Kentucky
Fifteen Things to Know About the Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby was first held in 1875 and ranks because the longest repeatedly held main sporting occasion in the US.
This yr will mark the 148th version of the Kentucky Derby Offered by Woodford Reserve, which had been held on the primary Saturday in Could at Churchill Downs yearly since 1946 earlier than the COVID-19 pandemic compelled the postponement of the race in 2020 till Sept. 5.
In 2021, the Kentucky Derby returned to its regular place on the calendar as the primary jewel of the Triple Crown (after following the Belmont Stakes in 2020) and issues appeared to return to regular … till just a few days after the race when it was found that Medina Spirit had examined constructive for a banned substance. He subsequently was disqualified and Mandaloun was elevated to first. The 2021 Kentucky Derby marked the second time in three years that the 3-year-old who crossed the end line first within the Kentucky Derby was not the official winner after Most Safety was disqualified for interference in 2019 and Nation Home elevated to first.
With a lot historical past surrounding the primary jewel of the Triple Crown, there are a lot of attention-grabbing info concerning the race since Aristides received the inaugural version within the 19th Century. Let’s discover:
1) The most typical coloration of Kentucky Derby winners is bay with 56, inclduing Mandaloun in 2021, adopted by chestnut with 48 winners and brown with 17. Eight Kentucky Derby winners have been grey or roan, most just lately Giacomo in 2005.
2) Nineteen Kentucky Derby winners’ names have began with the letter S, probably the most of any letter; the one three letters not represented by a Derby winner are Q, X, and Y.
3) There have been 9 undefeated Kentucky Derby winners from 30 undefeated horses who’ve run within the race since 1915. Triple Crown winner Justify in 2018 is the latest. This yr, Runhappy Santa Anita Derby winner Taiba has an opportunity to spice up that quantity to 10 as one of many anticipated favorites.
4) Invoice Shoemaker was 54 years previous when he received the Kentucky Derby in 1986 aboard Ferdinand, the oldest jockey to win run for the roses.
5) The report for the youngest successful Kentucky Derby jockey is 15 years previous, by Alonzo Clayton in 1892 aboard Azra and James “Soup” Perkins in 1895 with Halma.
6) The Florida Derby has produced 24 Kentucky Derby winners through the years to rank as the best prep race on the Derby path. The Blue Grass Stakes and Champagne Stakes rank second with 23.
7) The stretch at Churchill Downs is 1,234 ft lengthy, and the late Los Angeles Instances columnist Jim Murray as soon as wrote, “The homestretch is 1,234 ft of heartbreak. Trainers swear it’s uphill.”
8) There have been 23 editions of the Kentucky Derby during which the winner led from begin to end for a “wire-to-wire” victory, most just lately Genuine in 2020.
9) Historic Calumet Farm in Lexington is the main proprietor by Kentucky Derby winners with eight and the main breeder of Kentucky Derby winners with 9. Calumet owned and bred 1941 Triple Crown winner Whirlaway and 1948 Triple Crown winner Quotation.
10) Favorites have received 56 of the earlier 147 editions of the Kentucky Derby, in response to the official media information, together with six of the final 9 editions.
11) Depend Fleet in 1943 and Quotation in 1948 price as probably the most overwhelming favorites to win the Kentucky Derby, each prevailing at 2-5 odds and returning $2.80 for a $2 guess.
12) The most important margin of victory within the Kentucky Derby is eight lengths and it was completed 4 occasions in Derby historical past: Outdated Rosebud in 1914, Johnstown in 1939, Whirlaway in 1941, and Assault in 1946. The ultimate two went on to brush the Triple Crown.
13) The Kentucky Derby has been determined by a successful margin of a neck or much less on 25 events, so there’s a superb probability for an exciting end.
14) The 2005 Kentucky Derby produced the report payout for the exacta, trifecta, and superfecta due to a number of large longshots within the high 4, led by 50.30-1 winner Giacomo. Runner-up Closing Argument was much more missed at 71.60-1 odds and fourth-place finisher Don’t Get Mad was 29.20-1. The one well-supported runner to hit the board was third-place finisher Afleet Alex because the 9-2 second betting selection. In consequence, the $2 exacta paid $9,814.80, the $2 trifecta returned a whopping $133,134.80, and the $1 superfecta paid a life-changing $864,253.
15) The report for cash wagered Kentucky Derby day got here in 2019 when $250,900,257 was wagered on the cardboard of races at Churchill Downs.