Kentucky Derby

Notes:
With rain in the forecast, weather may be a factor in the 139 th Kentucky Derby. G1 Florida Derby champ Orb is the tepid 7/2 morning line favorite and is bred to handle on off track. His sire, Malibu Moon clicks at a 17 rate with offspring in the mud. Unbeaten Verrazano puts his 4-for-4 record on the line and is more of a question mark for an off track and the distance. Stabemate Revolutionary is a son of War Pass, whose runners win at a 40 rate in the mud. He comes into the Derby on a 4-race winning streak. Blue Grass S. winner Java s War has the same sire as Revolutionary but hasn t looked as good while training at Churchill Downs. Santa Anita Derby victor Goldencents figures to be forwardly-placed early and could hang on for a piece. Overanalyze earned his way into the gate with a decisive score in the G1 Arkansas Derby and fired a bullet work over this surface on 4/27. Itsmyluckyday regressed a bit when finishing 2 nd in the Florida Derby but has run fast enough in previous wins to wear the roses. Normandy Invasion has only beaten maidens but has two close runner up efforts in graded stakes. Vyjack is just one length shy of a perfect record in five starts but missed training after his 3 rd -place run in the G1 Wood Memorial when a scope discovered an infection. Mylute just missed to Revolutionary in New Orleans and is also well bred for the mud. G3 Spiral S. hero Palace Malice secured his spot in the field with a 2 nd -place run in the G1 Blue Grass S. on Keeneland s Polytrack, an unexpected route after a troubled trip in the Louisiana Derby. UAE Derby winner Lines of Battle has beaten older rivals and adds Lasix for the 1 st time. Falling Sky should be part of the early pace, but it is difficult to imagine that he ll be around late. Giant Finish was a late addition to the field when defections allowed him to get into the gate with only 10 qualifying points. He s only been off the board once in five starts but has never faced this kind of competition. Black Onyx drew the disadvantageous 1 post position and has run his best races on turf and synthetic. Will Take Charge was last seen taking the G2 Rebel S. in mid-March and trainer D. Wayne Lukas only wins at an 11 rate off such a layoff. Frac Daddy returned to form with a nice 2 nd -place effort in the Arkansas Derby and his best races came over this oval. Oxbow retains the services of Hall of Famer pilot Gary Stevens, but his 5 th -place finish in the Arkansas Derby didn t inspire confidence. Golden Soul closed well for a 4 th -place finish in the G2 Louisiana Derby and his connections wisely waited for attrition to give the son of Perfect Soul a shot to run for the roses. Charming Kitten will be making his dirt debut after hitting the board in six of seven races on turf and synthetic. Also-eligible entrant Fear the Kitten needs a scratch to get into the gate.


The Kentucky Derby is an American horse racing event that is run at a distance of ten furlongs on the dirt track of Churchill Downs racetrack. This grade I racing event is open to three year old thoroughbred horses. The race is known in the United States as The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports for the approximate duration of this race. It is also called The Run for the Roses as a blanket of roses is draped over the winner. The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of the American Triple Crown for thoroughbred horses in the United States. In the initial years, the Kentucky Derby was run at a distance of one and half miles but it was changed to one and one fourth miles from 1896. The Kentucky Derby was set in motion on May 17, 1875, in front of ten thousand highly enthusiastic crowds. Though the first race was a grand success, the racing event went through some financial difficulties afterwards. Between 1875 and 1902, an afro-American jockey Alonzo Clayton won the derby at 15 and set a record of winning this event as the youngest rider. The first national television coverage of the Kentucky Derby took place on May 3, 1952. Triple Crown winner Secretariat clocked the record time that has remained unbroken for the last thirty-five years. In 2004, the court passed a writ through which jockeys were allowed to wear advertising logos on their clothing. The system of distributing the purse was changed in 2005 - through which the horses finishing fifth would also receive a share of the purse. The well-known designer, Norman Adams, has been designing logo of the Kentucky Derby since 2002.

Kentucky Derby Past Winners

Year	Winner	Trainer	Jockey	Owner	Time
2015	American Pharoah	Bob Baffert	Victor Espinoza	Zayat Stables, LLC	2:03.02
2014	California Chrome	Art Sherman	Victor Espinoza	Coburn, Steven and Martin, Perry	2.03:66
2013	Orb	Claude R. McGaughey III	Joel Rosario	Stuart Janney III & Phipps Stable (Ogden Mills)	2:02.89
2012	I'll Have Another	Doug O'Neill	Mario Gutierrez		2:01.83
2011	Animal Kingdom	H. Graham Motion	John R. Velazquez	Team Valor International	2:02.04
2010	Super Saver	Todd Pletcher	Calvin Borel	WinStar Farm LLC.	2:04.45
2009	Mine That Bird	Bennie Woolley Jr.	Calvin Borel	Double Eagle Ranch & Bueno Suerte Equine	2:02.66
2008	Big Brown	Rick Dutrow	Kent Desormeaux	IEAH Stables and Paul Pompa Jr.	2:01.82
2007	Street Sense	Carl Nafzger	Calvin Borel	James B. Tafel	2:02.17
2006	Barbaro	Michael R. Matz	Edgar Prado	Lael Stables	2:01.36
2005	Giacomo	John Shirreffs	Mike E. Smith	Jerry & Ann Moss	2:02.75
2004	Smarty Jones	John Servis	Stewart Elliott	Someday Farm	2:04.06
2003	Funny Cide	Barclay Tagg	Jose Santos	Sackatoga Stable	2:01.19
2002	War Emblem	Bob Baffert	Victor Espinoza	Thoroughbred Corp.	2:01.13
2001	Monarchos	John T. Ward, Jr.	Jorge Chavez	John C. Oxley	1:59.97
2000	Fusaichi Pegasus	Neil Drysdale	Kent Desormeaux	Fusao Sekiguchi	2:01.00
1999	Charismatic	D. Wayne Lukas	Chris Antley	Bob & Beverly Lewis	2:03.20
1998	Real Quiet	Bob Baffert	Kent Desormeaux	Michael E. Pegram	2:02.20
1997	Silver Charm	Bob Baffert	Gary Stevens	Bob & Beverly Lewis	2:02.40
1996	Grindstone	D. Wayne Lukas	Jerry Bailey	Overbrook Farm	2:01.00
1995	Thunder Gulch	D. Wayne Lukas	Gary Stevens	Michael Tabor	2:01.20
1994	Go for Gin	Nick Zito	Chris McCarron	Condren & Cornacchia	2:03.60
1993	Sea Hero	Mack Miller	Jerry Bailey	Rokeby Stables	2:02.40
1992	Lil E. Tee	Lynn S. Whiting	Pat Day	W. Cal Partee	2:03.00
1991	Strike the Gold	Nick Zito	Chris Antley	BCC Stable	2:03.00
1990	Unbridled	Carl Nafzger	Craig Perret	Frances A. Genter	2:02.00
1989	Sunday Silence	Charlie Whittingham	Pat Valenzuela	H-G-W Partners	2:05.00
1988	Winning Colors	D. Wayne Lukas	Gary Stevens	Eugene V. Klein	2:02.20
1987	Alysheba	Jack Van Berg	Chris McCarron	D. & P. Scharbauer	2:03.40
1986	Ferdinand	Charlie Whittingham	Bill Shoemaker	Elizabeth Keck	2:02.80
1985	Spend A Buck	Cam Gambolati	Angel Cordero, Jr.	Hunter Farm	2:00.20
1984	Swale	Woody Stephens	Laffit Pincay, Jr.	Claiborne Farm	2:02.40
1983	Sunny's Halo	David C. Cross, Jr.	Ed Delahoussaye	D. J. Foster Stable	2:02.20
1982	Gato Del Sol	Edwin J. Gregson	Ed Delahoussaye	Hancock & Peters	2:02.40
1981	Pleasant Colony	John P. Campo	Jorge Velasquez	Buckland Farm	2:02.00
1980	Genuine Risk	LeRoy Jolley	Jacinto Vasquez	Diana Firestone	2:02.00
1979	Spectacular Bid	Bud Delp	Ronnie Franklin	Hawksworth Farm	2:02.40
1978	Affirmed	Laz Barrera	Steve Cauthen	Harbor View Farm	2:01.20
1977	Seattle Slew	Billy Turner	Jean Cruguet	Karen L. Taylor	2:02.20
1976	Bold Forbes	Laz Barrera	Angel Cordero, Jr.	E. Rodriguez Tizol	2:01.60
1975	Foolish Pleasure	LeRoy Jolley	Jacinto Vasquez	John L. Greer	2:02.00
1974	Cannonade	Woody Stephens	Angel Cordero, Jr.	John M. Olin	2:04.00
1973	Secretariat	Lucien Laurin	Ron Turcotte	Meadow Stable	1:59.40
1972	Riva Ridge	Lucien Laurin	Ron Turcotte	Meadow Stud	2:01.80
1971	Canonero II	Juan Arias	Gustavo Avila	Edgar Caibett	2:03.20
1970	Dust Commander	Don Combs	Mike Manganello	Robert E. Lehmann	2:03.40
1969	Majestic Prince	Johnny Longden	Bill Hartack	Frank McMahon	2:01.80
1968 *	Dancer's Image Forward Pass	Lou Cavalaris, Jr. Henry Forrest	Bobby Ussery Ismael Valenzuela	Peter Fuller Calumet Farm	2:02.20
1967	Proud Clarion	Loyd Gentry, Jr.	Bobby Ussery	Darby Dan Farm	2:00.60
1966	Kauai King	Henry Forrest	Don Brumfield	Ford Stable	2:02.00
1965	Lucky Debonair	Frank Catrone	Bill Shoemaker	Ada L. Rice	2:01.20
1964	Northern Dancer	Horatio Luro	Bill Hartack	Windfields Farm	2:00.00
1963	Chateaugay	James P. Conway	Braulio Baeza	Darby Dan Farm	2:01.80
1962	Decidedly	Horatio Luro	Bill Hartack	El Peco Ranch	2:00.40
1961	Carry Back	Jack A. Price	Johnny Sellers	Katherine Price	2:04.00
1960	Venetian Way	Victor Sovinski	Bill Hartack	Sunny Blue Farm	2:02.40
1959	Tomy Lee	Frank Childs	Bill Shoemaker	Fred & Juliette Turner	2:02.20
1958	Tim Tam	Jimmy Jones	Ismael Valenzuela	Calumet Farm	2:05.00
1957	Iron Liege	Jimmy Jones	Bill Hartack	Calumet Farm	2:02.20
1956	Needles	Hugh L. Fontaine	David Erb	D & H Stable	2:03.40
1955	Swaps	Mesh Tenney	Bill Shoemaker	Rex C. Ellsworth	2:01.80
1954	Determine	Willie Molter	Raymond York	Andy. J. Crevolin	2:03.00
1953	Dark Star	Eddie Hayward	Hank Moreno	Cain Hoy Stable	2:02.00
1952	Hill Gail	Ben A. Jones	Eddie Arcaro	Calumet Farm	2:01.60
1951	Count Turf	Sol Rutchick	Conn McCreary	Jack J. Amiel	2:02.60
1950	Middleground	Max Hirsch	William Boland	King Ranch	2:01.60
1949	Ponder	Ben A. Jones	Steve Brooks	Calumet Farm	2:04.20
1948	Citation	Ben A. Jones	Eddie Arcaro	Calumet Farm	2:05.40
1947	Jet Pilot	Tom Smith	Eric Guerin	Maine Chance Farm	2:06.80
1946	Assault	Max Hirsch	Warren Mehrtens	King Ranch	2:06.60
1945	Hoop Jr	Ivan Parke	Eddie Arcaro	Fred W. Hooper	2:07.00
1944	Pensive	Ben A. Jones	Conn McCreary	Calumet Farm	2:04.20
1943	Count Fleet	G. Donald Cameron	Johnny Longden	Fannie Hertz	2:04.00
1942	Shut Out	John M. Gaver, Sr.	Wayne Wright	Greentree Stable	2:04.40
1941	Whirlaway	Ben A. Jones	Eddie Arcaro	Calumet Farm	2:01.40
1940	Gallahadion	Roy Waldron	Carroll Bierman	Milky Way Farm	2:05.00
1939	Johnstown	Jim Fitzsimmons	James Stout	Belair Stud	2:03.40
1938	Lawrin	Ben A. Jones	Eddie Arcaro	Herbert M. Woolf	2:04.80
1937	War Admiral	George Conway	Charley Kurtsinger	Glen Riddle Farm	2:03.20
1936	Bold Venture	Max Hirsch	Ira Hanford	Morton L. Schwartz	2:03.60
1935	Omaha	Jim Fitzsimmons	Willie Saunders	Belair Stud	2:05.00
1934	Cavalcade	Bob Smith	Mack Garner	Brookmeade Stable	2:04.00
1933	Brokers Tip	Herbert J. Thompson	Don Meade	Edward R. Bradley	2:06.80
1932	Burgoo King	Herbert J. Thompson	Eugene James	Edward R. Bradley	2:05.20
1931	Twenty Grand	James G. Rowe, Jr.	Charley Kurtsinger	Greentree Stable	2:01.80
1930	Gallant Fox	Jim Fitzsimmons	Earl Sande	Belair Stud	2:07.60
1929	Clyde Van Dusen	Clyde Van Dusen	Linus McAtee	H. P. Gardner	2:10.80
1928	Reigh Count	Bert S. Michell	Chick Lang	Fannie Hertz	2:10.40
1927	Whiskery	Fred Hopkins	Linus McAtee	Harry P. Whitney	2:06.00
1926	Bubbling Over	Herbert J. Thompson	Albert Johnson	Edward R. Bradley	2:03.80
1925	Flying Ebony	William Duke	Earl Sande	Clifford A. Cochran	2:07.60
1924	Black Gold	Hanley Webb	John D. Mooney	Rosa M. Hoots	2:05.20
1923	Zev	David J. Leary	Earl Sande	Rancocas Stable	2:05.40
1922	Morvich	Fred Burlew	Albert Johnson	Benjamin Block	2:04.60
1921	Behave Yourself	Herbert J. Thompson	Charles Thompson	Edward R. Bradley	2:04.20
1920	Paul Jones	Billy Garth	Ted Rice	Ral Parr	2:09.00
1919	Sir Barton	H. Guy Bedwell	Johnny Loftus	J. K. L. Ross	2:09.80
1918	Exterminator	Henry McDaniel	William Knapp	Willis Sharpe Kilmer	2:10.80
1917	Omar Khayyam	Charles T. Patterson	Charles Borel	Billings & Johnson	2:04.60
1916	George Smith	Hollie Hughes	Johnny Loftus	John Sanford	2:04.00
1915	Regret	James G. Rowe, Sr.	Joe Notter	Harry P. Whitney	2:05.40
1914	Old Rosebud	Frank D. Weir	John McCabe	H. C. Applegate	2:03.40
1913	Donerail	Thomas Hayes	Roscoe Goose	Thomas Hayes	2:04.80
1912	Worth	Frank Taylor	Carroll H. Shilling	H. C. Hallenbeck	2:09.40
1911	Meridian	Albert Ewing	George Archibald	R. F. Carmen	2:05.00
1910	Donau	George Ham	Fred Herbert	William Gerst	2:06.40
1909	Wintergreen	Charles Mack	Vincent Powers	Jerome B. Respess	2:08.20
1908	Stone Street	J. W. Hall	Arthur Pickens	C. E. & J. W. Hamilton	2:15.20
1907	Pink Star	W. H. Fizer	Andy Minder	J. Hal Woodford	2:12.60
1906	Sir Huon	Pete Coyne	Roscoe Troxler	Bashford Manor Stable	2:08.80
1905	Agile	Robert Tucker	Jack Martin	Sam S. Brown	2:10.75
1904	Elwood	Charles E. Durnell	Shorty Prior	Mrs. C. E. Durnell	2:08.50
1903	Judge Himes	John P. Mayberry	Hal Booker	Charles R. Ellison	2:09.00
1902	Alan-a-Dale	Tom C. McDowell	Jimmy Winkfield	Tom C. McDowell	2:08.75
1901	His Eminence	Frank B. Van Meter	Jimmy Winkfield	Frank B. Van Meter	2:07.75
1900	Lieut. Gibson	Charles Hughes	Jimmy Boland	Charles H. Smith	2:06.25
1899	Manuel	Robert J. Walden	Fred Taral	A. H. & D. H. Morris	2:12.00
1898	Plaudit	John E. Madden	Willie Simms	John E. Madden	2:09.00
1897	Typhoon II	J. C. Cahn	Buttons Garner	J. C. Cahn	2:12.50
1896	Ben Brush	Hardy Campbell	Willie Simms	Mike F. Dwyer	2:07.75
1895	Halma	Byron McClelland	Soup Perkins	Byron McClelland	2:37.50
1894	Chant	H. Eugene Leigh	Frank Goodale	Leigh & Rose	2:41.00
1893	Lookout	William McDaniel	Eddie Kunze	Cushing & Orth	2:39.25
1892	Azra	John Morris	Lonnie Clayton	Bashford Manor Stable	2:41.50
1891	Kingman	Dud Allen	Isaac Murphy	Jacobin Stable	2:52.25
1890	Riley	Edward Corrigan	Isaac Murphy	Edward Corrigan	2:45.00
1889	Spokane	John Rodegap	Thomas Kiley	Noah Armstrong	2:34.50
1888	Macbeth II	John Campbell	George Covington	Chicago Stable	2:38.00
1887	Montrose	John McGinty	Isaac Lewis	Labold Brothers	2:39.25
1886	Ben Ali	Jim Murphy	Paul Duffy	J. B. A. Haggin	2:36.50
1885	Joe Cotton	Alex Perry	Babe Henderson	J. T. Williams	2:37.25
1884	Buchanan	William Bird	Isaac Murphy	William Cottrill	2:40.25
1883	Leonatus	Raleigh Colston	Billy Donohue	Chinn & Morgan	2:43.00
1882	Apollo	Green B. Morris	Babe Hurd	Morris & Patton	2:40.00
1881	Hindoo	James G. Rowe, Sr.	Jim McLaughlin	Dwyer Bros. Stable	2:40.00
1880	Fonso	Tice Hutsell	George Lewis	J. Snell Shawhan	2:37.50
1879	Lord Murphy	George Rice	Charlie Shauer	Darden & Co	2:37.00
1878	Day Star	Lee Paul	Jimmy Carter	T. J. Nichols	2:37.25
1877	Baden-Baden	Edward D. Brown	Billy Walker	Daniel Swigert	2:38.00
1876	Vagrant	James Williams	Bobby Swim	William Astor, Jr.	2:38.25
1875	Aristides	Ansel Williamson	Oliver Lewis	Hal P. McGrath	2:37.75

Kentucky Derby Video