, 1999
James Fitzsimmons	3	style=text-align:center	11	1930, 1935, 1939
Max Hirsch		style=text-align:center	14	1936, 1946, 1950
James Rowe Sr.	2	style=text-align:center	17	1881, 1915
Jimmy Jones		style=text-align:center	4	1957, 1958
Horatio Luro		style=text-align:center	4	1962, 1964
Henry Forrest		style=text-align:center	2	1966, 1968
Lucien Laurin		style=text-align:center	5	1972, 1973
Laz Barrera		style=text-align:center	5	1976, 1978
LeRoy Jolley		style=text-align:center	13	1975, 1980
Woody Stephens		style=text-align:center	14	1974, 1984
Charlie Whittingham		style=text-align:center	7	1986, 1989
Nick Zito		style=text-align:center	26	1991, 1994
Carl Nafzger		style=text-align:center	3	1990, 2007
Doug O'Neill		style=text-align:center	8	2012, 2016
Todd Pletcher		style=text-align:center	62	2010, 2017

Owner records

Seventeen owners have won the Kentucky Derby multiple times with horses they fully or partially owned.

Owner	Wins	Starts	Years Won
Calumet Farm	8	28	1941, 1944, 1948, 1949, 1952, 1957, 1958, 1968
Edward R. Bradley	style=text-align:center	4	28	1921, 1926, 1932, 1933
Belair Stud	style=text-align:center	3	8	1930, 1935, 1939
Bashford Manor Stable	2	11	1892, 1906
Harry Payne Whitney		19	1915, 1927
Greentree Stable		19	1931, 1942
Fannie Hertz		3	1928, 1943
King Ranch		5	1946, 1950
Darby Dan Farm		7	1963, 1967
Meadow Stable		4	1972, 1973
Arthur B. Hancock III		6	1982, 1989
William J. Condren*		4	1991, 1994
Joseph M. Cornacchia*		3	1991, 1994
Bob & Beverly Lewis		9	1997, 1999
J. Paul Reddam		7	2012, 2016
WinStar Farm		23	2010, 2018
Starlight Racing*		13	2018, 2020

* Partnered with other entities in an ownership group for one or more winning horses.

"Oaks/Derby Double"

Jockeys, trainers, and owners competing in the Kentucky Derby often will compete in the Kentucky Oaks, a race for fillies held the day before the Derby. Winning both these races in the same year is referred to as an "Oaks/Derby Double;" 7 jockeys, 3 trainers, and 4 owners have accomplished this feat:

!Year!Kentucky Oaks Winner!Kentucky Derby Winner!Jockey!Trainer!Owner

2024	Thorpedo Anna	Mystik Dan	Brian Hernandez Jr.	Kenneth G. McPeek	different
2018	Monomoy Girl	Justify	different	different	Head of Plains Partners/Monomoy Stables
2009	Rachel Alexandra	Mine That Bird	Calvin Borel	different	different
1993	Dispute	Sea Hero	Jerry Bailey	different	different
1966	Native Street	Kauai King	Don Brumfield	different	different
1952	Real Delight	Hill Gail	Eddie Arcaro	Ben Jones	Calumet Farm
1950	Ari's Mona	Middleground	Bill Boland	different	different
1949	Wistful	Ponder	different	Ben Jones	different
1933*	Barn Swallow	Brokers Tip	Don Meade	Herbert J. Thompson	Edward R. Bradley
1884*	Modesty	Buchanan	Isaac Murphy	different	different

*Until the 1950s, the Oaks was held several days or weeks after the Derby.

Winners

Triple Crown winners are in bold and highlighted with gold.

Kentucky Derby winners^[45]

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Distance (miles)	Track condition	Time
2024	Mystik Dan	Brian Hernandez Jr.	Kenneth G. McPeek	Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing (Brent Gasaway), Daniel Hamby III, Valley View Farm		Fast	2:03.34
2023	Mage	Javier Castellano	Gustavo Delgado	OGMA Investments, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing, CMNWLTH^[46]		Fast	2:01.57
2022	Rich Strike	Sonny Leon	Eric Reed	RED TR-Racing		Fast	2:02.61
2021	Mandaloun	Florent Geroux	Brad Cox	Juddmonte		Fast	2:01.02
2020		John Velazquez	Bob Baffert	Spendthrift Farm, MyRaceHorse Stable, Madaket Stables, Starlight Racing		Fast	2:00.61
2019	Country House	Flavien Prat	Bill Mott	Mrs. J.V. Shields Jr., E. J. M. McFadden Jr., LNJ Foxwoods		Sloppy	2:03.93
2018	Justify	Mike Smith	Bob Baffert	China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners, Starlight Racing, WinStar Farm		Sloppy	2:04.20
2017	Always Dreaming	John Velazquez	Todd Pletcher	MeB Racing, Brooklyn Boyz, Teresa Viola, St. Elias, Siena Farm, West Point Thoroughbreds		Wet Fast (sealed)	2:03.59
2016	Nyquist	Mario Gutierrez	Doug O'Neill	Reddam Racing		Fast	2:01.31
2015	American Pharoah	Victor Espinoza	Bob Baffert	Zayat Stables		Fast	2:03.02
2014	California Chrome	Victor Espinoza	Art Sherman	Steve Coburn & Perry Martin		Fast	2:03.66
2013	Orb	Joel Rosario	Claude McGaughey III	Stuart S. Janney III, Phipps Stable		Sloppy	2:02.89
2012	I'll Have Another	Mario Gutierrez	Doug O'Neill	Reddam Racing		Fast	2:01.83
2011	Animal Kingdom	John Velazquez	Graham Motion	Team Valor International		Fast	2:02.04
2010	Super Saver	Calvin Borel	Todd Pletcher	WinStar Farm		Sloppy	2:04.45
2009	Mine That Bird	Calvin Borel	Bennie Woolley Jr.	Double Eagle Ranch, Buena Suerte Equine		Sloppy	2:02.66
2008	Big Brown	Kent Desormeaux	Rick Dutrow Jr.	IEAH Stables, Paul Pompa Jr.		Fast	2:01.82
2007	Street Sense	Calvin Borel	Carl Nafzger	Jim Tafel		Fast	2:02.17
2006	Barbaro	Edgar Prado	Michael Matz	Lael Stables		Fast	2:01.36
2005	Giacomo	Mike Smith	John Shirreffs	Jerry & Ann Moss		Fast	2:02.75
2004	Smarty Jones	Stewart Elliott	John Servis	Someday Farm		Sloppy	2:04.06
2003	Funny Cide	José Santos	Barclay Tagg	Sackatoga Stable		Fast	2:01.19
2002	War Emblem	Victor Espinoza	Bob Baffert	The Thoroughbred Corp.		Fast	2:01.13
2001	Monarchos	Jorge Chavez	John Ward Jr.	John Oxley		Fast	1:59.97
2000	Fusaichi Pegasus	Kent Desormeaux	Neil Drysdale	Fusao Sekiguchi		Fast	2:01.0
1999		Chris Antley	D. Wayne Lukas	Bob & Beverly Lewis		Fast	2:03.2
1998	Real Quiet	Kent Desormeaux	Bob Baffert	Michael E. Pegram		Fast	2:02.2
1997		Gary Stevens	Bob Baffert	Bob & Beverly Lewis		Fast	2:02.4
1996	Grindstone	Jerry Bailey	D. Wayne Lukas	Overbrook Farm		Fast	2:01.0
1995	Thunder Gulch	Gary Stevens	D. Wayne Lukas	Michael Tabor		Fast	2:01.2
1994	Go for Gin	Chris McCarron	Nick Zito	Bill Condren, Joe Cornacchia		Sloppy	2:03.6
1993	Sea Hero	Jerry Bailey	MacKenzie Miller	Rokeby Stables		Fast	2:02.4
1992	Lil E. Tee	Pat Day	Lynn Whiting	Cal Partee		Fast	2:03.0
1991	Strike the Gold	Chris Antley	Nick Zito	Bill Condren, Joe Cornacchia, B. Giles Brophy		Fast	2:03.0
1990	Unbridled	Craig Perret	Carl Nafzger	Frances A. Genter Stable		Good	2:02.0
1989		Pat Valenzuela	Charlie Whittingham	H-G-W Partners		Muddy	2:05.0
1988		Gary Stevens	D. Wayne Lukas	Eugene Klein		Fast	2:02.2
1987		Chris McCarron	Jack Van Berg	Dorothy & Pamela Scharbauer		Fast	2:03.4
1986	Ferdinand	Bill Shoemaker	Charlie Whittingham	Elizabeth Keck		Fast	2:02.8
1985	Spend A Buck	Ángel Cordero Jr.	Cam Gambolati	Hunter Farm		Fast	2:00.2
1984	Swale	Laffit Pincay Jr.	Woody Stephens	Claiborne Farm		Fast	2:02.4
1983	Sunny's Halo	Eddie Delahoussaye	David Cross Jr.	D.J. Foster Racing Stable		Fast	2:02.2
1982	Gato Del Sol	Eddie Delahoussaye	Edwin Gregson	Arthur B. Hancock III, Leone J. Peters		Fast	2:02.4
1981	Pleasant Colony	Jorge Velásquez	John Campo	Buckland Farm		Fast	2:02.0
1980		Jacinto Vásquez	LeRoy Jolley	Diana M. Firestone		Fast	2:02.0
1979		Ronnie Franklin	Bud Delp	Hawksworth Farm		Fast	2:02.4
1978	Affirmed	Steve Cauthen	Laz Barrera	Harbor View Farm		Fast	2:01.2
1977	Seattle Slew	Jean Cruguet	Billy Turner Jr.	Karen Taylor		Fast	2:02.2
1976	Bold Forbes	Ángel Cordero Jr.	Laz Barrera	E. Rodriguez Tizol		Fast	2:01.6
1975		Jacinto Vásquez	LeRoy Jolley	John Greer		Fast	2:02.0
1974	Cannonade	Ángel Cordero Jr.	Woody Stephens	John Olin		Fast	2:04.0
1973	Secretariat	Ron Turcotte	Lucien Laurin	Meadow Stable		Fast	1:59.4
1972		Ron Turcotte	Lucien Laurin	Meadow Stable		Fast	2:01.8
1971	Canonero II	Gustavo Ávila	Juan Arias	Edgar Caibett		Fast	2:03.2
1970	Dust Commander	Mike Manganello	Don Combs	Robert Lehmann		Good	2:03.4
1969		Bill Hartack	Johnny Longden	Frank McMahon		Fast	2:01.8
1968	Forward Pass	Ismael Valenzuela	Henry Forrest	Calumet Farm		Fast	2:02.2
1967	Proud Clarion	Bobby Ussery	Loyd Gentry Jr.	Darby Dan Farm		Fast	2:00.6
1966	Kauai King	Don Brumfield	Henry Forrest	Ford Stable		Fast	2:02.0
1965	Lucky Debonair	Bill Shoemaker	Frank Catrone	Ada Rice		Fast	2:01.2
1964		Bill Hartack	Horatio Luro	Windfields Farm		Fast	2:00.0
1963	Chateaugay	Braulio Baeza	James P. Conway	Darby Dan Farm		Fast	2:01.8
1962	Decidedly	Bill Hartack	Horatio Luro	El Peco Ranch		Fast	2:00.4
1961		Johnny Sellers	Jack Price	Katherine Price		Good	2:04.0
1960	Venetian Way	Bill Hartack	Victor Sovinski	Sunny Blue Farm		Good	2:02.4
1959	Tomy Lee	Bill Shoemaker	Frank Childs	Fred & Juliette Turner Jr.		Fast	2:02.2
1958		Ismael Valenzuela	Jimmy Jones	Calumet Farm		Muddy	2:05.0
1957	Iron Liege	Bill Hartack	Jimmy Jones	Calumet Farm		Fast	2:02.2
1956		David Erb	Hugh Fontaine	D & H Stable		Fast	2:03.4
1955		Bill Shoemaker	Mesh Tenney	Rex Ellsworth		Fast	2:01.8
1954	Determine	Raymond York	William Molter	Andy Crevolin		Fast	2:03.0
1953	Dark Star	Henry Moreno	Eddie Hayward	Cain Hoy Stable		Fast	2:02.0
1952	Hill Gail	Eddie Arcaro	Ben Jones	Calumet Farm		Fast	2:01.6
1951	Count Turf	Conn McCreary	Sol Rutchick	Jack Amiel		Fast	2:02.6
1950	Middleground	William Boland	Max Hirsch	King Ranch		Fast	2:01.6
1949	Ponder	Steve Brooks	Ben Jones	Calumet Farm		Fast	2:04.2
1948	Citation	Eddie Arcaro	Ben Jones	Calumet Farm		Sloppy	2:05.4
1947	Jet Pilot	Eric Guerin	Tom Smith	Maine Chance Farm		Slow	2:06.8
1946	Assault	Warren Mehrtens	Max Hirsch	King Ranch		Slow	2:06.6
1945	Hoop Jr.	Eddie Arcaro	Ivan Parke	Fred Hooper		Muddy	2:07.0
1944	Pensive	Conn McCreary	Ben Jones	Calumet Farm		Good	2:04.2
1943	Count Fleet	Johnny Longden	Don Cameron	Fannie Hertz		Fast	2:04.0
1942	Shut Out	Wayne Wright	John Gaver Sr.	Greentree Stable		Fast	2:04.4
1941	Whirlaway	Eddie Arcaro	Ben Jones	Calumet Farm		Fast	2:01.4
1940	Gallahadion	Carroll Bierman	Roy Waldron	Milky Way Farm		Fast	2:05.0
1939		James Stout	Jim Fitzsimmons	Belair Stud		Fast	2:03.4
1938	Lawrin	Eddie Arcaro	Ben Jones	Woolford Farm		Fast	2:04.8
1937	War Admiral	Charley Kurtsinger	George Conway	Glen Riddle Farms		Fast	2:03.2
1936	Bold Venture	Ira Hanford	Max Hirsch	Morton Schwartz		Fast	2:03.6
1935	Omaha	Willie Saunders	Jim Fitzsimmons	Belair Stud		Good	2:05.0
1934		Mack Garner	Bob Smith	Brookmeade Stable		Fast	2:04.0
1933	Brokers Tip	Don Meade	Herbert J. Thompson	Edward R. Bradley		Good	2:06.8
1932	Burgoo King	Eugene James	Herbert J. Thompson	Edward R. Bradley		Fast	2:05.2
1931		Charley Kurtsinger	James Rowe Jr.	Greentree Stable		Fast	2:01.8
1930	Gallant Fox	Earl Sande	Jim Fitzsimmons	Belair Stud		Good	2:07.6
1929	Clyde Van Dusen	Linus McAtee	Clyde Van Dusen	Herbert Gardner		Muddy	2:10.8
1928		Chick Lang	Bert Michell	Fannie Hertz		Heavy	2:10.4
1927	Whiskery	Linus McAtee	Fred Hopkins	Harry Payne Whitney		Slow	2:06.0
1926	Bubbling Over	Albert Johnson	Herbert J. Thompson	Edward R. Bradley (Idle Hour Stock Farm)		Fast	2:03.8
1925	Flying Ebony	Earl Sande	William Duke	Gifford Cochran		Sloppy	2:07.6
1924		John Mooney	Hanley Webb	Rosa Hoots		Fast	2:05.2
1923		Earl Sande	David Leary	Rancocas Stable		Fast	2:05.4
1922	Morvich	Albert Johnson	Fred Burlew	Ben Block		Fast	2:04.6
1921	Behave Yourself	Charles Thompson	Herbert J. Thompson	Edward R. Bradley		Fast	2:04.2
1920	Paul Jones	Ted Rice	William Garth	Ral Parr		Slow	2:09.0
1919	Sir Barton	Johnny Loftus	H. Guy Bedwell	J. K. L. Ross		Heavy	2:09.8
1918		Willie Knapp	Henry McDaniel	Willis Sharpe Kilmer		Muddy	2:10.8
1917	Omar Khayyam	Charles Borel	Charles T. Patterson	C.K.G. Billings, Frederick Johnson		Fast	2:04.6
1916	George Smith	Johnny Loftus	Hollie Hughes	John Sanford		Fast	2:04.0
1915		Joe Notter	James Rowe Sr.	Harry Payne Whitney		Fast	2:05.4
1914		John McCabe	Frank Weir	Hamilton Applegate		Fast	2:03.40
1913	Donerail	Roscoe Goose	Thomas P. Hayes	Thomas P. Hayes		Fast	2:04.8
1912	Worth	Carroll Shilling	Frank Taylor	Harry Hallenbeck		Muddy	2:09.4
1911	Meridian	George Archibald	Albert Ewing	Richard F. Carman		Fast	2:05.0
1910	Donau	Frederick Herbert	George Ham	William Gerst		Fast	2:06.4
1909	Wintergreen	Vincent Powers	Charles Mack	Jerome B. Respess		Slow	2:08.2
1908	Stone Street	Arthur Pickens	John Hall	C. E. & J. W. Hamilton		Heavy	2:15.2
1907	Pink Star	Andy Minder	William H. Fizer	J. Hal Woodford		Heavy	2:12.6
1906	Sir Huon	Roscoe Troxler	Peter Coyne	Bashford Manor Stable		Fast	2:08.8
1905	Agile	Jack Martin	Robert Tucker	Samuel S. Brown		Heavy	2:10.75
1904	Elwood	Shorty Prior	Charles Durnell	Laska Durnell		Fast	2:08.5
1903	Judge Himes	Harold Booker	John P. Mayberry	Charles R. Ellison		Fast	2:09.0
1902	Alan-a-Dale	Jimmy Winkfield	Thomas Clay McDowell	Thomas Clay McDowell		Fast	2:08.75
1901	His Eminence	Jimmy Winkfield	Frank B. Van Meter	Frank B. Van Meter		Fast	2:07.75
1900	Lieut. Gibson	Jimmy Boland	Charles Hughes	Charles H. Smith		Fast	2:06.25
1899	Manuel	Fred Taral	Robert Walden	A. H. & D. H. Morris		Fast	2:12.0
1898	Plaudit	Willie Simms	John E. Madden	John E. Madden		Good	2:09.0
1897	Typhoon II	Buttons Garner	Julius C. Cahn	Julius C. Cahn		Heavy	2:12.5
1896		Willie Simms	Hardy Campbell	Mike F. Dwyer		Fast	2:07.75
1895	Halma	James Perkins	Byron McClelland	Byron McClelland		Fast	2:37.5
1894	Chant	Frank Goodale	Eugene Leigh	Eugene Leigh, Robert Rose		Fast	2:41.0
1893	Lookout	Eddie Kunze	William McDaniel	J.E. Cushin, J. Orth		Fast	2:39.25
1892	Azra	Alonzo Clayton	John Morris	Bashford Manor Stable		Heavy	2:41.5
1891	Kingman	Isaac Murphy	Dudley Allen	Jacobin Stable		Fast	2:52.25
1890	Riley	Isaac Murphy	Edward Corrigan	Edward Corrigan		Muddy	2:45.0
1889	Spokane	Thomas Kiley	John Rodegap	Noah Armstrong		Fast	2:34.5
1888	Macbeth II	George Covington	John Campbell	Chicago Stable		Fast	2:38.25
1887	Montrose	Isaac Lewis	John McGinty	Labold Brothers		Fast	2:39.25
1886	Ben Ali	Paul Duffy	Jim Murphy	James B. Haggin		Fast	2:36.5
1885	Joe Cotton	Erskine Henderson	Abraham Perry	James T. Williams		Good	2:37.25
1884	Buchanan	Isaac Murphy	William Bird	William Cottrill, Sam S. Brown		Good	2:40.25
1883	Leonatus	William Donohue	Raleigh Colston Sr.	Jack P. Chinn, George Morgan		Heavy	2:43.0
1882	Apollo	Babe Hurd	Green B. Morris	Green B. Morris, James D. Patton		Fast	2:40.25
1881		Jim McLaughlin	James Rowe Sr.	Dwyer Brothers		Fast	2:40.0
1880	Fonso	George Lewis	Tice Hutsell	J.S. Shawhan		Fast	2:37.50
1879	Lord Murphy	Charlie Shauer	George Rice	George W. Darden & Co.		Fast	2:37.00
1878	Day Star	Jimmy Carter	Lee Paul	Thomas J. Nichols		Fast	2:37.25
1877	Baden-Baden	Billy Walker	Ed Brown	Daniel Swigert		Fast	2:38.0
1876	Vagrant	Robert Swim	James Williams	William Astor Jr.		Fast	2:38.25
1875	Aristides	Oliver Lewis	Ansel Williamson	Hal Price McGrath		Fast	2:37.75

Notes Designates a filly.

Designates a horse that won American Horse of the Year in the same year they won the Derby.

Designates a horse that was inducted in subsequent years into the National Racing Hall of Fame.

Sire lines

Winners of the Kentucky Derby can be connected to each other due to the practice of arranging horse breeding based on their previous success. All of the horses can be traced back to the three foundational sires, with Godolphin Arabian the ancestor of 7 winners, Byerley Turk the ancestor of 11 winners, and Darley Arabian the ancestor of 132 winners, including all winners since 1938.

Darley Arabian line

The Darley Arabian (1700c) sire line (all branched through the Eclipse (1764) line)^[47] produced 132 Derby winners (124 colts, 5 geldings, 3 fillies), including all winners from 1938 to present.^[48] 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 Speculum (1865) with 6 winners (nearly exclusively through Sundridge (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).^{[49] [50] [51]}
• the Potoooooooo (1773) branch^[52] produced 118 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 113 winners. In turn, the primary branch continues through Sir Hercules (1826), which has produced 91 winners (including all winners since 2006), and then the Birdcatcher (1833) branch^[53] which produced 79 winners. From Birdcatcher, the branch of The Baron (1842) has produced 69 winners, of which 67 winners trace to Stockwell (1849).^[54] Stockwell's son Doncaster (1870) sired Bend Or (1877), whose sire line accounts for 65 winners.^[55] The main branch of the Bend Or sire line continued through his son Bona Vista (1889) with 56 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:^{[56] [57]}
  • the Pharamond (1925) branch (4 winners all through the Tom Fool (1949) line, most recently Silver Charm in 1997).^[56]
  • the Sickle (1924) branch, (24 winners all branched through the Native Dancer (1950) line, nearly exclusively through Raise a Native (1961) with 23 winners, continued primarily through Mr Prospector (1970) with 16 winners through 8 different sons: Fusaichi Pegasus, winner of the 2000 Kentucky Derby, and 7 other sons through their progeny (most recently Mage in 2023, with his son Fappiano (1977) accounting for 6 winners, nearly exclusively through his son Unbridled with 5 winners, including his win in the 1990 Kentucky Derby and 4 other winners (most recently Always Dreaming in 2017)).
  • the Pharos (1920) branch (28 winners all branched through the Nearco (1935) line, through his sons Royal Charger (1942), Nearctic (1954), and Nasrullah (1940)). The Royal Charger branch (exclusively through his son Turn-To (1951)) produced 5 winners (most recently Barbaro in 2006), the Nearctic branch produced 9 winners, exclusively through his son Northern Dancer (1961) with his win in the 1964 Kentucky Derby, and direct male progeny of 8 winners, including 5 winners through his son Storm Bird (most recently Mystik Dan in 2024), while the Nasrullah branch produced 14 winners (most recently Nyquist in 2016) primarily through 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), 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.^[58]
    • 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.^{[59] [60]} 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.
    • the Sir Hercules (1826) branch produced two main lines: the primary branch of Birdcatcher (1833), 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.^[61]
    • the Birdcatcher (1833) branch produced two main lines: the primary branch of The Baron (1842), and the secondary branch of Oxford (1857) which produced 10 winners (primarily through the Swynford (1907) line with 8 winners, with his son St. Germans producing 5 winners), most recently 1965 Kentucky Derby winner Lucky Debonair.^[62]
    • the Bend Or (1877) branch produced two main lines: the primary branch of Bona Vista (1889), and the secondary branch of Ormonde (1883) which produced 8 winners (exclusively through the Teddy (1913) line, with his son Sir Gallahad producing 5 winners, most recently Hoop Jr. in 1945), most recently 1957 Kentucky Derby winner Iron Liege.^[63]

Byerley Turk line

The Byerley Turk (1680c) sire line^{[64] [65] [66]} 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.^[67]
• the Florizel (1768) branch produced 3 winners (all branched through the Lexington (1850) line), most recently Manuel in 1899.^{[68] [69] [70]}
• the Woodpecker (1773) branch produced 7 winners (all branched through the Buzzard (1787) line). The main branches of this sire line are:
  • the Castrel (1801) branch produced 1 winner, most recently Kingman in 1891.^[71]
  • the Selim (1802) branch produced 6 winners (all branched through the Glencoe (1831) line). The main branches of this sire line are:
    • the Star Davis (1849) branch produced 1 winner, most recently Day Star in 1878.^[72]
    • the Vandal (1850) branch produced 5 winners (all branched through the Virgil (1864) line), most recently Alan-a-Dale in 1902.^{[73] [74] [75] [76] [77]}

Godolphin Arabian line

The Godolphin Arabian (1724c) sire line^[78] produced 7 winners (6 colts, 1 gelding). The main branches of this sire (all branched through the West Australian (1850) line) are:

• the Solon (1861) branch produced 3 winners, including:
  • the Barcaldine (1878) branch produced 1 winner, most recently Omar Khayyam in 1917^[79]
  • the Arbitrator (1874) branch produced 2 winners (all branched through The Finn (1912) line), most recently Flying Ebony in 1925^{[80] [81]}
• the Australian (1858) branch produced 4 winners, including:
  • Baden-Baden (1874), winner of the 1877 Kentucky Derby^[82]
  • the Waverly (1870) branch produced 1 winner, most recently Montrose in 1887^[83]
  • the Spendthrift (1876) branch produced 2 winners (all branched through the Man o' War (1917) line), most recently War Admiral in 1937^{[84] [85]}

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

• Northern Dancer (1964 winner) – 8 colts; most recently Mystik Dan (2024)^{[86] [87] [88] [89] [90] [91] [92]}
• Ben Brush (1896 winner) – 3 winners (2 colts, 1 filly); most recently Whiskery (1927)^{[52] [93] [94] [95]}
• Seattle Slew (1977 winner) – 3 colts; most recently California Chrome (2014)^{[96] [97] [98]}
• Unbridled (1990 winner) – 3 winners (2 colts, 1 gelding); most recently American Pharoah (2015)^{[99] [100] [101]}
• Hindoo (1881 winner) – 2 colts; most recently Alan-a-Dale (1902)^[66]
• Bold Venture (1936 winner) – 2 colts; most recently Middleground (1950)^{[102] [103]}
• Reigh Count (1928 winner) – 2 colts; most recently Count Turf (1951)^{[104] [105]}
• Pensive (1944 winner) – 2 colts; most recently Needles (1956)^{[106] [107]}
• Majestic Prince (1969 winner) – 2 colts; most recently Super Saver (2010)^{[108] [109]}
• Halma (1895 winner) – 1 colt; Alan-a-Dale (1902)^[66]
• Leonatus (1883 winner) – 1 colt; Pink Star (1907)^[110]
• Bubbling Over (1926 winner) – 1 colt; Burgoo King (1932)^[111]
• Gallant Fox (1930 winner) – 1 colt; Omaha (1935)^[112]
• Count Fleet (1943 winner) – 1 colt; Count Turf (1951)^[105]
• Ponder (1949 winner) – 1 colt; Needles (1956)^[107]
• Determine (1954 winner) – 1 colt; Decidedly (1962)^[113]
• Swaps (1955 winner) – 1 colt; Chateaugay (1963)^[114]
• Grindstone (1996 winner) – 1 gelding; Mine That Bird (2009)^[100]

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

Further reading

• Book: Nicholson, James C. . The Kentucky Derby: How the Run for the Roses Became America's Premier Sporting Event . Lexington, Kentucky . University Press of Kentucky . 2012.

External links

• • Kentucky Derby Museum
• The Courier-Journals Derby Site
• History of the Kentucky Derby
• Kentucky Derby News from DRF

Notes and References

1. News: Frakes . Jason . 2024 Kentucky Derby to feature record $5 million purse. Here are payouts for 150th running . January 10, 2024 . . January 19, 2024 . January 28, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240128043012/https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/horses/kentucky-derby/2024/01/10/kentucky-derby-2024-purse-increase-payouts-churchill-downs-spring-meet/72178410007/ . live .
2. https://web.archive.org/web/20050129145223/http://www.drf.com/sample/pdf/sample_chart.pdf "Tenth Race Churchill May 1, 2004"
3. Web site: What is the Derby Festival®? – Our Story . Kentucky Derby Festival . January 31, 2024 . The Festival blasts off each year with the Opening Ceremonies – Thunder Over Louisville, one of the nation’s largest annual fireworks extravaganzas! The ensuing two weeks of excitement and entertainment promise something for everyone. . January 31, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240131073622/https://discover.kdf.org/what-is-the-kentucky-derby-festival/ . live .
4. Book: Renau, Lynn S. . John E. . Kleber . 2001 . The Encyclopedia of Louisville . Kentucky Derby . 467–470 . . . 0-8131-2100-0 . 247857447 . January 19, 2024 . March 13, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230313151808/https://books.google.com/books?id=pXbYITw4ZesC . live .
5. News: Rossingh . Danielle . The Kentucky Derby: five reasons why you shouldn't miss it . May 3, 2019 . . May 29, 2024 . May 30, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240530035112/https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/02/sport/kentucky-derby-preview-spt/index.html . live .
6. News: Forde . Pat . Most exciting two minutes? Derby proves it every year . May 3, 2007 . . May 29, 2024 . May 21, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230521224039/https://www.espn.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=2858706 . live .
7. News: Henderson . Cydney . How long is the Kentucky Derby? How many miles is the race at Churchill Downs? . May 3, 2024 . . May 29, 2024 . May 16, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240516215926/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/horseracing/2024/05/03/how-long-is-kentucky-derby-churchill-downs/73545695007/ . live .
8. Wakefield . Kirk . The Kentucky Derby Makes The Fastest Two Minutes In Sports A Year-Round Party . April 26, 2021 . . May 29, 2024.
9. News: Molski . Max . Everything you need to know about the 2024 Kentucky Derby . April 29, 2024 . nbcnewyork.com . May 29, 2024 . May 5, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240505235424/https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/sports/triple-crown/kentucky-derby-2024-horses-prize-money-how-to-watch/5364701/ . live .
10. Book: Sowers, Richard . The Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes: A Comprehensive History . 7 . 2014 . Jefferson, North Carolina . McFarland & Company.
11. News: Adams . Kirby . Why this famous Churchill Downs feature is only used once at the Kentucky Derby . April 3, 2024 . . May 29, 2024 . May 30, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240530035043/https://www.courier-journal.com/story/entertainment/events/kentucky-derby/2024/04/03/what-is-the-kentucky-derby-winners-circle-at-churchill-downs/72793514007/ . live .
12. News: Rice . Grantland . Kentucky Derby Has 50,000 Visitors Lifted to the Boiling Point. . May 4, 1935 . . 6 . . May 30, 2024.
13. News: Harris . Beth . The Kentucky Derby is turning 150 years old. It's survived world wars and controversies of all kinds . May 4, 2024 . nbcwashington.com . Associated Press . May 29, 2024 . May 10, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240510182352/https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/sports/triple-crown/150-kentucky-derby-history/3608731/ . live .
14. Web site: Racing for the Roses – History of Kentucky Derby . February 15, 2014 . February 22, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140306235404/http://www.derbycraze.com/in-depth-history-of-kentucky-derby.html . March 6, 2014 . live .
15. News: Talking It Over. April 30, 1936. Ward. Arch. Chicago Tribune. May 5, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120725103807/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/459977052.html?dids=459977052:459977052&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI. July 25, 2012. dead.
16. Web site: History Of Churchill Downs . Churchill Downs . February 23, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140301195807/http://www.churchilldowns.com/about/history . March 1, 2014 .
17. Book: Renau, Lynn S. . John E. . Kleber . 2001 . The Encyclopedia of Louisville . Winn, Martin J. . 946–947 . . . 0-8131-2100-0 . 247857447 . January 20, 2024 . March 13, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230313151808/https://books.google.com/books?id=pXbYITw4ZesC . live .
18. "Derby To Go On The Air", The New York Times, May 16, 1925, p. 11
19. Web site: Kentucky Derby Info . Kentucky Derby History . December 29, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121029171901/http://www.kentuckyderby.ag/kentuckyderby-history1950.php . October 29, 2012 .
20. News: Jockey who refused to stay in the kitchen. McKenzie. Sheena. CNN. February 2, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180202190618/https://edition.cnn.com/2012/09/26/sport/diane-crump-first-female-jockey/index.html. February 2, 2018. live.
21. Book: Dandrea, Phil. Sham: Great Was Second Best. 2010. Acanthus Publishing. May 8, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20181201042823/https://www.shamhorse.com/. December 1, 2018. live.
22. Web site: Horse Racing – Kentucky Derby purse doubled to $2 million. ESPN. April 30, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180501005010/http://www.espn.com/horse/news/2005/0104/1958932.html. May 1, 2018. live.
23. Web site: Kentucky Derby Purse Increased to $3 Million. Angst. Frank. January 10, 2019. bloodhorse.com. The Bloodhorse. January 10, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190111054942/https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/231501/kentucky-derby-purse-increased-to-3-million. January 11, 2019. live.
24. News: Here are the latest major events that have been canceled or postponed because of the coronavirus outbreak, including the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Burning Man, and the 74th Annual Tony Awards. Hadden. Joey. Casado. Laura. Business Insider. April 10, 2020. May 10, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20200412063437/https://www.businessinsider.com/major-events-cancelled-or-postponed-due-to-the-coronavirus-2020. April 12, 2020. live.
25. Web site: Churchill to Debut 20-Horse Derby Gate Sept. 1 . BloodHorse.com . September 1, 2020 . en . January 28, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240128042905/https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/243106/churchill-to-debut-20-horse-derby-gate-sept-1 . live .
26. Web site: Kentucky Derby Payouts Guide – Horses for Win, Place & Show . May 1, 2024 . kentuckyderbybettingsites.net . en-US . May 1, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240501103039/https://kentuckyderbybettingsites.net/payouts/ . live .
27. News: Record betting reported on 2017 Kentucky Derby. The Courier-Journal. April 4, 2018. en. January 28, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240128042854/https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2017/05/07/record-betting-reported-2017-kentucky-derby/101403510/. live.
28. Web site: How Much Money is Wagered on the Kentucky Derby Each Year?. betfirm.com. en. April 4, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180404200855/https://www.betfirm.com/how-much-is-bet-on-the-kentucky-derby/. April 4, 2018. live.
29. Web site: The 2016 Kentucky Derby: By the numbers. Finley. Marty. May 9, 2016. bizjournals.com. April 4, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20170323031836/http://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/news/2016/05/09/the-2016-kentucky-derbyy-the-numbers.html. March 23, 2017. live.
30. News: Kentucky Derby, Queen Elizabeth draw festive crowd. Hopkins. Andrea. U.S.. April 30, 2018. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20180501004952/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-derby/kentucky-derby-queen-elizabeth-draw-festive-crowd-idUSN0528586820070506?feedType=RSS. May 1, 2018. live.
31. News: Derby jockeys can wear ads. UPI. April 30, 2018. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20180501004323/https://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2004/04/29/Derby-jockeys-can-wear-ads/90091083276857/. May 1, 2018. live.
32. News: Jockey advertising at Kentucky tracks remains rare a decade after ruling. Green. Marcus. April 30, 2018. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20180501004609/http://www.wdrb.com/story/25344845/jockey-advertising-at-kentucky-tracks-remains-rare-a-decade-after-ruling. May 1, 2018. live.
33. Web site: Kentucky Derby including Yum Brands in its name. Isidore. Chris. May 5, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20060517235236/http://money.cnn.com/2006/05/05/news/companies/yum_derby/index.htm. May 17, 2006. May 10, 2010.
34. Web site: Woodford Reserve is New Kentucky Derby Sponsor. BloodHorse.com. April 15, 2018. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20180415125014/https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/224298/woodford-reserve-is-new-kentucky-derby-sponsor. April 15, 2018. live.
35. Web site: Sneed. Tierney. The Origin of Your Favorite Kentucky Derby Traditions. usnews.com. July 3, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161024163029/http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/05/03/the-origin-of-your-favorite-kentucky-derby-traditions. October 24, 2016. live.
36. Web site: Bluegrass, Bourbon and Burgoo. Fred. Smith. May 1, 1961. Sports Illustrated – Vault. October 26, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181027061506/https://www.si.com/vault/1961/05/01/581662/bluegrass-bourbon-and-burgoo. October 27, 2018. live.
37. News: Giant screen at Churchill Downs gives everyone at Kentucky Derby a front-row view. kentucky. April 30, 2018. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20180501004812/http://www.kentucky.com/sports/horses/kentucky-derby/article44487432.html. May 1, 2018. live.
38. Web site: Panasonic Announces Installation of World's Largest 4K Video Board at Churchill Downs Churchill Downs Racetrack Home of the Kentucky Derby. churchilldowns.com. April 30, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180501004608/https://www.churchilldowns.com/news/archive/panasonic-announces-installation-worlds-largest-4k-video-board-churchill-downs. May 1, 2018. live.
39. Web site: My Old Kentucky Home. April 29, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130503193241/http://www.kentuckyderby.com/experience/traditions/song-my-old-kentucky-home. May 3, 2013. live.
40. News: Curt . Epstein . Derby, Boxing Match Fuel Atlantic's Best Day Ever . Aviation International News . May 5, 2015 . May 6, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150509012421/http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2015-05-05/derby-boxing-match-fuel-atlantics-best-day-ever . May 9, 2015 . live .
41. News: Tran . Daniel . 2022 Kentucky Derby: Traditions, food, drinks and other iconic customs for Derby Day . May 5, 2022 . . May 29, 2024 . May 30, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240530035044/https://www.nbcsports.com/betting/horse-racing/news/2022-kentucky-derby-traditions-food-drinks-and-other-iconic-customs-for-derby-day . live .
42. Web site: Dan Fogelberg Prodigy Chat transcript Treehouse.org. October 16, 2014. March 7, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150307152529/http://www.treehouse.org/fogelberg/intview7.html. live.
43. Web site: Mellisa Hoppert . May 6, 2018 . Justify Wins Kentucky Derby, Conquering Rain, Mud and a 136-Year Curse . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180506075253/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/05/sports/kentucky-derby.html . May 6, 2018 . May 6, 2018 . The New York Times.
44. Web site: Super Saver wins the 2010 Kentucky Derby – Kentucky Derby . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100514205505/http://www.derbyracing.net/kentucky-derby/super-saver-wins-2010-kentucky-derby/ . May 14, 2010 . archive.org.
45. Web site: Kentucky Derby Winners. kentuckyderby.com. July 3, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160804130319/https://www.kentuckyderby.com/history/kentucky-derby-winners. August 4, 2016. live.
46. Web site: Mage runs down Two Phil's in stretch for Kentucky Derby victory . May 7, 2023 . drf.com . en . May 7, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230507004358/https://www.drf.com/news/mage-runs-down-two-phils-stretch-kentucky-derby-victory . live .
47. Web site: Sire Lines . bloodlines.net . April 20, 2021 . April 22, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210422011353/http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Sirelines/SireLines.htm . live .
48. Web site: SIRE LINES OF KENTUCKY DERBY WINNERS, 1921–2020. April 23, 2021. April 23, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210423035307/https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/1-28i-sid-table.pdf. live.
49. Web site: Sire Lines King Fergus . bloodlines.net . April 20, 2021 . February 3, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210203202725/http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Sirelines/KingFergus.htm . live .
50. Web site: St. Simon Sire Line . bloodlines.net . April 20, 2021 . April 20, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210420025912/http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Sirelines/StSimon.htm . live .
51. Web site: Go for Gin Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. May 22, 2021. May 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210522011415/https://www.pedigreequery.com/go+for+gin. live.
52. Web site: Pot8os Sire Line . bloodlines.net . April 20, 2021 . April 20, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210420025903/http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Sirelines/Pot8os.htm . live .
53. Web site: Birdcatcher Sire Line . bloodlines.net . April 20, 2021 . April 20, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210420025914/http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Sirelines/Birdcatcher.htm . live .
54. Web site: Stockwell Sire Line . bloodlines.net . April 20, 2021 . April 20, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210420025902/http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Sirelines/Stockwell.htm . live .
55. Web site: Bend Or Sire Line . bloodlines.net . April 20, 2021 . April 1, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220401145727/https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Sirelines/BendOr.htm . live .
56. Web site: Phalaris Sire Line . bloodlines.net . April 20, 2021 . April 20, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210420025902/http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Sirelines/Phalaris.htm . live .
57. Web site: Nearco Sire Line . bloodlines.net . April 20, 2021 . April 20, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210420025901/http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Sirelines/Nearco.htm . live .
58. Web site: Wintergreen Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. July 16, 2021. May 21, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210521232713/https://www.pedigreequery.com/wintergreen. live.
59. Web site: Camel Sire Line . bloodlines.net . May 23, 2021 . April 22, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210422180517/http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Sirelines/Camel.htm . live .
60. Web site: Himyar's Other Line . cs.bloodhorse.com . May 23, 2021 . en . May 23, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210523032053/http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/scot/archive/2008/03/24/himyar-s-other-line.aspx . live .
61. Web site: Stone Street Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. June 27, 2021. May 21, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210521233822/https://www.pedigreequery.com/stone+street. live.
62. Web site: Lucky Debonair Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. June 27, 2021. May 21, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210521155132/https://www.pedigreequery.com/lucky+debonair. live.
63. Web site: Iron Liege Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. June 27, 2021. July 31, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210731231153/https://www.pedigreequery.com/iron+liege. live.
64. Web site: Thoroughbred Bloodlines Sire Lines Byerley Turk . bloodlines.net . April 20, 2021 . April 20, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210420025902/http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Sirelines/ByerleyTurk.htm . live .
65. Web site: Thoroughbred Bloodlines Sire Lines Byerley Turk King Herod . bloodlines.net . April 20, 2021 . April 20, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210420025904/http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Sirelines/Herod.htm . live .
66. Web site: Thoroughbred Bloodlines Sire Lines Byerley Turk King Herod Buzzard Selim . bloodlines.net . April 20, 2021 . April 20, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210420025904/http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Sirelines/Selim.htm . live .
67. Web site: Macbeth Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 22, 2021. April 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210422200215/https://www.pedigreequery.com/macbeth. live.
68. Web site: Lord Murphy Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 22, 2021. April 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210422200210/https://www.pedigreequery.com/lord+murphy. live.
69. Web site: Apollo Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 22, 2021. April 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210422200215/https://www.pedigreequery.com/apollo. live.
70. Web site: Manuel Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 22, 2021. April 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210422201722/https://www.pedigreequery.com/manuel. live.
71. Web site: Kingman Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 22, 2021. April 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210422160819/https://www.pedigreequery.com/kingman. live.
72. Web site: Day Star Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 22, 2021. April 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210422200211/https://www.pedigreequery.com/day%20star. live.
73. Web site: Vagrant Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 22, 2021. April 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210422200213/https://www.pedigreequery.com/vagrant. live.
74. Web site: Hindoo Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 22, 2021. April 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210422200225/https://www.pedigreequery.com/hindoo. live.
75. Web site: Ben Ali Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 22, 2021. April 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210422200214/https://www.pedigreequery.com/ben+ali. live.
76. Web site: Halma Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 22, 2021. April 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210422200212/https://www.pedigreequery.com/halma. live.
77. Web site: Alan-a-dale Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 22, 2021. April 20, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210420095717/https://www.pedigreequery.com/alan-a-dale. live.
78. Web site: Matchem Sire Line . bloodlines.net . April 20, 2021 . February 26, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210226063340/http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Sirelines/Matchem.htm . live .
79. Web site: Omar Khayyam Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 22, 2021. April 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210422200213/https://www.pedigreequery.com/omar+khayyam. live.
80. Web site: Zev Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 22, 2021. April 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210422200216/https://www.pedigreequery.com/zev. live.
81. Web site: Flying Ebony Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 22, 2021. April 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210422200223/https://www.pedigreequery.com/flying+ebony. live.
82. Web site: Baden-baden Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 22, 2021. April 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210422200220/https://www.pedigreequery.com/baden-baden. live.
83. Web site: Montrose Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 22, 2021. April 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210422200211/https://www.pedigreequery.com/montrose. live.
84. Web site: Clyde Van Dusen Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 22, 2021. April 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210422200218/https://www.pedigreequery.com/clyde+van+dusen. live.
85. Web site: War Admiral Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 22, 2021. April 21, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210421073515/https://www.pedigreequery.com/war+admiral. live.
86. Web site: Ferdinand Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 19, 2021. April 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210419043010/https://www.pedigreequery.com/ferdinand. live.
87. Web site: Sea Hero Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 19, 2021. April 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210419043007/https://www.pedigreequery.com/sea+hero. live.
88. Web site: Charismatic Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 19, 2021. April 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210419043007/https://www.pedigreequery.com/charismatic2. live.
89. Web site: Big Brown Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 19, 2021. April 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210419043005/https://www.pedigreequery.com/big+brown. live.
90. Web site: Justify Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 19, 2021. April 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210419043010/https://www.pedigreequery.com/justify11. live.
91. Web site: Authentic Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 19, 2021. April 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210419043005/https://www.pedigreequery.com/authentic14. live.
92. Web site: Mandaloun Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. May 7, 2022. March 26, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230326033949/https://www.pedigreequery.com/mandaloun. live.
93. Web site: Meridian Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 24, 2021. April 24, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210424152459/https://www.pedigreequery.com/meridian. live.
94. Web site: Regret Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 24, 2021. April 24, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210424152458/https://www.pedigreequery.com/regret. live.
95. Web site: Whiskery Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 24, 2021. April 24, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210424152459/https://www.pedigreequery.com/whiskery. live.
96. Web site: Swale Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 19, 2021. May 10, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220510032541/https://www.pedigreequery.com/swale. live.
97. Web site: Orb Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 19, 2021. April 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210419133822/https://www.pedigreequery.com/orb7. live.
98. Web site: California Chrome Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 19, 2021. April 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210419133822/https://www.pedigreequery.com/california+chrome. live.
99. Web site: Grindstone Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 19, 2021. April 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210419140312/https://www.pedigreequery.com/grindstone. live.
100. Web site: Mine That Bird Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 19, 2021. April 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210419140306/https://www.pedigreequery.com/mine+that+bird. live.
101. Web site: American Pharoah Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 19, 2021. April 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210419140304/https://www.pedigreequery.com/american+pharoah. live.
102. Web site: Assault Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 19, 2021. April 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210419032448/https://www.pedigreequery.com/assault. live.
103. Web site: Middleground Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 19, 2021. April 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210419032448/https://www.pedigreequery.com/middleground. live.
104. Web site: Count Fleet Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 19, 2021. April 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210419030616/https://www.pedigreequery.com/count+fleet. live.
105. Web site: Count Turf Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 19, 2021. April 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210419033819/https://www.pedigreequery.com/count+turf. live.
106. Web site: Ponder Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 19, 2021. April 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210419034624/https://www.pedigreequery.com/ponder. live.
107. Web site: Needles Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 19, 2021. April 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210419034637/https://www.pedigreequery.com/needles. live.
108. Web site: Monarchos Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 20, 2021. April 20, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210420122906/https://www.pedigreequery.com/monarchos. live.
109. Web site: Super Saver Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 20, 2021. April 20, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210420122904/https://www.pedigreequery.com/super+saver3. live.
110. Web site: Pink Star Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 19, 2021. April 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210419024211/https://www.pedigreequery.com/pink+star. live.
111. Web site: Burgoo King Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 19, 2021. April 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210419030133/https://www.pedigreequery.com/burgoo+king. live.
112. Web site: Omaha Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 19, 2021. April 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210419031242/https://www.pedigreequery.com/omaha. live.
113. Web site: Decidedly Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 19, 2021. January 28, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240128043012/https://www.pedigreequery.com/decidedly. live.
114. Web site: Chateaugay Horse Pedigree. pedigreequery.com. April 19, 2021. April 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210419035932/https://www.pedigreequery.com/chateaugay. live.