Kentucky Derby

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Grade 1 race
Kentucky Derby

"The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports"
Location Churchill Downs
Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Inaugurated 1875
Race type Thoroughbred
Website 2008 Kentucky Derby
Race information
Distance 1¼ miles (10 furlongs)
Track Dirt, Left-handed
Qualification 3-year-old
Weight Colt/Gelding: 126 lbs (57.2 kg)
Filly: 121 lbs. (54.9 kg)
Purse US$2 million
Bonuses US$ 200

The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three year-old thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter miles (2 km) at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds (57.2 kg) and fillies 121 pounds (54.9 kg).[1] The race is known in the United States as "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports" for its approximate duration, and is also called "The Run for the Roses" for the blanket of roses draped over the winner. It is the first leg of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing in the US and typically draws around 155,000 fans.

Contents

[edit] History

A thoroughbred horse is depicted on the reverse of the Kentucky state quarter
A thoroughbred horse is depicted on the reverse of the Kentucky state quarter

Kentucky has been a major center of horse breeding and racing since the late 18th century. From the time the region was settled, the fields of the Bluegrass region were noted for producing superior race horses. In 1872, Col. Meriwether Lewis Clark, Jr., grandson of William Clark of the Lewis and Clark expedition, traveled to England, visiting the Epsom Derby, a famous race that had been running annually since 1780. From there, Clark went on to Paris, France, where in 1863, a group of racing enthusiasts had formed the French Jockey Club and had organized the Grand Prix de Paris, which at the time was the greatest race in France.

Returning home to Kentucky, Clark organized the Louisville Jockey Club for the purpose of raising money to build quality racing facilities just outside of the city. The track would soon become known as Churchill Downs, named for Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr.'s relatives, John and Henry Churchill, who had provided the land for the racetrack. Officially, the racetrack was incorporated as Churchill Downs in 1937.

The Kentucky Derby was first run at 1.5 miles (2.4 km), the same distance as the Epsom Derby and the Grand Prix de Paris. In 1896, the distance was changed to its current 1.25 miles (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 African-American 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.

Churchill Downs in 1901
Churchill Downs in 1901

Although the first race meet proved a success, the track ran into financial difficulties and in 1894 the New Louisville Jockey Club was incorporated with 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 became the preeminent thoroughbred horse race in America.

Between 1875 and 1902, African-American jockeys won 15 of the 28 runnings of the Kentucky Derby. On May 11, 1892, African-American jockey Alonzo "Lonnie" Clayton, age 15, became the youngest rider to win the Derby. The 1904 race was won by Elwood, the first Derby starter and winner owned by a woman, Laska Durnell. In 1915, Regret became the first filly to win the Kentucky Derby (of only three in the history of the race), and in 1917, the English bred colt "Omar Khayyam" became the first foreign-bred horse to win the race.

Derby participants are limited to three-year-old horses. No horse since Apollo in 1882 has won the Derby without racing at age two.

As part of gaining income, horse owners began sending their successful Derby horses to compete a few weeks later in the Preakness Stakes at the Pimlico Race Course, in Baltimore, Maryland, followed by the Belmont Stakes in Elmont, New York. The three races offered the largest purse 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 was coined, the race, which had been run in mid-May since inception, was changed to the first Saturday in May to allow for a specific schedule for the Triple Crown races.

On May 3, 1952, the first national television coverage of the Kentucky Derby took place. In 1954, the purse exceeded $100,000 for the first time. In 1968 Dancer's Image became the first (and to this day the only) horse to win the race and then be disqualified after traces of phenylbutazone, an analgesic and anti-inflammatory drug, were found in the horse's urinalysis; unexpectedly, the regulations at Kentucky thoroughbred race tracks were changed some years later, allowing horses to run on phenylbutazone.

The fastest time ever run in the Derby (at its present distance) was set in 1973 at 1 minute 59 2/5 seconds when Secretariat broke the record set by Northern Dancer in 1964. Not only has Secretariat's record time stood for 35 years and counting, but in the race itself, he did something unique in Triple Crown races: each successive quarter, his times were faster. The second sub-two minute time was recorded by Sham, two-fifths of a second behind Secretariat in the same race. Another sub-two minute finish, only the third, was set by in 2001 by Monarchos at 1:59.97.

The 2004 Derby marked the first time that jockeys, as a result of a court order, were allowed to wear corporate advertising logos on their clothing.

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

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." [2]

[edit] Traditions

In addition to the race itself, a number of traditions play a large role in the Derby atmosphere. The Mint Julep, an iced drink consisting of bourbon, mint and a sugar syrup is the traditional beverage of the race. The historic drink can be served in an ice-frosted silver julep cup but most Churchill Downs patrons sip theirs from a souvenir glass printed with all previous Derby winners. Also, burgoo, a thick stew of beef, chicken, pork and vegetables, is a popular Kentucky dish served at the Derby.

The infield, a spectator area inside the track, offers general admission prices but little chance of seeing much of the race. 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 fine outfits lavishly accessorized with large, elaborate hats. As the horses are paraded before the grandstands, the University of Louisville marching band plays Stephen Foster's "My Old Kentucky Home."

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 is as a result of New York socialite E. Berry Wall presenting roses to ladies at a post-Derby party in 1883 that was attended by Churchill Downs founder and president, Col. M. Lewis Clark. This gesture is believed to have eventually 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 roses being draped on the Derby winner. The Governor of Kentucky awards the garland and the trophy. Pop vocalist Dan Fogelberg composed a song by that title for the 1980 running of the race.

[edit] Winners of the Kentucky Derby

Year
 Winner
 Jockey
 Trainer
 Owner
 Time
2008 Big Brown Kent Desormeaux Rick Dutrow IEAH Stables and Paul Pompa Jr. 2:01.82
2007 Street Sense Calvin Borel Carl Nafzger James B. Tafel 2:02.17
2006 Barbaro Edgar Prado Michael R. Matz Lael Stables 2:01.36
2005 Giacomo Mike E. Smith John Shirreffs Jerry & Ann Moss 2:02.75
2004 Smarty Jones Stewart Elliott John Servis Someday Farm 2:04.06
2003 Funny Cide Jose Santos Barclay Tagg Sackatoga Stable 2:01.19
2002 War Emblem Victor Espinoza Bob Baffert Thoroughbred Corp. 2:01.13
2001 Monarchos Jorge F. Chavez John T. Ward, Jr. John C. Oxley 1:59.97
2000 Fusaichi Pegasus Kent Desormeaux Neil Drysdale Fusao Sekiguchi 2:01.00
1999 Charismatic Chris Antley D. Wayne Lukas Bob & Beverly Lewis 2:03.20
1998 Real Quiet Kent Desormeaux Bob Baffert Michael E. Pegram 2:02.20
1997 Silver Charm Gary Stevens Bob Baffert Bob & Beverly Lewis 2:02.40
1996 Grindstone Jerry Bailey D. Wayne Lukas Overbrook Farm 2:01.00
1995 Thunder Gulch Gary Stevens D. Wayne Lukas† Michael Tabor 2:01.20
1994 Go for Gin Chris McCarron Nick Zito Condren & Cornacchia 2:03.60
1993 Sea Hero Jerry Bailey MacKenzie Miller Rokeby Stables 2:02.40
1992 Lil E. Tee Pat Day Lynn S. Whiting W. Cal Partee 2:03.00
1991 Strike the Gold Chris Antley Nick Zito BCC Stable 2:03.00
1990 Unbridled Craig Perret Carl Nafzger Frances A. Genter 2:02.00
1989 Sunday Silence Pat Valenzuela Charlie Whittingham H-G-W Partners 2:05.00
1988 Winning Colors Gary Stevens D. Wayne Lukas Eugene V. Klein 2:02.20
1987 Alysheba Chris McCarron Jack Van Berg D. & P. Scharbauer 2:03.40
1986 Ferdinand Bill Shoemaker Charlie Whittingham Elizabeth A. Keck 2:02.80
1985 Spend A Buck Angel Cordero, Jr. Cam Gambolati Hunter Farm 2:00.20
1984 Swale Laffit Pincay, Jr. Woody Stephens Claiborne Farm 2:02.40
1983 Sunny's Halo Ed Delahoussaye David C. Cross, Jr. D. J. Foster Stable 2:02.20
1982 Gato Del Sol Ed Delahoussaye Edwin J. Gregson Hancock & Peters 2:02.40
1981 Pleasant Colony Jorge Velasquez John P. Campo Buckland Farm 2:02.00
1980 Genuine Risk Jacinto Vasquez LeRoy Jolley Diana Firestone 2:02.00
1979 Spectacular Bid Ronnie Franklin Bud Delp Hawksworth Farm 2:02.40
1978 Affirmed † Steve Cauthen Laz Barrera Harbor View Farm 2:01.20
1977 Seattle Slew † Jean Cruguet William H. Turner, Jr. Karen L. Taylor 2:02.20
1976 Bold Forbes Angel Cordero, Jr. Laz Barrera E. Rodriguez Tizol 2:01.60
1975 Foolish Pleasure Jacinto Vasquez LeRoy Jolley John L. Greer 2:02.00
1974 Cannonade Angel Cordero, Jr. Woody Stephens John M. Olin 2:04.00
1973 Secretariat † Ron Turcotte Lucien Laurin Meadow Stable 1:59.40
1972 Riva Ridge Ron Turcotte Lucien Laurin Meadow Stud 2:01.80
1971 Canonero II Gustavo Avila Juan Arias Edgar Caibett 2:03.20
1970 Dust Commander Mike Manganello Don Combs Robert E. Lehmann 2:03.40
1969 Majestic Prince Bill Hartack Johnny Longden Frank McMahon 2:01.80
1968* Forward Pass Ismael Valenzuela Henry Forrest Calumet Farm 2:02.20
1967 Proud Clarion Bobby Ussery Loyd Gentry, Jr. Darby Dan Farm 2:00.60
1966 Kauai King Don Brumfield Henry Forrest Ford Stable 2:02.00
1965 Lucky Debonair Bill Shoemaker Frank Catrone Ada L. Rice 2:01.20
1964 Northern Dancer Bill Hartack Horatio Luro Windfields Farm 2:00.00
1963 Chateaugay Braulio Baeza James P. Conway Darby Dan Farm 2:01.80
1962 Decidedly Bill Hartack Horatio Luro El Peco Ranch 2:00.40
1961 Carry Back Johnny Sellers Jack A. Price Katherine Price 2:04.00
1960 Venetian Way Bill Hartack Victor Sovinski Sunny Blue Farm 2:02.40
1959 Tomy Lee Bill Shoemaker Frank Childs Fred & Juliette Turner 2:02.20
1958 Tim Tam Ismael Valenzuela Jimmy Jones Calumet Farm 2:05.00
1957 Iron Liege Bill Hartack Jimmy Jones Calumet Farm 2:02.20
1956 Needles David Erb Hugh L. Fontaine D & H Stable 2:03.40
1955 Swaps Bill Shoemaker Mesh Tenney Rex C. Ellsworth 2:01.80
1954 Determine Raymond York William Molter Andrew J. Crevolin 2:03.00
1953 Dark Star Hank Moreno Eddie Hayward Cain Hoy Stable 2:02.00
1952 Hill Gail Eddie Arcaro Ben A. Jones Calumet Farm 2:01.60
1951 Count Turf Conn McCreary Sol Rutchick Jack J. Amiel 2:02.60
1950 Middleground William Boland Max Hirsch King Ranch 2:01.60
1949 Ponder Steve Brooks Ben A. Jones Calumet Farm 2:04.20
1948 Citation † Eddie Arcaro Ben A. Jones Calumet Farm 2:05.40
1947 Jet Pilot Eric Guerin Tom Smith Maine Chance Farm 2:06.80
1946 Assault † Warren Mehrtens Max Hirsch King Ranch 2:06.60
1945 Hoop Jr Eddie Arcaro Ivan H. Parke Fred W. Hooper 2:07.00
1944 Pensive Conn McCreary Ben A. Jones Calumet Farm 2:04.20
1943 Count Fleet † Johnny Longden G. Donald Cameron Fannie Hertz 2:04.00
1942 Shut Out Wayne Wright John M. Gaver, Sr. Greentree Stable 2:04.40
1941 Whirlaway † Eddie Arcaro Ben A. Jones Calumet Farm 2:01.40
1940 Gallahadion Carroll Bierman Roy Waldron Milky Way Farm 2:05.00
1939 Johnstown James Stout Jim Fitzsimmons Belair Stud 2:03.40
1938 Lawrin Eddie Arcaro Ben A. Jones Herbert M. Woolf 2:04.80
1937 War Admiral † Charley Kurtsinger George Conway Glen Riddle Farm 2:03.20
1936 Bold Venture Ira Hanford Max Hirsch Morton L. Schwartz 2:03.60
1935 Omaha † Willie Saunders Jim Fitzsimmons Belair Stud 2:05.00
1934 Cavalcade Mack Garner Bob Smith Brookmeade Stable 2:04.00
1933 Brokers Tip Don Meade Herbert J. Thompson Edward R. Bradley 2:06.80
1932 Burgoo King Eugene James Herbert J. Thompson Edward R. Bradley 2:05.20
1931 Twenty Grand Charley Kurtsinger James G. Rowe, Jr. Greentree Stable 2:01.80
1930 Gallant Fox † Earl Sande Jim Fitzsimmons Belair Stud 2:07.60
1929 Clyde Van Dusen Linus McAtee Clyde Van Dusen H. P. Gardner 2:10.80
1928 Reigh Count Chick Lang Bert S. Michell Fannie Hertz 2:10.40
1927 Whiskery Linus McAtee Fred Hopkins Harry P. Whitney 2:06.00
1926 Bubbling Over Albert Johnson Herbert J. Thompson Edward R. Bradley 2:03.80
1925 Flying Ebony Earl Sande William B. Duke Gifford A. Cochran 2:07.60
1924 Black Gold John D. Mooney Hanley Webb Rosa M. Hoots 2:05.20
1923 Zev Earl Sande David J. Leary Rancocas Stable 2:05.40
1922 Morvich Albert Johnson Fred Burlew Benjamin Block 2:04.60
1921 Behave Yourself Charles Thompson Herbert J. Thompson Edward R. Bradley 2:04.20
1920 Paul Jones Ted Rice Billy Garth Ral Parr 2:09.00
1919 Sir Barton † Johnny Loftus H. Guy Bedwell J. K. L. Ross 2:09.80
1918 Exterminator William Knapp Henry McDaniel Willis Sharpe Kilmer 2:10.80
1917 Omar Khayyam Charles Borel Charles T. Patterson Billings & Johnson 2:04.60
1916 George Smith Johnny Loftus Hollie Hughes John Sanford 2:04.00
1915 Regret Joe Notter James G. Rowe, Sr. Harry P. Whitney 2:05.40
1914 Old Rosebud John McCabe Frank D. Weir H. C. Applegate 2:03.40
1913 Donerail Roscoe Goose Thomas P. Hayes Thomas P. Hayes 2:04.80
1912 Worth Carroll H. Shilling Frank M. Taylor H. C. Hallenbeck 2:09.40
1911 Meridian George Archibald Albert Ewing R. F. Carman 2:05.00
1910 Donau Fred Herbert George Ham William Gerst 2:06.40
1909 Wintergreen Vincent Powers Charles Mack Jerome B. Respess 2:08.20
1908 Stone Street Arthur Pickens J. W. Hall C. E. & J. W. Hamilton 2:15.20
1907 Pink Star Andy Minder W. H. Fizer J. Hal Woodford 2:12.60
1906 Sir Huon Roscoe Troxler Pete Coyne Bashford Manor Stable 2:08.80
1905 Agile Jack Martin Robert Tucker Sam S. Brown 2:10.75
1904 Elwood Shorty Prior Charles E. Durnell Mrs. C. E. Durnell 2:08.50
1903 Judge Himes Hal Booker John P. Mayberry Charles R. Ellison 2:09.00
1902 Alan-a-Dale Jimmy Winkfield Tom C. McDowell Tom C. McDowell 2:08.75
1901 His Eminence Jimmy Winkfield Frank B. Van Meter Frank B. Van Meter 2:07.75
1900 Lieut. Gibson Jimmy Boland Charles Hughes Charles H. Smith 2:06.25
1899 Manuel Fred Taral Robert J. Walden A. H. & D. H. Morris 2:12.00
1898 Plaudit Willie Simms John E. Madden John E. Madden 2:09.00
1897 Typhoon II Buttons Garner J. C. Cahn J. C. Cahn 2:12.50
1896 Ben Brush Willie Simms Hardy Campbell Mike F. Dwyer 2:07.75
1895 Halma Soup Perkins Byron McClelland Byron McClelland 2:37.50
1894 Chant Frank Goodale H. Eugene Leigh Leigh & Rose 2:41.00
1893 Lookout Eddie Kunze William McDaniel Cushing & Orth 2:39.25
1892 Azra Lonnie Clayton John Morris Bashford Manor Stable 2:41.50
1891 Kingman Isaac Murphy Dud Allen Jacobin Stable 2:52.25
1890 Riley Isaac Murphy Edward Corrigan Edward Corrigan 2:45.00
1889 Spokane Thomas Kiley John Rodegap Noah Armstrong 2:34.50
1888 Macbeth II George Covington John Campbell Chicago Stable 2:38.00
1887 Montrose Isaac Lewis John McGinty Labold Brothers 2:39.25
1886 Ben Ali Paul Duffy Jim Murphy J. B. A. Haggin 2:36.50
1885 Joe Cotton Babe Henderson Alex Perry J. T. Williams 2:37.25
1884 Buchanan Isaac Murphy William Bird William Cottrill 2:40.25
1883 Leonatus Billy Donohue Raleigh Colston Chinn & Morgan 2:43.00
1882 Apollo Babe Hurd Green B. Morris Morris & Patton 2:40.00
1881 Hindoo Jim McLaughlin James G. Rowe, Sr. Dwyer Bros. Stable 2:40.00
1880 Fonso George Lewis Tice Hutsell J. Snell Shawhan 2:37.50
1879 Lord Murphy Charlie Shauer George Rice Darden & Co 2:37.00
1878 Day Star Jimmy Carter Lee Paul T. J. Nichols 2:37.25
1877 Baden-Baden Billy Walker Edward D. Brown Daniel Swigert 2:38.00
1876 Vagrant Bobby Swim James Williams William Astor, Jr. 2:38.25
1875 Aristides Oliver Lewis Ansel Williamson Hal P. McGrath 2:37.75

A † designates a Triple Crown Winner.

*In 1968, Dancer's Image, ridden by Bobby Ussery, trained by Lou Cavalaris, Jr., and owned by Peter Fuller, finished first, but was disqualified after a post-race urine sample revealed traces of a banned drug in the horse. The drug in question - phenylbutazone - is now legal for use on racehorses in many states, including Kentucky.

[edit] Notes

  • D. Wayne Lukas swept the 1995 Triple Crown with two different horses.
  • The 2008 second place winner, Eight Belles, marks the first time that any horse has died in the Kentucky Derby. The filly came in second place before breaking both front ankles on the cool-down. She was immediately euthanized.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Tenth Race Churchill May 1, 2004". May 1, 2004. Daily Racing Forum. Accessed on May 9, 2006.
  2. ^ Kentucky Derby including Yum Brands in its name - May. 5, 2006

[edit] External links

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The Triple Crown of Horse Racing
United States, Thoroughbred Horses: Kentucky Derby | Preakness Stakes | Belmont Stakes
United States, Harness Racing Pacers: Cane Pace | Messenger Stakes | Little Brown Jug
United States, Harness Racing Trotters: Hambletonian | Yonkers Trot | Kentucky Futurity
United Kingdom: 2,000 Guineas Stakes | Derby Stakes (also known as Epsom Derby) | St. Leger Stakes
Canada, Thoroughbred Horses: Queen's Plate | Prince of Wales Stakes | Breeders' Stakes
See Also: Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing | Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers | Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Trotters | American Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing | Canadian Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing *
*Series is still under review for races. See page for details on race proposals.