Kentucky Derby: Difference between revisions

Kentucky Derby

Grade 1 race
America's most prestigious horse race
Location	Churchill Downs Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Inaugurated	1875
Race type	Thoroughbred
Website	2007 Kentucky Derby
Race information
Distance	1¼ miles
Track	Dirt, Left-handed
Qualification	3-year-old
Weight	Colt/Gelding: 126 lbs (57.2 kg) Filly: 121 lbs. (54.9 kg)
Purse	US$2 million
Bonuses	US$ 200

The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old thoroughbred horses, staged annually in Louisville, Kentucky on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is over 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 Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing in the US and typically draws around 155,000 fans. 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" .

History

A thoroughbred horse is depicted on the reverse of the Kentucky state quarter

Kentucky has been a major center of horse breeding and racing since the late 1700s due to the Ordovician fields of the Bluegrass region, which contains higher than average amounts of calcium and thus produced 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 eventually became the famous Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Returning home to Kentucky, 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 African-American 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.

Churchill Downs in 1901

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, 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.

As part of gaining income, horse 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.

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; ironically, 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.

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.

Traditions

In addition to the race itself, a number of traditions have played 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 is best 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. Over 80,000 mint juleps are typically served on Derby Day and the preceding day's event, The Kentucky Oaks stakes race, which is considered by many to be "the Derby for Fillies." Also, burgoo, a thick stew of beef, chicken, pork and vegetables, is a popular dish at the Derby.

Legal gambling on the race is done through parimutuel betting at the track. The infield, a spectator area inside the track, offers low general admission prices but little chance of seeing much of the race. Instead, revelers show up in the infield to party with abandon. Sobriety is not a common state in the infield on Derby Day and on some occasions even being fully clothed has been optional. By contrast, "Millionaire's Row" refers to the expensive box seats that attract the rich, the famous and the well-connected. Elegant 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" while the crowd stands and sings along. Native Kentuckians often surrender to tears as this traditional theme plays.

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 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. Pop vocalist Dan Fogelberg composed a song by that title for the 1980 running of the race. Jessica Simpson sang at the Kentucy Derby in 1997. She sang the Star Spangled Banner then.

Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom is scheduled to attend the 2007 Derby in the course of a state visit to the United States of America, fulfilling a lifelong dream of hers.

See also

• Kentucky Derby Festival
• Kentucky Derby winners
• Kentucky Oaks (sister race)
• List of attractions and events in Louisville
• List of graded stakes at Churchill Downs
• The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved, a journalism piece by Hunter S. Thompson.

Kentucky Derby feature key prep races list

This list contains the current 2007 standings that leads to the Kentucky Derby race.

Date	Track	Race	Grade	Distance	Purse (US$)	Surface track	Winning horse	Winning jockey
January 1st	Calder Race Course	Tropical Park Derby	3	1-1/8 Miles	$100,000	Turf	Soldier's Dancer	C. Velasquez
January 6th	Aqueduct Racetrack	Count Fleet Stakes		1 Mile and 70 Yards	$70,865	Inner Track (Dirt)	Pink Viper	N. Arroyo Jr.
January 7th	Gulfstream Park	Spectacular Bid Stakes		6 Furlongs	$80,000	Dirt	Buffalo Man	E. Castro
January 7th	Santa Anita Park	San Miguel Stakes		6 Furlongs	$80,000	Dirt	E. Z. Warrior	D. Flores
January 13th	Santa Anita Park	San Rafael Stakes	2	1 Mile	$150,000	Dirt	Notional	C. Nakatani
January 13th	Fair Grounds Race Course	LeComte Stakes	3	1 Mile	$98,000	Dirt	Hard Spun	M. Pino
January 15th	Aqueduct Racetrack	Jimmy Winkfield Stakes		6 Furlongs	$62,082	Inner Track (Dirt)	Bill Place	R. Dominguez
January 27th	Gulfstream Park	Sunshine Million Dash Stakes		6 Furlongs	$250,000	Dirt	Storm in May	M. Cruz
January 27th	Tampa Bay Downs	Pasco Stakes		7 Furlongs	$75,000	Dirt	Barkley Sound	E. Jurado
January 28th	Golden Gate Fields	California Derby		1-1/16 Miles	$150,000	Dirt	Bwana Bull	D. Lopez
February 3rd	Gulfstream Park	Holy Bull Stakes	3	1 Mile	$150,000	Dirt	Nobiz Like Shobiz	C. Velasquez
February 3rd	Gulfstream Park	Swale Stakes	2	6-1/2 Furlongs	$150,000	Dirt	Adore the Gold	C. Velasquez
February 3rd	Santa Anita Park	Sham Stakes	3	1-1/8 Miles	$101,500	Dirt	Ravel	G. Gomez
February 3rd	Laurel Park	Miracle Wood Stakes		1 Mile	$50,900	Dirt	Crafty Bear	M. Pino
February 10th	Fair Grounds Race Course	Risen Star Stakes	3	1-1/16 Miles	$300,000	Dirt	Notional	R. Albarado
February 10th	Aqueduct Racetrack	Whirlaway Stakes		1-1/16 Miles	$70,070	Inner Track (Dirt)	Summer Doldrums	M. Luzzi
February 10th	Turfway Park	WEBN Stakes		1 Mile	$50,000	Dirt	Joe Got Even	M. Mena
February 11th	Santa Anita Park	San Vicente Stakes	2	7 Furlongs	$150,000	Dirt	Noble Court	C. Nakatani
February 17th	Tampa Bay Downs	Sam F. Davis Stakes		1-1/16 Miles	$150,000	Dirt	Any Given Saturday	J. Velazquez
February 17th	Turf Paradise	Turf Paradise Derby		1-1/16 Miles	$100,000	Dirt	Tie Rod	J. Rivera
February 19th	Oaklawn Park	Southwest Stakes		1 Mile	$250,000	Dirt	Teuflesberg	S. Elliott
February 19th	Aqueduct Racetrack	Fred Caposella Stakes		6 Furlongs	$65,000	Dirt	Wollaston Bay	S. Bridgmohan
February 24th	Gulfstream Park	Hallandale Beach Stakes		1-1/16 Miles	$100,000	Turf	Twilight Meteor	E. Prado
February 24th	Oaklawn Park	Mountain Valley Stakes		6 Furlongs	$50,000	Dirt	Sir Five Star	J. Shepherd
March 3rd	Gulfstream Park	Fountain of Youth Stakes	2	1-1/8 Miles	$350,000	Dirt	Scat Daddy	J. Velazquez
March 3rd	Gulfstream Park	Hutchesson Stakes	2	7-1/2 Furlongs	$150,000	Dirt	King of the Roxy	E. Prado
March 3rd	Santa Anita Park	Robert B. Lewis Stakes	2	1-1/16 Miles	$200,000	Dirt	Great Hunter	C. Nakatani
March 3rd	Turfway Park	John Battaglia Memorial Stakes		1-1/16 Miles	$200,000	Dirt	Catman Running	W. Martinez
March 10th	Aqueduct Racetrack	The Gotham Stakes	3	1-1/16 Miles	$200,000	Dirt	Cowtown Cat	R. Dominguez
March 10th	Fair Grounds Race Course	Louisiana Derby	2	1-1/16 Miles	$594,000	Dirt	Circular Quay	J. Velazquez
March 10th	Bay Meadows	El Camino Real Stakes	3	1-1/16 Miles	$200,000	Dirt	Bwana Bull	R. Baze
March 16th	Santa Anita Park	Pasadena Stakes		1 Mile	$75,000	Turf	Whatsthescript (IRE)	I. Enriquez
March 17th	Oaklawn Park	The Rebel Stakes	3	1-1/16 Miles	$300,000	Dirt	Curlin	R. Albardo
March 17th	Santa Anita Derby	San Felipe Stakes	2	1-1/16 Miles	$250,000	Dirt	Cobalt Blue	V. Espinoza
March 17th	Tampa Bay Downs	Tampa Bay Derby	3	1-1/16 Miles	$300,000	Dirt	Street Sense	C. Borel
March 18th	Sunland Park	Winstar Derby		1-1/8 Miles	$600,000	Dirt	Song of Navarone	V. Espinoza
March 24th	Turfway Park	Lane's End Stakes	2	1-1/8 Miles	$500,000	Dirt	Hard Spun	M. Pino
March 24th	Turfway Park	Rushaway Stakes		1-1/16 Miles	$100,000	Dirt	Dominican	Rafeal Bejarano
March 24th	Laurel Park	Private Terms Stakes		1 Mile	$100,000	Dirt
March 24th	Gulfstream Park	Palm Beach Stakes	3	1-1/8 Miles	$150,000	Turf
March 31st	Gulfstream Park	Florida Derby	1	1-1/8 Miles	$1,000,000	Dirt	Scat Daddy	Edgar S. Prado
March 31st	Gulfstream Park	Aventura Stakes		7 Furlongs	$175,000	Dirt
April 7th	Aqueduct Racetrack	Wood Memorial Stakes	1	1-1/8 Miles	$750,000	Dirt	Nobiz Like Shobiz	Cornelio Velasquez
April 7th	Aqueduct Racetrack	Bay Shore Stakes	3	7 Furlongs	$150,000	Dirt
April 7th	Santa Anita Park	Santa Anita Derby	1	1-1/8 Miles	$750,000	Dirt	Tiago	Mike Smith
April 7th	Hawthorne Race Course	Illinois Derby	2	1-1/8 Miles	$500,000	Dirt	Cowtown Cat	Fernando Jara
April 14th	Keeneland	Blue Grass Stakes	1	1-1/8 Miles	$750,000	Dirt	Dominican	Rafeal Bejarano
April 14th	Oaklawn Park	Northern Spur Breeders' Cup Stakes	ungraded	1 Mile	$100,000	Dirt	Takedown	Robby Albarado
April 14th	Oaklawn Park	Arkansas Derby	2	1-1/8 Miles	$1,000,000	Dirt	Curlin	Robby Albarado
April 14th	Santa Anita Park	La Puente Stakes		1 Mile	$100,000	Turf
April 21st	Keeneland	Lexington Stakes	2	1-1/16 Miles	$325,000	Dirt
April 21st	Pimlico Race Course	Federico Tesio Stakes		1-1/8 Miles	$125,000	Dirt

External links

• Kentucky Derby (official site)
• Kentucky Derby
• Kentucky Derby Museum
• The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Ky.
• Kentucky Derby Festival
• Kentucky Derby Site
• Map of All Derby Events
• Bet on the Kentucky Derby