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Kentucky Derby

Horse Racing Classics

The Kentucky Derby is an American Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds, run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, over a distance of one and a quarter miles. It is held annually on the first Saturday in May and is the first leg of the Triple Crown. First run in 1875, it is nicknamed The Run for the Roses because the winner is draped in a blanket of roses, and it has been run every year since, making it among the oldest major sporting events in the United States held annually since their beginning. It is the most watched and most attended horse race in the country.

Facts
Founding Year
1875 1
Format
Single Race 1
Classification
Scope
National 1
Frequency
Frequency (category)
Annual 1
Connections

Competitors Include

Angel Cordero Jr., Athletes
Source Angel Cordero Jr. (Wikipedia)
Brian Hernandez Jr., Athletes
Source Brian Hernandez Jr. (Wikipedia)
Calvin Borel, Athletes
Source Calvin Borel (Wikipedia)
Chris Antley, Athletes
Source Chris Antley (Wikipedia)
Corey Nakatani, Athletes
Source Corey Nakatani (Wikipedia)
Craig Perret, Athletes
Source Craig Perret (Wikipedia)
Diane Crump, Athletes
Source Diane Crump (Wikipedia)
Eddie Arcaro, Athletes
Source Eddie Arcaro (Wikipedia)
Eddie Delahoussaye, Athletes
Source Eddie Delahoussaye (Wikipedia)
Eric Guerin, Athletes
Source Eric Guerin (Wikipedia)
Flavien Prat, Athletes
Source Flavien Prat (Wikipedia)
Gary Stevens, Athletes
Source Gary Stevens (Wikipedia)
Isaac Burns Murphy, Athletes
Source Isaac Burns Murphy (Wikipedia)
Javier Castellano, Athletes
Source Javier Castellano (Wikipedia)
Jerry D. Bailey, Athletes
Source Jerry D. Bailey (Wikipedia)
João Moreira, Athletes
Source João Moreira (Wikipedia)
Joel Rosario, Athletes
Source Joel Rosario (Wikipedia)
John R. Velazquez, Athletes
Source John R. Velazquez (Wikipedia)
Johnny Loftus, Athletes
Source Johnny Loftus (Wikipedia)
Johnny Longden, Athletes
Source Johnny Longden (Wikipedia)
Jorge Velásquez, Athletes
Source Jorge Velásquez (Wikipedia)
Kendrick Carmouche, Athletes
Source Kendrick Carmouche (Wikipedia)
Kent Desormeaux, Athletes
Source Kent Desormeaux (Wikipedia)
Laffit Pincay Jr., Athletes
Source Laffit Pincay Jr. (Wikipedia)
Luis Contreras, Athletes
Source Luis Contreras (Wikipedia)
Luis Saez, Athletes
Source Luis Saez (Wikipedia)
Manuel Ycaza, Athletes
Source Manuel Ycaza (Wikipedia)
Mario Gutierrez, Athletes
Source Mario Gutierrez (jockey) (Wikipedia)
Mike E. Smith, Athletes
Source Mike E. Smith (Wikipedia)
Pat Day, Athletes
Source Pat Day (Wikipedia)
Rajiv Maragh, Athletes
Source Rajiv Maragh (Wikipedia)
Rosie Napravnik, Athletes
Source Rosie Napravnik (Wikipedia)
Sandy Hawley, Athletes
Source Sandy Hawley (Wikipedia)
Steve Brooks (jockey), Athletes
Source Steve Brooks (jockey) (Wikipedia)
Ted Atkinson, Athletes
Source Ted Atkinson (Wikipedia)
Victor Espinoza, Athletes
Source Victor Espinoza (Wikipedia)
Walter Blum, Athletes
Source Walter Blum (Wikipedia)

Derived From

Epsom Derby, Competitions
Source Epsom Derby (Wikipedia)

Features

Horse Racing, Sports
Source Kentucky Derby (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases

Took Place In

United States

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject took place.

Source Kentucky Derby (Wikipedia)Lead, host country
Quote, Lead, host country
run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky
Sources
1. Kentucky Derby (Wikipedia)
  • Lead, attendance
    The Derby is the most-watched and most-attended horse race in the United States.
  • Lead, schedule
    Held annually on the first Saturday in May
  • Lead, first running
    The race was first run in 1875.
  • Lead
    an American Grade I stakes race run at Churchill Downs
  • Lead, host country
    run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky
View the Source
Victor Espinoza (Wikipedia)
Competitors Include: Victor Espinoza, Lead
Quote, Competitors Include: Victor Espinoza, Lead
He has won the Kentucky Derby three times
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Mike E. Smith (Wikipedia)
Competitors Include: Mike E. Smith, Career, 2018
Quote, Competitors Include: Mike E. Smith, Career, 2018
won the 2018 Kentucky Derby
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Gary Stevens (Wikipedia)
Competitors Include: Gary Stevens, Career
Quote, Competitors Include: Gary Stevens, Career
Stevens' first win in a Triple Crown race was the 1988 Kentucky Derby
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Epsom Derby (Wikipedia)
Derived From: Epsom Derby, Lead, the name Derby
Quote, Derived From: Epsom Derby, Lead, the name Derby
The name "Derby" (deriving from the sponsorship of the Earl of Derby) has been borrowed many times, notably by the Kentucky Derby in the United States
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Pat Day (Wikipedia)
Competitors Include: Pat Day, Career, kentucky-derby
Quote, Competitors Include: Pat Day, Career, kentucky-derby
Day had a comparatively poor Kentucky Derby record with only one win in twenty two tries.
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João Moreira (Wikipedia)
Competitors Include: João Moreira, Career, kentucky-derby
Quote, Competitors Include: João Moreira, Career, kentucky-derby
where he rode for the first time in the Kentucky Derby in 2025 at age 41
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Javier Castellano (Wikipedia)
Competitors Include: Javier Castellano, Career, kentucky-derby
Quote, Competitors Include: Javier Castellano, Career, kentucky-derby
winning aboard Mage in the Kentucky Derby
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Joel Rosario (Wikipedia)
Competitors Include: Joel Rosario, Career, kentucky-derby
Quote, Competitors Include: Joel Rosario, Career, kentucky-derby
he won the Kentucky Derby aboard the colt Orb
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Flavien Prat (Wikipedia)
Competitors Include: Flavien Prat, Career, kentucky-derby
Quote, Competitors Include: Flavien Prat, Career, kentucky-derby
the 2019 Kentucky Derby
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Kent Desormeaux (Wikipedia)
Competitors Include: Kent Desormeaux, Lead, Triple Crown races
Quote, Competitors Include: Kent Desormeaux, Lead, Triple Crown races
He has won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes three times each, and the Belmont Stakes once.
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Corey Nakatani (Wikipedia)
Competitors Include: Corey Nakatani, Racing career, 2015 Kentucky Derby
Quote, Competitors Include: Corey Nakatani, Racing career, 2015 Kentucky Derby
In the 2015 Kentucky Derby, won by American Pharoah, Nakatani was the jockey of Frammento, which placed 15th.
View the Source
Luis Saez (Wikipedia)
Competitors Include: Luis Saez, Lead, 2019 Kentucky Derby
Quote, Competitors Include: Luis Saez, Lead, 2019 Kentucky Derby
Saez rode Maximum Security to finish first in the 2019 Kentucky Derby but was subsequently disqualified due to interference.
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Diane Crump (Wikipedia)
Competitors Include: Diane Crump, Lead, 1970
Quote, Competitors Include: Diane Crump, Lead, 1970
In 1970 she became the first woman to ride in the Kentucky Derby.
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Walter Blum (Wikipedia)
Competitors Include: Walter Blum, Achievements
Quote, Competitors Include: Walter Blum, Achievements
He rode in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes on two occasions
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Rajiv Maragh (Wikipedia)
Competitors Include: Rajiv Maragh, Career, 2011
Quote, Competitors Include: Rajiv Maragh, Career, 2011
He rode Mucho Macho Man to a 3rd-place finish at the 2011 Kentucky Derby.
View the Source
Brian Hernandez Jr. (Wikipedia)
Competitors Include: Brian Hernandez Jr., Career, 2024
Quote, Competitors Include: Brian Hernandez Jr., Career, 2024
then won the Derby the following day on Mystik Dan
View the Source
Kendrick Carmouche (Wikipedia)
Competitors Include: Kendrick Carmouche, Career, 2021
Quote, Competitors Include: Kendrick Carmouche, Career, 2021
His victory secured him a ticket to the 2021 Kentucky Derby
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Steve Brooks (jockey) (Wikipedia)
Competitors Include: Steve Brooks (jockey), Career, 1949
Quote, Competitors Include: Steve Brooks (jockey), Career, 1949
won the Kentucky Derby's Diamond Jubilee aboard Calumet Farm's colt, Ponder
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Johnny Longden (Wikipedia)
Competitors Include: Johnny Longden, Career, 1943 Triple Crown
Quote, Competitors Include: Johnny Longden, Career, 1943 Triple Crown
winning the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes aboard Count Fleet
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Isaac Burns Murphy (Wikipedia)
Competitors Include: Isaac Burns Murphy, Biography, Early life
Quote, Competitors Include: Isaac Burns Murphy, Biography, Early life
Murphy rode in eleven Kentucky Derbies, winning three times
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Johnny Loftus (Wikipedia)
Competitors Include: Johnny Loftus, Lead, 1919
Quote, Competitors Include: Johnny Loftus, Lead, 1919
rode Sir Barton to victory in the Kentucky Derby then only four days later won the Preakness Stakes
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Ted Atkinson (Wikipedia)
Competitors Include: Ted Atkinson, Career, 1949
Quote, Competitors Include: Ted Atkinson, Career, 1949
he finished second in the Kentucky Derby then won both the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes
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Sandy Hawley (Wikipedia)
Competitors Include: Sandy Hawley, Career
Quote, Competitors Include: Sandy Hawley, Career
Hawley's best result in the Kentucky Derby was two third-place finishes
View the Source
Luis Contreras (Wikipedia)
Competitors Include: Luis Contreras, Lead, Triple Crown results
Quote, Competitors Include: Luis Contreras, Lead, Triple Crown results
sixth at the 2018 Kentucky Derby
View the Source
John R. Velazquez (Wikipedia)
Competitors Include: John R. Velazquez, Racing career, 2011
Quote, Competitors Include: John R. Velazquez, Racing career, 2011
On May 7, 2011, Velazquez won his first Kentucky Derby
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Jerry D. Bailey (Wikipedia)
Competitors Include: Jerry D. Bailey, Career accomplishments
Quote, Competitors Include: Jerry D. Bailey, Career accomplishments
He won each Triple Crown race twice
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Calvin Borel (Wikipedia)
Competitors Include: Calvin Borel, Lead
Quote, Competitors Include: Calvin Borel, Lead
rode the victorious mount in the 2007 Kentucky Derby
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Chris Antley (Wikipedia)
Competitors Include: Chris Antley, Biography, 1999
Quote, Competitors Include: Chris Antley, Biography, 1999
they won that year's Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes
View the Source
Manuel Ycaza (Wikipedia)
Competitors Include: Manuel Ycaza, Major race accomplishments, 1963
Quote, Competitors Include: Manuel Ycaza, Major race accomplishments, 1963
earned a second-place finish on Never Bend in the Kentucky Derby
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Craig Perret (Wikipedia)
Competitors Include: Craig Perret, Lead, 1990
Quote, Competitors Include: Craig Perret, Lead, 1990
aboard Unbridled, he won the Kentucky Derby
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Jorge Velásquez (Wikipedia)
Competitors Include: Jorge Velásquez, Lead, 1981
Quote, Competitors Include: Jorge Velásquez, Lead, 1981
he rode Pleasant Colony to victory in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes
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Eric Guerin (Wikipedia)
Competitors Include: Eric Guerin, Biography, 1947
Quote, Competitors Include: Eric Guerin, Biography, 1947
rode Jet Pilot to victory in the 1947 Kentucky Derby
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Eddie Arcaro (Wikipedia)
Competitors Include: Eddie Arcaro, Career
Quote, Competitors Include: Eddie Arcaro, Career
Arcaro won his first Kentucky Derby in 1938 aboard Lawrin.
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Laffit Pincay Jr. (Wikipedia)
Competitors Include: Laffit Pincay Jr., Career
Quote, Competitors Include: Laffit Pincay Jr., Career
they were second choice in the Kentucky Derby
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Angel Cordero Jr. (Wikipedia)
Competitors Include: Angel Cordero Jr., Career
Quote, Competitors Include: Angel Cordero Jr., Career
In 1974, when he was 31, Cordero won the Kentucky Derby aboard Cannonade.
View the Source
Mario Gutierrez (jockey) (Wikipedia)
Competitors Include: Mario Gutierrez, Lead
Quote, Competitors Include: Mario Gutierrez, Lead
won the 2012 Santa Anita Derby, Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes aboard I'll Have Another
View the Source
Eddie Delahoussaye (Wikipedia)
Competitors Include: Eddie Delahoussaye, Lead, Kentucky Derby
Quote, Competitors Include: Eddie Delahoussaye, Lead, Kentucky Derby
He has won the Kentucky Derby in two consecutive years
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Rosie Napravnik (Wikipedia)
Competitors Include: Rosie Napravnik, Lead, 2013 Kentucky Derby
Quote, Competitors Include: Rosie Napravnik, Lead, 2013 Kentucky Derby
fifth-place finish in the 2013 Kentucky Derby
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