Kentucky Derby

The Kentucky Derby, a race for 3-year-old thoroughbreds, is held annually in Louisville, Kentucky at Churchill Downs. Known to many as "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports" due to its duration, the derby is full of traditions stemming back to the late 1800s. As the most anticipated horse racing event of the year, the Kentucky Derby is the first event in Horse Racing's Triple Crown in the US, and draws an annual crowd of more than 150,000 fans.

The first Kentucky Derby was on May 17, 1875 in front of an estimated 10,000 onlookers. Under jockey Oliver Lewis, a colt named Aristides won the inaugural Derby. The race was first run at 1.5 miles (2.4 km), and was later changed in 1896 to the current 1.25 miles (2 km). The track became known as Churchill Downs, named after John and Henry Churchill, who provided land for the racetrack. The track officially became Churchill Downs in 1937.

In May of 1952 the first nationally televised Kentucky Derby took place, with a purse exceeding $100,000. The fastest time in the Derby was set in 1973 at 1:59.25 when Secretariat broke the record set by Northern Dancer back in 1964. That record has stood for over 50 years. The 2004 Derby was the first time that jockeys, due to a court order, were allowed to advertise corporate sponsors on their clothing. In 2005 the purse distribution was changed, so that horses finishing fifth would receive a share of the total purse. Previously, only the top four finishers shared the purse. In 2019, the purse was raised from $2 million to $3 million.

Aside from the race itself, many lasting traditions play a part in the exciting and fun atmosphere at Churchill Downs during the Kentucky Derby. The Mint Julep drink (a sweetened Bourbon drink), and Burgoo (a thick stew), a popular Derby dish, keep the fans happy on race day. The infield, a spectator area inside the track, offers general admission tickets to fans that may be there more for the party than to see the actual race. "Millionaire's Row," the expensive box seats, attract rich and famous spectators appearing in fancy attire.

The Derby is often referred to as "The Run for the Roses," due to a blanket of red roses awarded to the winner of the race. This tradition stems from New York socialite E. Berry Wall presenting roses to ladies at a Derby after-party in 1883. The gesture is believed to have led Col. M. Lewis Clark, Churchill Downs founder and president, to make the rose the Kentucky Derby's official flower. It was not until 1896 that the roses were draped on the Derby winner after the race.

Kentucky Derby Winners

Triple Crown winners are marked with a crown symbol. Asterisk () before odds indicates the favorite. (f) = filly, (g) = gelding, (DQ) = disqualification.*

Year	Winner	PP	Jockey	Trainer	Time	Margin	Odds
2025	Sovereignty	18	J. Alvarado	B. Mott	2:02.31	1 1/2	7.98
2024	Mystik Dan	3	B. Hernandez	K. McPeek	2:03.34	no	18.61
2023	Mage	8	J. Castellano	G. Delgado	2:01.57	1	15.21
2022	Rich Strike	21	S. Leon	E. Reed	2:02.61	3/4	80.80
2021	Mandaloun (DQ)	7	F. Geroux	B. Cox	2:01.02	n/a	26.90
2020	Authentic	18	J. Velazquez	B. Baffert	2:00.61	1 1/4	8.40
2019	Country House (DQ)	20	F. Prat	B. Mott	2:03.93	n/a	65.20
2018	Justify ♛	7	M. Smith	B. Baffert	2:04.20	2 1/2	*2.90
2017	Always Dreaming	5	J. Velazquez	T. Pletcher	2:03.59	2 3/4	*4.70
2016	Nyquist	13	M. Gutierrez	D. O'Neill	2:01.31	1 1/4	*2.30
2015	American Pharoah ♛	18	V. Espinoza	B. Baffert	2:03.02	1	*2.90
2014	California Chrome	5	V. Espinoza	A. Sherman	2:03.66	1 3/4	*2.50
2013	Orb	16	J. Rosario	S. McGaughey	2:02.89	2 1/2	5.40
2012	I'll Have Another	19	M. Gutierrez	D. O'Neill	2:01.83	1 1/2	15.30
2011	Animal Kingdom	16	J. Velazquez	H.G. Motion	2:02.04	2 3/4	20.90
2010	Super Saver	4	C. Borel	T. Pletcher	2:04.45	2 1/2	8.00
2009	Mine That Bird (g)	8	C. Borel	B. Woolley Jr.	2:02.66	6 3/4	50.60
2008	Big Brown	20	K. Desormeaux	R. Dutrow Jr.	2:01.82	4 3/4	*2.40
2007	Street Sense	7	C. Borel	C. Nafzger	2:02.17	2 1/4	*4.90
2006	Barbaro	8	E. Prado	M. Matz	2:01.36	6 1/2	6.10
2005	Giacomo	10	M. Smith	J. Shirreffs	2:02.75	1 1/2	50.30
2004	Smarty Jones	13	S. Elliott	J. Servis	2:04.06	2 3/4	*4.10
2003	Funny Cide (g)	5	J. Santos	B. Tagg	2:01.19	1 3/4	12.80
2002	War Emblem	5	V. Espinoza	B. Baffert	2:01.13	4	20.50
2001	Monarchos	16	J. Chavez	J. T. Ward	1:59.97	4 3/4	10.50
2000	Fusaichi Pegasus	15	K. Desormeaux	N. Drysdale	2:01.12	1 1/2	*2.30
1999	Charismatic	16	C. Antley	D.W. Lukas	2:03.29	nk	31.30
1998	Real Quiet	3	K. Desormeaux	B. Baffert	2:02.38	1/2	8.40
1997	Silver Charm	5	G. Stevens	B. Baffert	2:02.44	hd	4.00
1996	Grindstone	15	J. Bailey	D.W. Lukas	2:01.06	no	5.90
1995	Thunder Gulch	16	G. Stevens	D.W. Lukas	2:01.27	2 1/4	24.50
1994	Go for Gin	8	C. McCarron	N. Zito	2:03.72	2	9.10
1993	Sea Hero	6	J. Bailey	M. Miller	2:02.42	2 1/2	12.90
1992	Lil E. Tee	10	P. Day	L. Whiting	2:03.04	1	16.80
1991	Strike the Gold	5	C. Antley	N. Zito	2:03.08	1 3/4	4.80
1990	Unbridled	8	C. Perret	C. Nafzgar	2:02	3 1/2	10.80
1989	Sunday Silence	10	P. Valenzuela	C. Whittingham	2:05	2 1/2	3.10
1988	Winning Colors (f)	1	G. Stevens	D.W. Lukas	2:02 1/5	nk	3.40
1987	Alysheba	3	C. McCarron	J. Van Berg	2:03 2/5	3/4	8.40
1986	Ferdinand	1	W. Shoemaker	C. Whittingham	2:02 4/5	2 1/4	17.70
1985	Spend a Buck	10	A. Cordero Jr.	C. Gambolati	2:00 1/5	5 1/4	4.10
1984	Swale	15	L. Pincay Jr.	W. Stephens	2:02 2/5	3 1/4	3.40
1983	Sunny's Halo	10	E. Delahoussaye	D. Cross Jr.	2:02 1/5	2	2.50
1982	Gato Del Sol	18	E. Delahoussaye	E. Gregson	2:02 3/5	2 1/2	21.20
1981	Pleasant Colony	7	J. Velasquez	J. Campo	2:02	3/4	3.50
1980	Genuine Risk (f)	10	J. Vasquez	L. Jolley	2:02	1	13.30
1979	Spectacular Bid	3	R. Franklin	G. Delp	2:02 2/5	2 3/4	*0.60
1978	Affirmed ♛	2	S. Cauthen	L. Barrera	2:01 1/5	1 1/2	1.80
1977	Seattle Slew ♛	4	J. Cruguet	W. Turner	2:02 1/5	1 3/4	*0.50
1976	Bold Forbes	2	A. Cordero Jr.	L. Barrera	2:01 3/5	1	3.00
1975	Foolish Pleasure	3	J. Vasquez	L. Jolley	2:02	1 3/4	*1.90
1974	Cannonade	2	A. Cordero Jr.	W. Stephens	2:04	2 1/4	*1.50
1973	Secretariat ♛	10	R. Turcotte	L. Laurin	1:59 2/5	2 1/2	*1.50
1972	Riva Ridge	9	R. Turcotte	L. Laurin	2:01 4/5	3 3/4	*1.50
1971	Canonero II	12	G. Avila	J. Arius	2:03 1/5	3 3/4	8.70
1970	Dust Commander	2	M. Manganello	D. Combs	2:03 2/5	5	15.30
1969	Majestic Prince	8	W. Hartack	J. Longden	2:01 4/5	nk	*1.40
1968	Forward Pass (DQ)	13	I. Valenzuela	H. Forrest	2:02 1/5	n/a	*2.20
1967	Proud Clarion	7	R. Ussery	L. Gentry	2:00 3/5	1	30.10
1966	Kauai King	12	D. Brumfield	H. Forrest	2:02	1/2	*2.40
1965	Lucky Debonair	8	W. Shoemaker	F. Catrone	2:01 1/5	nk	4.30
1964	Northern Dancer	7	W. Hartak	H. Luro	2:00	nk	3.40
1963	Chateaugay	1	B. Baeza	J.P. Conway	2:01 4/5	1 1/4	9.40
1962	Decidedly	4	W. Hartak	H. Luro	2:00 2/5	2 1/4	8.70
1961	Carry Back	14	J. Sellers	J.A. Price	2:04	3/4	*2.50
1960	Venetian Way	9	W. Hartack	V. Sovinski	2:02 2/5	3 1/2	6.30
1959	Tomy Lee	9	W. Shoemaker	F. Turner Jr.	2:02 1/5	no	3.70
1958	Tim Tam	2	I. Valenzuela	H.A. Jones	2:05	1/2	2.10
1957	Iron Liege	6	W. Hartak	H.A. Jones	2:02 1/5	no	8.40
1956	Needles	1	D. Erb	H.L. Fontaine	2:03 2/5	3/4	*1.60
1955	Swaps	8	W. Shoemaker	M.A. Tenney	2:01 4/5	1 1/2	2.80
1954	Determine	7	R. York	W. Molter	2:03	1 1/2	4.30
1953	Dark Star	10	H. Moreno	E. Hayward	2:02	hd	24.90
1952	Hill Gail	1	E. Arcaro	B.A. Jones	2:01 3/5	2	*1.10
1951	Count Turf	9	C. McCreary	S. Rutchick	2:02 3/5	4	14.60
1950	Middleground	14	W. Boland	M. Hirsch	2:01 3/5	1 1/4	7.90
1949	Ponder	2	S. Brooks	B.A. Jones	2:04 1/5	3	16.00
1948	Citation ♛	1	E. Arcaro	B.A. Jones	2:05 2/5	3 1/2	*0.40
1947	Jet Pilot	13	E. Guerin	T. Smith	2:06 4/5	hd	5.40
1946	Assault ♛	2	W. Mehrtens	M. Hirsch	2:06 3/5	8	8.20
1945	Hoop Jr.	12	E. Arcaro	I. Parke	2:07	6	3.70
1944	Pensive	4	C. McCreary	B.A. Jones	2:04 1/5	4 1/2	7.10
1943	Count Fleet ♛	5	J. Longden	G.D. Cameron	2:04	3	*0.40
1942	Shut Out	3	W.D. Wright	J.M. Gaver	2:04 2/5	2 1/4	*1.90
1941	Whirlaway ♛	4	E. Arcaro	B.A. Jones	2:01 2/5	8	*2.90
1940	Gallahadion	1	C. Bierman	R. Waldron	2:05	1 1/2	35.20
1939	Johnstown	5	J. Stout	J. Fitzsimmons	2:03 2/5	8	*0.60
1938	Lawrin	1	E. Arcaro	B.A. Jones	2:04 4/5	1	8.60
1937	War Admiral ♛	1	C. Kurtsinger	G. Conway	2:03 1/5	1 3/4	*1.60
1936	Bold Venture	5	I. Hanford	M. Hirsch	2:03 3/5	hd	20.50
1935	Omaha ♛	10	W. Saunders	J. Fitzsimmons	2:05	1 1/2	4.00
1934	Cavalcade	8	M. Garner	R.A. Smith	2:04	2 1/2	1.50
1933	Brokers Tip	11	D. Meade	H.J. Thompson	2:06 4/5	no	8.93
1932	Burgoo King	13	E. James	H.J. Thompson	2:05 1/5	5	5.62
1931	Twenty Grand	5	C. Kurtsinger	J. Rowe Jr.	2:01 4/5	4	*0.88
1930	Gallant Fox ♛	7	E. Sande	J. Fitzsimmons	2:07 3/5	2	*1.19
1929	Clyde Van Dusen (g)	20	L. McAtee	C.V. Dusen	2:10 4/5	2	3.00
1928	Reigh Count	4	C. Lang	B.S. Mitchell	2:10 2/5	3	*2.06
1927	Whiskery	7	L. McAtee	F. Hopkins	2:06	hd	2.40
1926	Bubbling Over	11	A. Johnson	H.J. Thompson	2:03 4/5	5	*1.90
1925	Flying Ebony	6	E. Sande	W.B. Duke	2:07 3/5	1 1/2	3.15
1924	Black Gold	1	J.D. Mooney	H. Webb	2:05 1/5	1/2	*1.75
1923	Zev	10	E. Sande	D.J. Leary	2:05 2/5	1 1/2	19.20
1922	Morvich	4	A. Johnson	F. Burlew	2:04 3/5	1 1/2	*1.20
1921	Behave Yourself	9	C. Thompson	H.J. Thompson	2:04 1/5	hd	8.65
1920	Paul Jones (g)	2	T. Rice	W. Garth	2:09	hd	16.20
1919	Sir Barton ♛	1	J. Loftus	H.G. Bedwell	2:09 4/5	5	*2.60
1918	Exterminator (g)	5	W. Knapp	H. McDaniel	2:10 4/5	1	29.60
1917	Omar Khayyam	8	C. Borel	C.T. Paterson	2:04 3/5	2	12.80
1916	George Smith	8	J. Loftus	H. Hughes	2:04	nk	4.15
1915	Regret (f)	2	J. Notter	J. Rowe Sr.	2:05 2/5	2	*2.65
1914	Old Rosebud (g)	6	J. McCabe	F.D. Weir	2:03 2/5	8	*0.85
1913	Donerail	5	R. Goose	T.P. Hayes	2:04 4/5	1/2	91.45
1912	Worth	5	C.H. Shilling	F.M. Taylor	2:09 2/5	nk	*0.80
1911	Meridian	5	G. Archibald	A. Ewing	2:05	3/4	2.90
1910	Donau	7	F. Herbert	G. Ham	2:06 2/5	1/2	*2.65
1909	Wintergreen	6	W. Powers	C. Mack	2:08 1/5	4	*1.96
1908	Stone Street	4	A. Pickens	J.W. Hall	2:15 1/5	3	23.72
1907	Pink Star	6	A. Minder	W.H. Fizer	2:12 3/5	2	15.00
1906	Sir Huon	4	R. Troxler	P. Coyne	2:08 4/5	2	*1.10
1905	Agile	1	J. Martin	R. Tucker	2:10 4/5	3	*0.33
1904	Elwood	3	F. Prior	C.E. Durnell	2:08 1/2	1/2	15.00
1903	Judge Himes	4	H. Booker	J.P. Mayberry	2:09	3/4	10.00
1902	Alan-a-Dale	3	J. Winkfield	T.C. McDowell	2:08 3/4	no	*1.50
1901	His Eminence	1	J. Winkfield	F.B. Van Meter	2:07 3/4	1 1/2	*3.00
1900	Lieut. Gibson	3	J. Boland	C.H. Hughes	2:06 1/4	3	*0.70
1899	Manuel	1	F. Taral	R. Walden	2:12	2	*0.55
1898	Plaudit	3	W. Simms	J.E. Madden	2:09	no	3.00
1897	Typhoon II	1	F. Garner	J.C. Cahn	2:12 1/2	nk	3.00
1896	Ben Brush	4	W. Simms	H. Campbell	2:07 3/4	no	*0.50
1895	Halma	1	J. Perkins	B. McClelland	2:37 1/2	5	*0.33
1894	Chant	2	F. Goodale	E. Leigh	2:41	6	*0.50
1893	Lookout	2	E. Kunze	W. McDaniel	2:39 1/4	4	*0.70
1892	Azra	2	A. Clayton	J.H. Morris	2:41 1/2	no	1.50
1891	Kingman	4	I. Murphy	D. Allen	2:52 1/4	1/2	*0.50
1890	Riley	5	I. Murphy	E. Corrigan	2:45	1 3/4	4.00
1889	Spokane	3	T. Kiley	J. Rodegap	2:34 1/2	no	6.00
1888	Macbeth II (g)	6	G. Covington	J. Campbell	2:38 1/4	1	6.00
1887	Montrose	3	I. Lewis	J. McGinty	2:39 1/4	2	10.00
1886	Ben Ali	4	P. Duffy	J. Murphy	2:36 1/2	1/2	-
1885	Joe Cotton	8	E. Henderson	A. Perry	2:37 1/4	nk	*1.00
1884	Buchanan	8	I. Murphy	W. Bird	2:40 1/4	1	*3.00
1883	Leonatus	2	W. Donahue	R. Colston	2:43	3	-
1882	Apollo (g)	8	B. Hurd	G.B. Morris	2:40 1/4	1/2	10.00
1881	Hindoo	2	J. McLaughlin	J. Rowe Sr.	2:40	4	-
1880	Fonso	1	G. Lewis	T. Hutsell	2:37 1/2	1	-
1879	Lord Murphy	4	C. Shauer	G. Rice	2:37	1	-
1878	Day Star	1	J. Carter	L. Paul	2:37 1/4	1	-
1877	Baden Baden	5	W. Walker	E. Brown	2:38	2	-
1876	Vagrant (g)	4	R. Swim	J. Williams	2:38 1/4	2	-
1875	Aristides	1	O. Lewis	A. Williams	2:37 3/4	2	-