Kentucky Derby A to Z

Dating back to 1875, the Kentucky Derby — the longest running sporting event in the United States — has named a winning Thoroughbred each year, and will do so in unprecedented fashion in 2020.

Usually scheduled for the first Saturday in May, the 146th running has been postponed to the first Saturday in September.

The history lesson doesn't stop there, though. Let's break down the A to Zs of the Kentucky Derby, from the first champion, Aristides, to trainer Nick Zito and much more.

A: Aristides

The winner of the first Kentucky Derby in 1875, Aristides completed what was then a 1 1/2-mile race in 2:37.75.

B: Baffert, Bob

The Triple Crown-winning trainer of American Pharoah (2015) and Justify (2018) will chase after a record-tying sixth Kentucky Derby win in 2020.

C: Calumet Farm

The champion breeder and Thoroughbred racing stable won a record eight Kentucky Derby races from 1941-1968.

D: Donerail

In 1913, Donerail is the longest shot to win the Derby, at odds of 91-1.

E: Espinoza, Victor

In 2015, Victor Espinoza was the first jockey to enter the Belmont Stakes with a third opportunity to win the Triple Crown. That year, he claimed the title aboard American Pharoah, but fell short in the Belmont with War Emblem (2002) and California Chrome (2014).

F: Foster, Stephen

Since around 1921, the Churchill Downs crowd has joined in singing "My Old Kentucky Home," written by Stephen Foster and performed each year as the Kentucky Derby horses make their way from the paddock to the starting gate, just before the race.

G: Garland of roses

The inspiration behind the nickname "the run for the roses," the garland of roses is draped upon the winning Derby horse at the conclusion of the race. The garland is comprised of more than 400 roses on a green satin backing.

H: Hartack, Bill

Tied with Eddie Arcaro for most Derby victories by a jockey (five), Bill Hartack won his first in 1957, with Iron Liege, and his final in 1969, with Majestic Prince.  

I: I’ll Have Another

The Doug O'Neill trainee who won the 2012 Kentucky Derby. According to owner Paul Reddam, the horse's name came from Reddam's love of his wife's fresh-baked cookies.

J: Jones, Ben

Trainer Ben Jones sealed his first Derby victory in 1938 and a record sixth in 1952. Arcaro rode four of Jones' Derby victors and both of his Triple Crown winners (Citation and Whirlaway).

K: Kentucky

This one may seem obvious, but Kentucky isn't just the home of the Derby and its historic track, Churchill Downs. It's also the "horse capital of the world," where many past Derby winners were born and bred.

L: Lilies

Similar to the garland of roses, the winning filly of the Kentucky Oaks (run the day before Derby) receives a wreath of lilies. Fillies can also race in the Derby, but only three have won — Regret (1915), Genuine Risk (1980), and Winning Colors (1988).

M: Mint julep

Water, sugar, bourbon, and mint are all you need to mix up the traditional drink of the Kentucky Derby.

N: Napravnik, Rosie

One of just six female jockeys to compete in the Derby, Rosie Napravnik rode Mylute to a fifth-place finish in 2013. She is the only woman to ride in all three Triple Crown races.

O: Orb

The winner of the 2013 Derby, Orb handed respected trainer Shug McGaughey his only Derby win to date.

P: Post 17

No horse has won the Derby out of Post 17, while Post 5 has seen the most horses cross the finish line first (10).

Q: Qualifying points

Introduced in 2013, a tiered point system has determined which horses qualify for the Derby field, based on points accumulated in a series of prep races called the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

R: Riders Up!

The ceremonious phrase uttered from the paddock judge for jockeys to mount their horses about 19 minutes prior to the Derby. Since 2012, a dignitary or celebrity attendee has delivered the command.

S: Secretariat

Regarded by many as the greatest racehorse, Secretariat won the Derby in record time (1:59.40) in 1973. He then ran the Preakness in 1:53, a record for the event, and completed the 1 1/2-mile Belmont S. in 2:24, with the next closest runner 31 lengths behind him at the finish.

T: Twin Spires

The famous hexagonal structures atop Churchill Downs, the Twin Spires made their debut in 1895, as part of the new grandstand at Churchill Downs.

U: Unbridled

The winner of the 1990 Kentucky Derby and that year's Breeders' Cup Classic, Unbridled is the most recent stallion to sire at least one winner in each of the Triple Crown races — Grindstone (Kentucky Derby, 1996), Red Bullet (Preakness, 2000), and Empire Maker (Belmont, 2003).

V: Velazquez, John

John Velazquez became North America's all-time leading money-earning jockey in 2013, with a win at Belmont Park, which pushed his total to $297,922,320 in purses. Velazquez won the Derby twice, aboard 20-1 longshot Animal Kingdom (2011) and Always Dreaming (2017).

W: Wagner's

Some of the biggest names in racing are known to frequent Wagner's the week of Derby. The quaint, local diner is located near Churchill Downs and has garnered national media attention for its rich tradition in racing.

X: The one exception in Derby horse names

There hasn't been a Derby winner with a name that begins with Q, X, or Y, and no entrant's name has started with the letter X. Horses with names that begin with S have won the Derby 19 times.

Y: Yellow

One of the silk colors (the other black) worn by Seattle Slew's jockey, Jean Cruguet, who rode the champion Thoroughbred to the Triple Crown. Seattle Slew is one of two horses to have won the Triple Crown undefeated. Justify is the other.

Z: Zito, Nick

A two-time Derby winner, trainer Nick Zito earned his first Derby trophy with Strike the Gold (1991) and second with Go for Gin (1994).