Kentucky Derby

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). 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 United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing and is followed by the Preakness Stakes then the Belmont Stakes

History

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,Dick 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 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.

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.

Thoroughbred 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. Since 1931, the order of Triple Crown races has been the Kentucky Derby first, followed by the Preakness Stakes and then the Belmont Stakes. Prior to 1931, eleven times the Preakness was run before the Derby. On May 12, 1917 and again on May 13, 1922, the Preakness and the Derby were run on the same day. On eleven occasions the Belmont Stakes was run before the Preakness Stakes.

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."

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.

May 1, 2027

Road to the Derby

100-Point Major Prep Races ("Win and In")

These final tier races award points on a 100-50-25-15-10 scale to the top five finishers. Winning any of these events officially guarantees a spot in the gate.

Estimated Date - Prep Race - Racetrack / Location

March 27, 2027 - Louisiana Derby (G2) - Fair Grounds (New Orleans, LA)

March 27, 2027 - Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) - Turfway Park (Florence, KY)

March 28, 2027 - UAE Derby (G2) - Meydan Racecourse (Dubai, UAE)

March 28, 2027 - Florida Derby (G1) - Gulfstream Park (Hallandale Beach, FL)

March 28, 2027 - Arkansas Derby (G1) - Oaklawn Park (Hot Springs, AR)

April 3, 2027 - Wood Memorial (G2) - Aqueduct (Queens, NY)

April 3, 2027 - Blue Grass Stakes (G1) - Keeneland (Lexington, KY)

April 3, 2027 - Santa Anita Derby (G1) - Santa Anita Park (Arcadia, CA)

50-Point Championship Series Prep Races

These major spring preps award 50 points to the winner (scale: 50-25-15-10-5). A win here puts a horse on the absolute bubble, usually requiring just a few extra minor points to get in.

Estimated Date - Prep Race - Racetrack / Location

February 13, 2027 - Risen Star Stakes (G2) - Fair Grounds (New Orleans, LA)

February 27, 2027 - Rebel Stakes (G2) - Oaklawn Park (Hot Springs, AR)

February 27, 2027 - Fountain of Youth (G2) - Gulfstream Park (Hallandale Beach, FL)

March 6, 2027 - Gotham Stakes (G3) - Aqueduct (Queens, NY)

March 6, 2027 - San Felipe Stakes (G2) - Santa Anita Park (Arcadia, CA)

March 13, 2027 - Tampa Bay Derby (G3) - Tampa Bay Downs (Tampa, FL)

March 21, 2027 - Sunland Park Derby (G3) - Sunland Park (Sunland Park, NM)

20-Point Early Prep Season Races

The foundation of the Derby trail begins during a horse's 2-year-old season and runs through early February of their 3-year-old year. These races generally award 20 points to the winner (scale: 20-10-6-4-2).

Estimated Date / Window - Prep Race - Racetrack

Mid-September 2026 - Iroquois Stakes (G3) - Churchill Downs

Early October 2026 - Champagne Stakes (G1) - Aqueduct

Early October 2026 - American Pharoah Stakes (G1) - Santa Anita Park

Early October 2026 - Breeders' Futurity (G1) - Keeneland

Late October 2026 - Street Sense Stakes (G3) - Churchill Downs

November 6, 2026 - Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) - Del Mar (awards 30 points)

Late November 2026 - Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) - Churchill Downs

Early December 2026 - Remsen Stakes (G2) - Aqueduct

December 2026 - Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) - Los Alamitos

January 1, 2027 - Smarty Jones Stakes - Oaklawn Park

Early January 2027 - Jerome Stakes - Aqueduct

Early January 2027 - Sham Stakes (G3) - Santa Anita Park

Mid-January 2027 - Lecomte Stakes (G3) - Fair Grounds

Late January 2027 - Southwest Stakes (G3) - Oaklawn Park

Early February 2027 - Holy Bull Stakes (G3) - Gulfstream Park

Early February 2027 - Withers Stakes (G3) - Aqueduct

Early February 2027 - Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) - Santa Anita Park

Early February 2027 - Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) - Tampa Bay Downs

Late February 2027 - John Battaglia Memorial - Turfway Park

Mid-April 2027 - Lexington Stakes (G3) - Keeneland (Wildcard: 20 points)

Kentucky Derby Winning Strategy

*A horse must have a 1st or 2nd place finish in a Grade 1 or Grade 2 Stakes race in its career, any horse that doesn\'t have these credentials should be thrown out of your selections.

*Pay special attention to a horse that has been ridden by the same jockey in all of its career starts, or all of its starts on the year, or all of its starts on the dirt, this indicates a strong jockey/horse relationship, with the jockey knowing the horse would be their Derby mount they will have conserved it for the big race.

*Look for Jockey/Trainer combos that win at least 20% of the time and return a positive ROI, ex, Big Brown(2008) J/T 2007-08(11 .55 $6.24), Street Sense(2007) J/T 2006-07 (24 .21 $2.45)

These stats have recently been added to the racing form and are located on the bottom right side of the racing form for each horse, in Big Brown\'s example, Desormeaux/Dutrow, 11 starters, won 55% of the time, returned $6.24 on a $2 investment, that means that if this pattern continues you would get a return of $6.24 for ever $2 bet each time you bet on Desormeaux/Dutrow.

*Betting favorite in race prior to the Derby, when a horse is good the word spreads around the track fast.

*A Beyer speed figure of 98+ on the year, Giacomo(2005) was the only horse since Sea Hero(1993) to win the Derby without running a Beyer of 100+ prior to the Derby, he ran a 98 3 starts prior to the Derby.

*A good race at a distance of 1 1/8 miles prior to the Derby is important, a win or within 2 lengths of winning, only Charismatic(1999) came out of a 1 1/16 miles race prior to winning the Derby.

*Look for a horse that improved their position throughout the race in their last start prior to the Derby, throw out horses that were being passed by others in their final prep, this indicates they were having trouble going long and won\'t perform well in the Derby.

*Bullet Works, the winner of the Kentucky Derby is usually the fastest horse on the track in morning workouts, use workouts after their last race, at least one workout of over 5 furlongs is required prior to the Derby.

*In the case of a tie, or if you are stuck between horses, always bet the one at higher odds.