Kentucky

‘If these artifacts could speak.’ Take a look at 7 iconic artifacts in Kentucky Derby history

Published

2 weeks ago

April 16, 2024

Press Room

‘If these artifacts could speak.’ Take a look at 7 iconic artifacts in Kentucky Derby history

The Kentucky Derby has left quite a trail in its 149 runnings.

While dust certainly settles on the track, artifacts associated with the Run for the Roses can linger for decades.

Stories and memories live on in the countless collectible Kentucky Derby cups that fill cupboards or hats that rest in closets, but some objects carry a whole different weight and symbolism.

A few years ago Jessica Whitehead, the curator of collections for the Kentucky Derby Museum, told me the American flag that flew over Churchill Downs in 1937 was one of the most celebrated artifacts in the museum’s 20,000-piece collection. The Kentucky Derby was nearly canceled that year because the Ohio River flooded and devastated Louisville but the race went on because Kentucky’s governor at the time delivered a morale-boosting speech insisting the event was a symbol of unity.

Like that flag, so many of the objects in the museum seem ordinary or unremarkable, until you think about what they have to say about the era they’re from.

“Objects are so special because, they’re literal touchstones for history, and they’re literal touchstones for memory,” Whitehead said.

Kentucky Derby history runs in tandem with American history, so much of what’s happening in the world can be remembered through the lens of this historic race.

In honor of the 150th running, Whitehead has compiled a book titled “The History of the Kentucky Derby in 75 Objects.” Inspired by that 1937 flag, I asked her to share a few other stories hidden among the museum’s Kentucky Derby artifacts.

“If these artifacts could speak,” she gushed.

Here is a quick look at some extremely humble but very telling pieces of Kentucky Derby history.

1870s: Renderings of the original Clubhouse

Images of the earliest days of Churchill Downs, which was known originally as The Louisville Jockey Club, are difficult to come by. Photography was extremely limited when the track opened in 1875, Whitehead said, so one of the best ways to understand what life was like at the track is hand-drawn renderings.

The Clubhouse was the most exclusive part of the track in the late 19th century, and it was where all the movers and shakers of the day practiced their social sport in between races. These drawings, which are more than a century and a half old, offer a glimpse into what high society looked like for the earliest Kentucky Derby-goers. The Clubhouse had a kitchen all its own, and it was the only part of the track that had indoor bathrooms.

The drawings nod to both the Kentucky Derby experience in its earliest days and the technology of that period. The building was designed in a Carpenter Gothic style by John Andrewartha, a prolific architect in Louisville. The intricate detail in the trim on the structure was only possible because of scroll saws, which were semi-new tools of the day.

The Clubhouse wasn’t part of the Kentucky Derby for long. Once the Twin Spires grandstand was constructed in 1895, it was used for storage or as a residence for the track’s superintendent. By the 1910s it was demolished to make room for barns and outbuildings.

1875: Aristide’s booties

Even with all the glittering trophies and priceless artwork, Whitehead says some of the most prized objects in the collection look humble. The ankle boots once worn by the first Kentucky Derby winner Aristides tell a story of craftsmanship and how racehorses were cared for in 1875.

“These are just (hide) and leather little booties, and if you haven’t ever seen 19th-century horse gear, you might not know what you’re looking at,” Whitehead said.

Aristides wore these anklets in the same way that modern horses have gauze wrapped around their ankles. They would have been touched by Oliver Lewis, the Black jockey who won the first Derby, and by his celebrated Black trainer, Ansel Williamson. The booties are among the oldest objects in the museum’s collection.

“We don’t know if they were worn in the [first Kentucky] Derby,” Whitehead said. “But the fact that they were saved and hallowed this way suggests that certainly, he would have worn them at an important time in his career.”

1896: Isaac Murphy’s grave marker

Isaac Murphy’s legacy is imperative to the history of the Kentucky Derby, but for decades his grave was lost.

His gravestone helps tell the story of how the Jim Crow era, which enforced segregation, forced out the Black jockeys, who powered the racing industry in the late 19th century, Whitehead said. Murphy was a three-time Kentucky Derby winner and the son of a formerly enslaved person in Fayette County. He rode in 11 Kentucky Derby races.

When he died in 1896 — the same year that Black horsemen started getting pushed off the tracks by their white counterparts — Murphy was buried in African Cemetery No. 2 in Lexington, which fell into disrepair in the early 20th century. Grave markers were kicked down, destroyed, and moved from their original spots. His grave was considered lost until it was rediscovered in the 1960s. His body was then moved to a place of honor in the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.

The original gravestone was then restored and donated to the museum’s collection.

1913: Donerail’s scrapbook

Donerail, who won the 1913 Kentucky Derby, was the longest shot to ever win the race at 91-1 odds. His owner, Thomas Hayes, was so thrilled kept a scrapbook about the horse’s racing career, which is now part of the museum’s collection.

Hidden in those pages is the story of the track’s survival and hometown pride.

Today the Kentucky Derby is an international sensation, but it wasn’t always that way. Churchill Downs was in financial turmoil at the end of the 19th century, and it looked like the Kentucky Derby might have run its course. Matt Winn, the former director of Churchill Downs, gets most of the credit for reviving the track and the race, but Whitehead said, he also got a lot of help from some incredible horses, like Donerail.

“These were stories that spoke to more than just horse racing fans or gamblers,” Whitehead said. “These were stories that started to speak to the American public in ways that were beyond just horseracing.”

Donerail’s jockey, Roscoe Goose, had grown up in Louisville on Third Street near Churchill Downs, and there was an immense sense of local pride swelling around his Kentucky Derby win. Inside the scrapbook is a letter to Hayes from a local shopkeeper, who states that they were so thrilled they decorated the shop in Donerail’s colors.

1934: Brookmeade Stable Jockey Silks

Isabel Dodge Sloane owned Brookmeade Stable and her horse Cavalcade, won the Kentucky Derby in 1934. These are the jockey silks worn by Mack Garner that represent her colors and win.

A man’s jockey silks might seem like an unusual symbol of women’s strides in the male-dominated horseracing industry, but Whitehead says these point to the story of the earliest women horse owners involved in the Kentucky Derby. They first came on the scene in the early 20th century, but it wasn’t until the 1920s and 1930s that women owning racehorses became a more acceptable practice, particularly on the East Coast.

Sloane was also a fashion icon, who helped set the stage for women’s sportswear at the track.

1958: Tim Tam’s horseshoes

Today, Latin American jockeys are a crucial part of horseracing, but that wasn’t the case in the earliest Kentucky Derby races. José “Joe” Rodriguez was a Cuban trailblazer for Latinx jockeys in the United States throughout the 1920s and 1930s, but a Latin American jockey wouldn’t win the Kentucky Derby until Ismael “Milo” Valenzuela road to victory on Tim Tam in 1958. The Kentucky Derby Museum has Tim Tam’s horseshoes in its collection.

“He was the first Latin American winner of the Kentucky Derby, which of course has huge ramifications on the history of the sport,” Whitehead explained. “After that, the trend went significantly toward Latin, Central American and South American horsemen.”

Valenzuela also won The Preakness in 1958. His earnings in his career topped $20 million.

2020: Hats and masks

The museum focuses on preserving the Kentucky Derby’s past, but that also involves collecting objects that help tell its story in the future. The past decade has seen many highs and lows between the COVID-19 pandemic, the racial justice protests, and two disqualifications of winners, among other circumstances.

“We’re still so close to it, that I think we’re going to be trying to understand this period for a long time,” Whitehead said.

It’s always difficult to guess what artifacts will be important down the line, Whitehead said, but the hats and masks worn at the races in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic undeniably speak volumes about the culture of the era.

“People are going to look back at 2020 and 2021, and go ‘What the heck was going on there,’” Whitehead said. “And we’re really fortunate to have some examples in our collection that can help shed light on that and tell those stories later on.”

Features columnist Maggie Menderski writes about what makes Louisville, Southern Indiana and Kentucky unique, wonderful, and occasionally, a little weird. If you’ve got something in your family, your town or even your closet that fits that description — she wants to hear from you. Say hello at mmenderski@courier-journal.com or 502-582-4053. Follow along on Instagram @MaggieMenderski.

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Kentucky Basketball Roster Tracker: Koby Brea and Kerr Kriisa join the show

Published

7 hours ago

May 1, 2024

Press Room

Kentucky Basketball Roster Tracker: Koby Brea and Kerr Kriisa join the show

Mark Pope’s debut roster in Lexington is coming together in a hurry, Kentucky adding not one but two commitments in a matter of hours on Wednesday. Dayton’s Koby Brea got things rolling to start the day, followed by a surprise pledge from West Virginia’s Kerr Kriisa.

Brea joins the program as the nation’s top 3-point shooter, someone Pope referred to as a “dangerous, dangerous man” at the time of his signing. He knocked down 49.8% of his threes on 6.1 attempts per contest a year ago, leading college basketball in effective field goal percentage among guards at 71.5% and was second in true shooting percentage among guards at 72.2%.

“By the numbers, Koby Brea is the most efficient mid-to-high major player in college basketball in the last decade,” Pope said. “He’s the best returning shooter in college basketball next year. … He will be key in allowing us to play the style of basketball that we love the most.”

As for Kriisa, he’s a knockdown shooter in his own right at 42.4% from three on 6.3 attempts per contest this past season. The 6-3 guard averaged a career-high 11.0 points to go with 4.7 assists and 2.5 rebounds per contest on 42.9% shooting during his lone season in Morgantown and fourth year of college basketball after starting at Arizona.

Entering this past weekend with just three players, the Wildcats now have nine signed on for the upcoming 2024-25 season.

IMPORTANT DATES

April 27: NBA Early Entry Eligibility Deadline (11:59 p.m. ET)
May 1: Transfer Portal Closes
May 12: NBA Draft Lottery
May 13-19: NBA Combine
May 29: NCAA early entrant withdrawal deadline (11:59 pm ET)
June 16: NBA Draft Early Entry Entrant Withdrawal Deadline (5 p.m. ET)
June 26: NBA Draft 2024 First Round
June 27: NBA Draft 2024 Second Round

Want more Kentucky Basketball roster intel? Join the KSR Club for access to bonus content and KSBoard, KSR’s message board, to chat with fellow Cats fans and get exclusive scoop.

UPDATES

May 1: Koby Brea, Kerr Kriisa commit to Kentucky

Brea chose the Wildcats over UConn, Kansas, Duke and North Carolina coming off an official visit to Lexington
Kriisa averaged 11.0 points, 4.7 assists and 2.5 rebounds at West Virginia in 2023-24
The 6-3 guard shot 42.4% from three on 6.3 attempts per game

May 1: Utah State’s Great Osobor cuts Kentucky from his list

Will now consider Louisville, Texas Tech and Washington
Averaged 17.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game in 2023-24
Was tabbed the Mountain West Player of the Year this past season

May 1: Utah’s Deivon Smith reportedly cuts Kentucky, down to three

The standout guard is down to St. John’s, Washington and West Virginia, according to Matt Norlander
Was set to visit Lexington, but dealt with reported transcript issues during admissions process, breaking down conversations between the two sides
Averaged 13.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 7.1 assists in 29.5 minutes per game in 2023-24

April 30: Minnesota’s Elijah Hawkins commits to Texas Tech

5-foot-11 point guard averaged 9.5 points and 7.5 assists per game in 2023-24, tied for the most in the Big Ten.
Last year he shot 37.6% from three and scored in double figures 18 times on a Minnesota team that finished with 19 wins.
Was rumored to be down to Kentucky and Texas Tech before the Red Raiders secured his commitment during a visit

April 30: Oklahoma State’s Brandon Garrison commits to Kentucky

The 6-11 freshman averaged 7.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game this season, shooting 57.2% from the field
Visited Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma before choosing Kentucky without ever making the trip to Lexington

April 29: Dayton transfer Koby Brea visits Kentucky

6-foot-5, 175-pound combo guard who averaged 11.1 points and 3.8 rebounds in 33 games as a junior in 2023-24.
Started four games while averaging 29.1 minutes per outing. Shot 49.8 percent from deep on 201 attempts this past season.
Originally heard from the Wildcats on April 16

April 29: Saint Mary’s transfer Aidan Mahaney commits to UConn

6-foot-3 guard chose the Huskies over Kentucky, Creighton and Virginia, among others
Averaged 13.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 33.3 minutes per game for Saint Mary’s this past season, starting all 34 games.
A two-time First Team All-WCC performer.

April 28: Wake Forest’s Andrew Carr picks Kentucky

Averaged 13.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.5 blocks in 32.5 minutes per outing for the Deamon Deacons in 2023-24. Started all 35 games played.
Also visited Texas Tech and Villanova before signing with UK

April 27: Otega Oweh, you are a Wildcat

Committed to Kentucky over Oregon after visiting Lexington earlier in the week.
Nicknamed “Otega-Tron” for his ability to transform into whatever kind of defender his team needed.
The fifth player on board for Kentucky’s 2024-25 roster.

April 27: Andrej Stojakovic commits to California

With a final three of Kentucky, North Carolina, and California, the West Coast native elected to stay close to home, choosing the Golden Bears.
A visit to Kentucky was reportedly in the works, but Stojakovic committed to California before he could make it to Lexington.
Averaged 7.8 points and 3.4 rebounds in 22.3 minutes per contest. He shot 40.9 percent from the floor, 32.7 percent from deep, and 52.8 percent from the line.
Son of longtime NBA veteran and three-time All-Star Peja Stojakovic.

April 27: BYU’s Jaxson Robinson enters the transfer portal

Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year this past season after posting per-game averages of 14.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 26.4 minutes per game.
Entered the NBA Draft on April 23
Says his recruitment is “100% open” should he decide to return to school, though Kentucky is seen as a heavy favorite to land his commitment

April 26: Lamont Butler commits to Kentucky

Another significant defensive piece for Mark Pope going into year one. Along with Williams, UK has five conference Defensive Player of the Year awards between them.
A trip to Las Vegas from Pope and Co. sealed the deal.
One year of eligibility remains for the point guard.

April 25: Miami’s Wooga Poplar added to contact list

6-foot-5 guard averaged 13.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 31.1 minutes this past season.
St. John’s, Kansas, Villanova, Temple, Ole Miss, Florida State, and Arizona State have also reached out.

April 23: Kentucky reaches out to Duke’s TJ Power

Played sparingly as a freshman last season, averaging just 2.1 points and 0.7 rebounds in seven minutes per outing across 26 appearances.
Arkansas, Michigan, BYU, Wake Forest, Southern California, Miami (FL), Notre Dame, West Virginia, Boston College, and Iowa have also reached.

April 23: Former Kentucky center Ugonna Onyenso enters transfer portal

Alabama, Oklahoma, Georgetown, Louisville, and Florida were among the first schools to reach out
The Crimson Tide have since emerged as the favorite to land his commitment
Originally declared for the NBA Draft on April 16, but was not included on the early entrant list

April 22: Collin Chandler signs with Kentucky, Travis Perry reaffirms commitment

Chandler committed to Kentucky on April 16 but was not announced as signed until almost a week later. The former BYU signee is officially a Wildcat.
The same day, Perry confirmed that he would join Kentucky for the 2024-25 season.

April 21: Amari Williams is a Wildcat

Defense was not a strength of Mark Pope’s teams at BYU. Defense is what his first significant transfer portal addition does best. Williams was a three-time CAA Defensive Player of the Year for Drexel.
Williams picked Kentucky over Mississippi State.
The 6-foot-10 big man made the decision after officially visiting Lexington this weekend.

April 20: Kentucky contacts Duke’s Sean Stewart

Kentucky joins Kansas State, Indiana, Arkansas, USC, Florida State, Cincinnati, Georgetown, Arizona State, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, Baylor, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Cal, Stanford, South Carolina, Washington, Howard, UCSB and Harvard to express interest
Was the No. 12 overall prospect in the 2023 recruiting cycle
The 6-9 freshman out of Windermere, Florida averaged 2.6 points and 3.2 rebounds in just 8.4 minutes per game this season for the Blue Devils

April 19: Joey Hart commits to Ball State

The 6-5 sharpshooter out of Linton, IN entered the portal as a redshirt freshman on April 8 after playing just ten minutes in his debut season as a Wildcat.
He scored three points in Lexington — a made 3-pointer in Kentucky’s win over Marshall back on November 24.
Also considered Ole Miss, West Virginia and UCF before choosing Ball State

April 19: Jordan Burks enters the transfer portal

Averaged 1.9 points and 1.7 rebounds in 7.2 minutes per outing as a freshman
Was a three-star recruit in high school out of Overtime Elite
The 6-8 forward only saw at least 10 minutes in seven of his 20 games played

April 19: Adou Thiero cuts list to five, includes Kentucky

Previously entering the portal on March 28, the 6-8 forward is down to Kentucky, North Carolina, Pitt, Indiana and Arkansas
Took a visit to Pittsburgh — the hometown school

April 19: Kentucky makes final six for Villanova’s TJ Bamba

April 18: Reed Sheppard declares or the NBA Draft

The star guard is the No. 7 overall prospect in ESPN’s list of best available draft prospects
He has decided to forgo the remainder of his college eligibility
“I’m going all-in,” Sheppard told ESPN. “The opportunity I have is great. I’ve gotten really good feedback showing where I can be in the draft. I had an unbelievable year at Kentucky. It was such a fun year. It’s not easy leaving the fans and the school I dreamed of playing at. I need to do what’s best for me, and that’s heading to the NBA.”

April 18: BYU’s Aly Khalifa commits to Louisville over Kentucky

The 6-11, 270-pound center out of Alexandria, Egypt previously announced three finalists: Kentucky, Louisville and BYU
Khalifa averaged 5.7 points, 4.0 assists and 3.7 rebounds in 19.4 minutes per game on 38.6/31.5/62.1 shooting splits
Originally entered portal on April 12 with a ‘do not contact’ tag
He will be redshirting in 2023-24 while rehabbing a knee injury

April 16: Oklahoma’s Otega Oweh hears from Pope

Pope reached out to Oweh this week, according to KSR+’s Jacob Polacheck
The 6-foot-4, 210-pound combo guard averaged 11.4 points and 3.8 rebounds, playing in 32 games for Oklahoma as a sophomore in 2023-24
He started in 28 games and averaged 24.8 minutes per contest
Oweh is set to visit Oregon on April 19 and Texas A&M on April 23

April 16: Collin Chandler commits to Kentucky

The 6-4 scorer is rated as the No. 34 overall prospect and No. 6 combo guard in the final 2022 On3 Player Rankings
Chandler spent two years on mission ahead of his college basketball debut in 2024-25
2022 Utah Gatorade Player of the Year, averaged 21.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.7 steals as a senior in high school
Committed to BYU over Arizona, Gonzaga, Oregon, Stanford and Utah, among others

April 15: Zvonimir Ivisic transfers to Arkansas

“I made the lifetime decision to come to college for a few reasons,” Ivisic announced. “Main one’s to win a national championship and go to the NBA. Monumental part of that decision was Coach Cal, and no one does both of those at the same time than him. That’s why I am excited to announce that I am committing to Coach Cal and the Arkansas Razorbacks!”
Ivisic racked up 15 total appearances in Lexington, averaging 5.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 57.7% from the field and 37.5% from three.

April 15: Aaron Bradshaw commits to Ohio State

Bradshaw took an official visit to Columbus over the weekend and announced his commitment to open the week on Monday.
The former top-five recruit was the first portal entry for the Wildcats to commit elsewhere
He originally entered the transfer portal on April 8
The 7-foot-1 freshman averaged 4.9 points and 3.3 rebounds per game this season while shooting 57.6% from the field.

April 15: DJ Wagner enters transfer portal

The 6-foot-3 former five-star recruit averaged 9.9 points, 3.3 assists, and 1.9 rebounds in 25.8 minutes per game for Kentucky this past season

April 15: Northern Illinois transfer David Coit hears from the Wildcats

Kentucky joins TCU, Louisville, Utah, Washington State and Oregon State as schools to reach out, according to The Portal Report
Averaged 20.8 points, 3.4 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game
40.7% FG, 33.7% 3PT, 88.5% FT

April 14: Kentucky reaches out to Oklahoma State transfer Javon Small

Kansas, Miami, Indiana, Texas and Louisville are other schools with mutual interest, sources tell KSR
Averaged 15.1 PPG, 4.7 RPG, and 4.1 APG, shooting 44% overall last season
Set to take official visit to Miami this week

April 12: BYU’s Jaxson Robinson becomes name to know for Kentucky

The 6-7 guard averaged a team-high 14.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 26.4 minutes per outing.
He shot 42.6 percent from the field, 35.4 percent from deep (6.9 attempts per game), and 90.8 percent from the free throw line.

April 9: Rob Dillingham enters the NBA Draft, forgoes remaining eligibility

Dillingham’s time in Lexington comes to a close with a season average of 15.2 points, 3.9 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game while shooting 47.5% from the field and 44.4% from three.
He is currently the No. 4 overall prospect in ESPN’s list of best-available players in the 2024 draft

April 4: Justin Edwards enters the NBA Draft

The former five-star wing becomes the first player to forgo his time at Kentucky and enter the NBA Draft
He is currently rated as the No. 30 overall prospect in ESPN’s list of best available players in the draft pool, good for third on the team behind Rob Dillingham and Reed Sheppard

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Kentucky

The Kentucky Derby is Saturday. Here’s what you should know about the horse racing event

Published

14 hours ago

May 1, 2024

Press Room

The Kentucky Derby is Saturday. Here’s what you should know about the horse racing event

The 150th Kentucky Derby is quickly approaching, and you don’t need to be in the Bluegrass State to enjoy a mint julep while you sing “My Old Kentucky Home.”

The annual horse race is an exciting time for people to get together, place bets and revel in the southern charm of the event.

Even if you know nothing about horse racing or Derby Day traditions, there are plenty of ways to learn about them before you participate in the festivities.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Kentucky Derby and Arizona events celebrating the day.

What is the Kentucky Derby?

This annual springtime horse race is the longest continually held sporting event in America. The Kentucky Derby is the first jewel of the Triple Crown series, followed by the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore and the Belmont Stakes in New York.

While the fanfare lasts all day, the race itself is 1.25 miles and typically lasts around two minutes. The race is also known as the “Run for the Roses” after the bed of roses that gets placed upon the winning horse’s back.

More Kentucky Derby: Catch up on ‘Race for the Roses’ coverage in time for 150th race

When is the Kentucky Derby in 2024?

The Kentucky Derby is traditionally held on the first Saturday of May. This year, the race will take place on Saturday, May 4.

What time is the Kentucky Derby?

The live coverage of the event begins at 2:30 p.m. Eastern time or 11:30 a.m. in Arizona.

The race is slated to start at 6:57 p.m. Eastern time and 3:57 p.m. in Arizona. You can find the full schedule online at churchilldowns.com.

How can I watch the Kentucky Derby?

NBC and USA Network will have live Kentucky Derby coverage. You can also stream coverage on Peacock, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app.

Kentucky Derby events in Arizona

If you want to do more than just watch the big day on television, here are some of the biggest events in Arizona to gather and celebrate the event.

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Betting the 150th Kentucky Derby: Odds and Analysis for Each Horse

Published

21 hours ago

May 1, 2024

Press Room

Betting the 150th Kentucky Derby: Odds and Analysis for Each Horse

It is just about time for mint juleps, extravagant hats, and the fastest two minutes in sports.

The 150th Kentucky Derby, the first leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown, is Saturday. Coverage begins on NBC and Peacock at 2:30P ET. USA Network and Peacock will have live Derby Day coverage from 12-2:20 p.m. ET.

Viewers can stream Derby Day coverage on Peacock, NBCSports.com, and the NBC Sports app.

USA Network and Peacock will also have Kentucky Oaks coverage Friday from 1-6 p.m. ET.

Fierceness (5-2) is the Derby favorite, and he got a boost today when Encino scratched. That moved Fierceness and jockey John Velazquez to from Post 17 to 16. Post Position 16. No horse has ever won the Derby from Post 17 but Post 16 has housed ten winners.

The Florida Derby winner will look to claim the majority of the record 5-million-dollar purse but will have a full field with whom to contend.

Bet the Edge is your source for the day in sports betting. Get all of Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick’s insight weekdays at 6AM ET right here or wherever you get your podcasts.

Fierceness is the fastest horse in the field, but Sierra Leone (3-1) is consistently strong and just a nose from being a perfect 4-0. Purchased for 2.3 million dollars two years ago, the Chad Brown-trained horse has yet to run a bad race. Other challengers include Catching Freedom (8-1), Forever Young (10-1), and Just a Touch (10-1) are the other primary contenders for the Derby crown.

Looking to place a wager on the Kentucky Derby? Read below for a quick synopsis of each horse along with highlights from his biggest race and an analysis of his chances in the Derby courtesy of NBC Sports’ horse racing experts.

The Tale of the Tape
Where: Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY
Who: 20, 3-year-old horses
Purse: $5,000,000
Distance: 1¼ miles
Post Time: 6:57P ET
Forecast: 79 degrees with a 35% chance of rain
Network: NBC and Peacock

The field is listed below post positions 1-20 along with pertinent betting info.