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Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Guns Loaded wins for D’Angelo
Trainer Jose D’Angelo has yet to saddle a Kentucky Derby (G1) starter, but that may change in 2025. Guns Loaded looks like the type who can factor on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Triple Crown
Kentucky Derby Roundup: Previewing the Cattleya Stakes
Let’s get up to speed on upcoming Kentucky Derby (G1) action and recount a few noteworthy developments from last week:
Triple Crown
Tall Tales of the Track, Kentucky Derby Edition: One Winner, Two Sires?
Named for 1882 Kentucky Derby winner Apollo, this phenomenon commemorated the Bluegrass-bred colt’s extraordinary victory over a popular choice in Runnymede.
Kentucky Derby
Faded Glory: Forgotten Kentucky Derby Winners (Dust Commander, 1970)
In 1970, Dust Commander made dreams come true for a journeyman jockey, a young trainer, and a family new to racing, a victory that rewarded the faith of the few who believed in this long shot from the Land of Lincoln.
Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Admiral Dennis wins second try
The week after the Breeders’ Cup tends to be a quiet one in U.S. horse racing. But “quiet” is relative; there’s never a dull moment where the Kentucky Derby (G1) is concerned.
Triple Crown
Kentucky Derby Roundup: Giocoso gets a win on grass
The first Saturday in May is 173 days away and it’s anyone’s guess which horses will visit the winner’s circle.
Triple Crown
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Thorpedo Anna's half McAfee wins; Speed King recalls Whitmore
Thorpedo Anna's half-brother McAfee wins on debut, and Speed King elicits comparisons to Whitmore in his unveiling for Ron Moquett.
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Kentucky Derby Roundup: Citizen Bull tops the leaderboard
Our Kentucky Derby Roundup series is kicking off exactly 180 days out from the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs.
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Citizen Bull 29-1 in Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1
2025 Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1 closed on Friday at 6:00 p.m. ET, shortly before the running of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar.
Kentucky Derby
Pool 1 of 2025 Kentucky Derby Future Wager offered ahead of Breeders' Cup
The first of six 2025 Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW) pools will be held this week, beginning at noon ET on Wednesday.
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Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Another winner from a key race
Just how many Kentucky Derby (G1) contenders will emerge from a six-furlong maiden special weight contested on Aug. 24 at Saratoga?
Triple Crown
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Sovereignty
There was a time not too many years ago when a horse like Sovereignty might have been overlooked as a Kentucky Derby (G1) contender because of his pedigree.
Triple Crown
Tipsheet: 2024 Street Sense Stakes
A talented field of 10 juveniles will go postward in Sunday’s $200,000 Street Sense S. (G3) at Churchill Downs.
Kentucky Derby
Meet the Contenders: 2024 Street Sense Stakes
Meet the horses running in the 2024 Street Sense S. at Churchill Downs.
Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Cox, Dutrow send out winners
Kentucky Derby (G1)-winning trainers Brad Cox and Rick Dutrow both saddled winning juveniles last week.
Triple Crown
Top 10 best racehorses of all time
Ranking the greatest racehorse of all time is an exercise fraught with challenges and subjectivity. But I'm going to give it a try.
Kentucky Derby
Top 10 Biggest Horse Races In The World
Let's look at the 10 biggest horse races in the world, from the “race that stops a nation” to the “fastest two minutes in sports.”
Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Keewaydin impresses at Aqueduct
It’s increasingly apparent that a six-furlong maiden special weight contested on Aug. 24 at Saratoga was a key race with an above-average field.
Triple Crown
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Built, C K Wonder win at Keeneland
Did you know five of the last 15 Kentucky Derby (G1) winners raced as juveniles during the Keeneland fall meet?
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Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Chancer McPatrick
Chancer McPatrick ranks among the most accomplished two-year-olds of 2024 after winning the Hopeful (G1) and Champagne (G1).
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Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: East Avenue
A gate-to-wire victory by 5 1/4 lengths in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) launched East Avenue onto the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Triple Crown
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Citizen Bull
Citizen Bull joined the Road to the Kentucky Derby with a front-running success in the 1 1/16-mile American Pharoah (G1) at Santa Anita.
Triple Crown
Road to the Kentucky Derby day of stakes races: Keeneland, Aqueduct, and Santa Anita
We will be here throughout all the stakes races of the day at Keeneland, Aqueduct, and Santa Anita, bringing you live odds, promotion, entries, replays, expert picks, analysis, and live updates to make you feel like you're at the track celebrating with everyone else.
Live
Meet the Contenders: 2024 American Pharoah Stakes
Meet the horses running in the American Pharoah S. at Santa Anita. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential.
Kentucky Derby
Meet the Contenders: 2024 Breeders' Futurity Stakes
Meet the horses running in the 2024 Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential. The star rating of 1 to 5 represents opportunity to perform well. Be sure to follow these contenders by adding them to your stable alerts.
Kentucky Derby
Meet the Contenders: 2024 Champagne Stakes
Meet the horses running in the 2024 Champagne S. at Aqueduct. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential. The star rating of 1 to 5 represents opportunity to perform well. Be sure to follow these contenders by adding them to your stable alerts.
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Tipsheet: 2024 Champagne Stakes
A fine field of 10 two-year-olds will go postward in the $500,000 Champagne S. (G1) at Aqueduct on Saturday.
Kentucky Derby
Tipsheet: 2024 Breeders’ Futurity
A talented field of 11 juveniles will run 1 1/16 miles on the Keeneland dirt in Saturday’s $600,000 Breeders’ Futurity (G1).
Kentucky Derby
Faded Glory: Forgotten Winners of the Kentucky Derby (Venetian Way, 1960)
In 1960, with a Hall of Famer in the saddle, Venetian Way scored his signature victory for his soft-spoken owner and big-dreaming trainer, with his ultimate legacy coming in the form of another historic moment for America’s most famous race.
Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Chad Brown saddles two winners
Trainer Chad Brown has come close to winning the Kentucky Derby (G1), finishing second with Good Magic (2018) and Sierra Leone (2024). First prize has proven elusive, but that may change in 2025.
Triple Crown
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Optical stuns by 14 lengths
At Churchill Downs last Saturday, Keith Desormeaux’s Optical won a one-mile maiden special weight in a manner suggesting the Kentucky Derby (G1) is a viable goal.
Triple Crown
Mary Hirsch, father Max Hirsch and Jack Horner (Photo courtesy of Keeneland Library Cook Collection)
She Was the First: Mary Hirsch, No Sir, and the 1937 Kentucky Derby
In the 1930s, as racing grew from coast to coast, more women sought the chance to become a part of the country’s oldest sporting pastime. One of those was Mary Hirsch.
Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Handsome Pants wins for McPeek
Can trainer Kenny McPeek win back-to-back Kentucky Derbys? He took a step in that direction when sending out Handsome Pants to win on debut at Churchill Downs.
Triple Crown
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Jonathan’s Way
Jonathan’s Way became the first horse to earn points on the 2024-25 Road to the Kentucky Derby when wiring the one-mile Iroquois (G3) at Churchill Downs.
Triple Crown
Tall Tales of the Track, Kentucky Derby Edition: Nellie the First
As Warren Wright transitioned Calumet from trotters to Thoroughbreds, he invested in a band of broodmares to create the families that would eventually produce two Triple Crown winners. To build that program, he purchased a mare with classic credentials and a unique story of her own, one that combines a tobacco farm, a cartoonist, and the 20th century’s greatest horse to create Calumet’s first Kentucky Derby starter, a filly named Nellie Flag.
Kentucky Derby
Grade 3 Iroquois trends and field analysis
The Grade 3 Iroquois for juveniles will kick off the Road to the 151st Kentucky Derby (G1) on Saturday at Churchill Downs and will award points on a sliding scale of 10-5-3-2-1 to the top five finishers.
Kentucky Derby
Meet the Contenders: 2024 Iroquois Stakes
Meet the horses running in the 2024 Iroquois S. at Churchill Downs.
Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Smash It finally breaks through
The wait is over. After a series of frustrating defeats to start his career, two-year-old gelding Smash It broke his maiden on closing weekend at Del Mar.
Kentucky Derby
Road to the 2025 Kentucky Derby: 12 to follow
If it’s too early to have confident opinions about a two-year-old crop that’s barely emerging, we’ve seen enough promising juveniles to cobble together an initial 12 to follow.
Kentucky Derby
Dark Star wins the 1953 Kentucky Derby (Photo courtesy of the Kentucky Derby Museum/Churchill Downs)
Faded Glory: Forgotten Winners of the Kentucky Derby (Dark Star, 1953)
In 1953, the sport had fallen in love with a gray colt who seemed destined to sweep every race he tried, but in that year’s Kentucky Derby, Native Dancer’s unexpected defeat came thanks to a colt named Dark Star.
Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Bullard impresses in debut
For the fifth straight year, TwinSpires Edge presents the Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch series. Each week, we’ll highlight recent maiden winners with possible 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1) aspirations.
Triple Crown
Faded Glory: Forgotten Kentucky Derby Winners (Gallahadion, 1940)
Bimelech entered the year as Colonel E.R. Bradley’s best hope for a fifth Derby win, his undefeated record making a win on the first Saturday in May a veritable certainty. In the wings waited a surprise for the overwhelming favorite, Gallahadion, an unheralded contender who would deliver a sweet victory for a familiar name.
Kentucky Derby
2024 Belmont Stakes: Dornoch, Mage join club of U.S. classic-winning siblings
Dornoch, a full brother to 2023 Kentucky Derby (G1) star Mage, put their dam, Puca, in rare company by taking the Belmont (G1).
Belmont Stakes
Tall Tales of the Track, Kentucky Derby Edition: Watch Out!
The maiden colt Great Redeemer became a part of Derby history thanks to his unconventional connections and inauspicious Run for the Roses, including a close call of the photographic kind.
Kentucky Derby
Double the Joy: Trainer/Jockey Duos Who Won Roses and Lilies
The 150th Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby were memorable for more than the milestone anniversaries for both classics. When Thorpedo Anna took the Oaks and then Mystik Dan eked out a Derby victory, they gave Kenny McPeek and Brian Hernandez, Jr. a rare double victory, just the third trainer/jockey combo to win both races in the same year. The previous pairs include multiple Hall of Famers, each leaving their mark on the sport through their achievements under the Twin Spires.
Kentucky Derby
How long are the three Triple Crown races?
The three races which make up the U.S. Triple Crown of Thoroughbred horse racing—the Kentucky Derby, Preakness S., and Belmont S.—each provide a test over a different distance at a different venue.
Triple Crown
Faded Glory: Forgotten Kentucky Derby Winners (Whiskery, 1927)
The history of the Kentucky Derby is rich with names that have left their mark on this classic race: Bradley, Woodward, Chenery, and Whitney, owners who all celebrated more than one victory of their own. The Whitney family’s connection to the Run for the Roses spans more than a century with four wins from their long list of starters.
Kentucky Derby
Racing Roundtable: Kentucky Derby 150 and Oaks takeaways
The Racing Roundtable reconvenes to discuss Mystik Dan's win in the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby (G1) plus Thorpedo Anna's Kentucky Oaks (G1) victory, which gave trainer Kenny McPeek and rider Brian Hernandez Jr. a rare Kentucky/Oaks double.
Kentucky Derby
Mystik Dan inspires a look at the closest finishes in Kentucky Derby history
Mystik Dan’s victory in a three-way finish in Saturday’s 150th Kentucky Derby (G1), with Sierra Leone and Forever Young noses apart, immediately posed the question...
Kentucky Derby
2024 Kentucky Derby winner: Mystik Dan (18-1) wins the 150th Kentucky Derby
In the closest Kentucky Derby (G1) finish in more than a quarter-century, Mystik Dan surged up the rail and turned back late challenges to win the 150th edition of the historic race by a nose.
Kentucky Derby
Official 2024 Kentucky Derby live odds, betting strategy, cheat sheet
The 2024 Kentucky Derby holds a large volume of value among the horses entered. Suggested plays to use in your betting strategy are as follows...
Kentucky Derby
Why I'm Betting Sierra Leone in the Kentucky Derby
Sierra Leone closed fast in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) on April 6 to earn another 100 points and morning line odds of 3-1 for today's Kentucky Derby. This son of Gun Runner's record of 4-3-1-0 is just one reason why I will be betting on #2 Sierra Leone in the 2024 Kentucky Derby.
Kentucky Derby
Where to Watch the 2024 Kentucky Derby: Date, Time, Live Stream & TV Schedule
Ready for the historic 150th Kentucky Derby? Watch the fastest two minutes in sports on your television or phone via either NBC or TwinSpires.com.
Kentucky Derby
2024 Kentucky Derby Betting Picks and Expert Predictions
What are the TwinSpires horse racing analysts betting?
Kentucky Derby
How to bet against the Kentucky Derby 150 favorite
Fierceness entered Kentucky Derby week as the morning-line favorite at 5-2 on the strength of his 13 1/2-length victory in the Florida Derby on March 30. Yet I find myself considering putting my betting dollars elsewhere Saturday.
Kentucky Derby
2024 Kentucky Derby Horses and Top Contenders
The 150th Kentucky Derby features an overflow field of 22 horses for this classic 1 1/4-mile test.
Kentucky Derby
2024 Kentucky Derby Live Coverage: Latest News, Live Updates, Analysis, Contenders, Odds & More for Saturday racing at Churchill Downs | May 4, 2024
TwinSpires presents live blog coverage of the Kentucky Derby 2024.
Live
Where to watch the 2024 Kentucky Derby: date, time, live stream & full TV schedule
Where to watch the 2024 Kentucky Derby: Full Schedule
Kentucky Derby
Brisnet Late Pace rating report for the 2024 Kentucky Derby
Bettors wondering which horses are most likely to handle 1 1/4 miles in the Kentucky Derby (G1) are advised to analyze Brisnet Late Pace ratings.
Kentucky Derby
Tipsheet: 2024 Kentucky Derby
A full field of sophomores will travel 1 1/4 miles over the famed Churchill Downs surface in the 150th running of the $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1).
Kentucky Derby
Betting the 2024 Kentucky Derby on Different Budgets
A full field will go postward in Saturday’s 150th $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1) beneath the Twin Spires. Will conditioners Brad Cox or Bill Mott, who each have one Derby win to their credit despite their horse not crossing the wire in first, add a second victory in the storied race to pad their substantial respective resumes?
Kentucky Derby
How Mucciolo is betting the 2024 Kentucky Derby
I’m a big fan of this particular cast of sophomores that will go postward for the 150th Kentucky Derby (G1). The field features potential superstars and lightly raced prospects with especially high ceilings.
Kentucky Derby
Churchill Downs: Betting the Kentucky Derby Day mandatory-payout $75,438 Pick 6 carryover
One of the most enticing bets on Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs is the Derby City 6. The 20-cent Pick 6 has accumulated a $75,438 carryover that will be paid out in mandatory fashion during Saturday’s card.
Kentucky Derby
Storylines to watch for 2024 Kentucky Derby
The 150th Kentucky Derby (G1) promises to be a vintage renewal, befitting the special historical occasion.
Kentucky Derby
2024 Kentucky Derby, Oaks Betting Guide: Picks, Odds, Horses
Expert horse racing analysts and handicappers Vance Hanson, James Scully, Kellie Reilly, Ashley Anderson, John Mucciolo and Keeler Johnson have studied the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby cards to present their betting opinions for 2024.
Kentucky Derby
2024 Kentucky Derby run styles
Let's examine run styles for the horses in the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby (G1)
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Top 10 fastest Kentucky Derby times in history
From a legendary Triple Crown winner to a high-priced yearling who stole the heart of a Japanese racing enthusiast, here are the 10 horses with the fastest winning times in Kentucky Derby history.
Triple Crown
10 Top Winning Kentucky Derby Jockeys of All Time
Here we recount the riders who have celebrated triumph inside the Winner's Circle most, as we list the top 10 winningest Kentucky Derby jockeys of all time.
Kentucky Derby
Top 10 Most Successful Trainers in Kentucky Derby History
Based on overall number of victories, as well as second- and third-place finishes, here are the 10 most successful trainers in Kentucky Derby history.
Kentucky Derby
2024 Kentucky Oaks Live Coverage, Latest News, Live Updates, Analysis, Contenders, Odds & More for Friday racing at Churchill Downs | May 3, 2024
TwinSpires presents live blog coverage of the Kentucky Oaks 2024 during Kentucky Derby week.
Live
2024 Triple Crown odds: how favorites and field size impact each race
Like most U.S. betting outlets, you won’t find any single bets available on a horse to win the 2024 Triple Crown with TwinSpires. But you can bet on each individual race.
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20 Fun and Memorable Kentucky Derby Quotes & Sayings
What are some of the most iconic Kentucky Derby quotes and Kentucky Derby sayings that have stayed with fans throughout history?
Kentucky Derby
Dosage Index and birthdates for 2024 Kentucky Derby contenders
Since the Dosage Index became a Kentucky Derby (G1) handicapping tool a few decades back, some interest remains in how the current contenders stack up.
Pedigree
Why the Kentucky Derby generates big betting payoffs
The Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs is considered one of the best betting races of the year. The reason? Big payoffs. And the reason for the big payoffs? Simple mathematics.
Kentucky Derby
Thursday Thoughts with Jason Beem May 2, 2024
Jason gives his final thoughts and picks for the Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Kentucky Derby (G1).
Kentucky Derby
How Keeler Johnson will bet the 2024 Kentucky Derby
Will #17 Fierceness (5-2) win or lose the 150th Kentucky Derby (G1) on Saturday at Churchill Downs? That’s the pivotal question bettors must ponder.
Kentucky Derby
Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast May 2, 2024
Jason gives some final thoughts on the Kentucky Derby weekend, takes some calls from featured guests, and more!
Kentucky Derby
Hanson: 2024 Kentucky Derby Day spot plays
You can find my selections for the Kentucky Derby (G1) and several other stakes on Saturday's Churchill Downs card in the TwinSpires Kentucky Derby Betting Guide. For this piece, I'll mention my firmest opinion on that selection grid plus thoughts on a couple other stakes earlier in the afternoon.
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby 150 Trainers Dinner 2024
Join the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association's Kentucky Derby 150 Trainers' Dinner live stream show from the First Turn Club at historic Churchill Downs.
Live
Jockeys and weight in the Kentucky Derby
Being the most identifiable human participants on average in Thoroughbred racing, jockeys will be a major focus in this week’s 150th edition of the Kentucky Derby.
Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby Exclusive ALL ACCESS Interviews [VIDEO]
Our expert team of racing analysts present exclusive access to the Kentucky Derby at an unprecedented level. Listen to trainers, jockeys, owners and even the horses themselves! Join Andrew Brown, Ashley Anderson, Abbey Huffman and featuring Rosie Napravnik gaining rich insight into all things Kentucky Derby horses.
Kentucky Derby
How has the winning time of the Kentucky Derby changed over time?
Below we explore how the average winning Kentucky Derby time has transformed over history.
Kentucky Derby
The 10 best Kentucky Derby winners of all time
The greatest Kentucky Derby winners didn’t just run the race of their lives as three-year-olds on the first Saturday in May. They built resumes, often as older horses, that stand the test of time.
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Where to watch the 2023 Kentucky Derby: Full schedule
Below we look at the full 2023 Kentucky Derby day schedule, from start time to location, the full field, and where to watch.
Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby race length and distance: how long is the race?
To beat out a field of up to 20 three-year-olds vying for the Kentucky Derby crown and the customary garland of roses, it takes a combination of strength, stamina, and tactical speed to breeze through a 1 1/4-mile race in nearly 120 seconds.
Kentucky Derby
2024 Kentucky Derby Brisnet Speed Rating Report
From 2012-2021, nine of 10 Kentucky Derby (G1) winners registered triple-digit Brisnet Speed ratings prior to the 1 1/4-mile race
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Post positions and morning line odds for 2024 Kentucky Oaks
Here is the draw with morning-line odds for Friday's Kentucky Oaks (G1).
Kentucky Derby
Post positions and morning line odds for 2024 Kentucky Derby
Here's the field for the 150th Kentucky Derby (G1) following the draw.
Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Mugatu
After finishing fourth in the John Battaglia Memorial S. and fifth in the Blue Grass (G1) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, Mugatu enters the 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1) as the second also-eligible entrant in an overflow field of 22 horses.
Pedigree
Churchill Downs Opening Day: Coverage, Latest News, Live Updates & More (April 27, 2024)
TwinSpires presents live blog coverage of horse racing on opening day of Churchill Downs and the start of Kentucky Derby week.
Live
2024 Kentucky Derby Purse: How much prize money will the winning owner and trainer earn
No great horse race is complete without a great purse to be won, and the Kentucky Derby boasts one of the richest purses in North America.
Kentucky Derby
2024 Kentucky Derby purse: How much prize money will the winning jockey earn
Have you ever wondered what share of the Kentucky Derby purse the winning jockey receives? Suffice to say, it’s a lucrative payday.
Kentucky Derby
The human and the horse
As the 150th Kentucky Derby approaches, we want to honor the beautiful connection that occurs between the horse and the human that cares for them.
Aftercare
The Official EARLY 2024 Kentucky Derby Betting Guide
The EARLY 2024 Kentucky Derby Betting Guide focuses on getting to know the contenders probable to enter the First Saturday In May.
Expert Picks
Endlessly – Kentucky Derby Context
Endlessly will bring a late kick to the 150th Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 4, rallying smartly past rivals to earn his spot with a four-length decision in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) in late March
Kentucky Derby
T O Password – Kentucky Derby Context
Unbeaten from two starts, T O Password will try to carry his speed all the way in the 150th Kentucky Derby (G1)
Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Epic Ride
Which racing surface is best for Epic Ride? And can he handle the Kentucky Derby’s testing 1 1/4-mile distance? His pedigree hints at the answers.
Pedigree
Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast Apr. 24, 2024
Jason welcomes in trainer Chad Brown to talk about his contenders for the Kentucky Derby (G1) including Sierra Leone, Domestic Product and so much more!
Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby 2025
Kentucky Derby information
Learn about the 2025 Kentucky Derby
What is the Kentucky Derby?
- Location: Churchill Downs
- Inaugural Race: 1875
- Current Distance: 1 & 1/4 miles (10 furlongs)
- Track Type: Left-Handed Dirt
- Age Qualification: Three-year-olds
- 2025 Purse: $5 million
- 2025 Race Date: Saturday, May 3rd
Kentucky Derby Contenders: Updated Oct. 7, 2024 | Runner Information |
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Kentucky Derby Video
A Brief History of the Kentucky Derby
The most famous horse race in the world is the most thrilling two minutes in sport. It takes place on the first Saturday in May at the historic Churchill Downs racecourse in Louisville, Kentucky and regularly attended by more than 150,000 people. The record attendance was 165,307 in 2012, and in 2014 164,906 watched California Chrome win "the run for the roses".
The inaugural Kentucky Derby took place in 1875 after Col. Meriweather Lewis Clark, Jr had visited England three years earlier and witnessed the Epsom Derby, a famous race which had been run since 1780 on the outskirts of London. The Kentucky Derby was originally raced over the same distance of 1 & 1/2 miles as the Epsom Derby (it was changed to its current distance of 1 & 1/4 miles in 1896. An estimated crowd of 10,000 watched the colt Aristides crowned winner of the first running of the race at the newly constructed Churchill Downs racecourse.
The first live radio broadcast of the Kentucky Derby was in 1925, and it wasn't until 1949 that the first television coverage of the race happened. In 2016 the race will be covered live by NBC with real-time payouts and results from horse racing's premier event available all day on BetAmerica.com.
The race is so popular that in the preceding two weeks leading up to the running, the city of Louisville holds the Kentucky Derby Festival, Kentucky’s largest single annual event. The Kentucky Derby Festival is comprised of several events, including Thunder Over Louisville (the biggest annual fireworks display in North America), the Great Balloon Race, the Pegasus Parade (one the countries largest), and The Great Steamboat Race.
Entries into the Kentucky Derby include some of the most famous racehorses to ever compete. Notable entries into the race include Regret, Sir Burton, Gallant Fox, Omaha, War Admiral, Citation, Northern Dancer, Seattle Slew, War Emblem, and California Chrome.
Visit our Kentucky Derby Trivia page for more insights into the most famous race in the world, including detailed facts about entries, records, and winners.
TwinSpires is a licensed supplier of online betting on the Kentucky Derby. You can bet on the Kentucky Derby legally online at TwinSpires.com with a regulated U.S. based website where your deposits are safe and your winnings are guaranteed. All bets are placed directly into the official Churchill Downs betting pools and all winnings are paid at full track odds.
Kentucky Derby Race Records
Fastest Time Recorded
- 1.59.40
Secretariat - 1973
Biggest Odds Winner
- 91-1
Donerail - 1913
Biggest Win Margin
- 8 lengths
Assault (1946) & Whirlaway (1941)
Most Wins by a Jockey
- 5
Eddie Arcaro (1938, 1941, 1945, 1948, 1952) & Bill Hartack (1957, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1969)
Most Wins by an Owner
- 8
Calumet Farm (1941, 1944, 1948, 1949, 1952, 1957, 1958, 1968)
Most Wins by a Trainer
- 6
Ben A Jones (1938, 1941, 1944, 1948, 1949, 1952)
Bob Baffert (1997, 1998, 2002, 2015, 2018, 2020, 2021*)
Kentucky Derby prep-race listing:
View a complete list of prep-races that award points along the Road to the Kentucky Derby trail. Prep-races are valuable stepping stones for horses looking to compete on the First Saturday in May.
Kentucky Derby Party & Fun Facts
- KELLY: One Hundred Years Ago, Colonel Bradley Goes for the One-Two
- KELLY: More Than One Way to Wear Roses
- HANSON: D. Wayne Lukas the best asset for fillies in Kentucky Derby preps
- HANSON: Phenom to Journeyman: The Riding Life of Bill Boland
- KELLY: Some Things Stay the Same: One Hundred Days, One Hundred Years Ago
- HANSON: 1945 - When the Kentucky Derby moved from May to June
POPULAR ARTICLES
Kentucky Derby Roundup: Previewing the Cattleya Stakes
Tall Tales of the Track, Kentucky Derby Edition: One Winner, Two Sires?
Faded Glory: Forgotten Kentucky Derby Winners (Dust Commander, 1970)
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Admiral Dennis wins second try
Kentucky Derby Roundup: Giocoso gets a win on grass
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