Location
Churchill Downs, Louisville in the blue grass state of Kentucky U.S.A.
The Kentucky Derby at a Glance
Established: 1875
Style: Grade I American stakes race, for thoroughbred gelding/colts age three
Type of Track/length: Left-handed on dirt over 1 ¼ miles
Stakes: U.S. 2 million
The Kentucky Derby is held at Churchill Downs annually on the first Sunday in May. It is considered “the most exciting two minutes in sports.” The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of the Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing. It is traditionally known as “the run for the roses,” for the blanket of roses placed over the winning horse. The Kentucky Derby typically draws about 155,000 fans yearly.
The original derby was first run over a track of 1.5 miles, but in 1896 the distance was changed to its present length. The founding father of the Kentucky Derby was Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr. who incidentally was the grandson of William Clark who is better know for his famous role in the legendary Lewis and Clark expedition.
Clark’s idea was sparked while on a visit to England to see the Epsom Derby (a race run annually since 1780.) He then traveled on to Paris where in 1863 a group “The French Jockey Club” had been formed by racing enthusiasts, who also were responsible for organizing the Grand Prix de Paris, which happened to be at that time the greatest horse race in France.
So upon returning home to his blue grass state of Kentucky Clark decided to organize the Louisville Jockey Club in an effort to raise funds to build a new racing facility in his home state similar to what he had observed in his travels. His relatives John and Henry Churchill who were actually his cousins provided the financing for construction which was the reason the name Churchill Downs was granted in their honor.
The Kentucky Derby boasts many impressive records such as; in 1904, Elwood claimed the title of being the first starter and winner at the Kentucky Derby. He was owned by Laska Durnell, who incidentally was the first woman to own a derby winner. In 1892, an African-American jockey Alonzo Lonnie Clayton who was only 15 at the time became the youngest rider to claim a win at the Kentucky Derby. The greatest speed ever run at the Kentucky Derby in its present distance was achieved by Secretariat in 1973, at 1 minute 59 2/5 seconds. The title of the first colt of foreign descent to claim a win at the Kentucky Derby goes to Omar Khayyam for his amazing speed in 1917. Also let’s not forget the little filly named Regret who stole America’s heart in 1915 when she became the first filly to wear the roses of only three fillies in the Derby’s history.
For 2008 Big Brown wore the roses for his 2:01.82 time.
Records sourced from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kentucky_Derby
Betting the Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is rich in history, as well as being one of the U.S.’s favorite, and most popular horse races.
Thousands of fans bet the Kentucky Derby every year, through on line or at track betting systems. Find out why the Kentucky derby is considered “the most exciting two minutes in sports,” when you bet the Derby.
If you cannot be at the track in person you don’t have to miss a bet on the Kentucky Derby take advantage of online betting systems placing the Derby at your fingertips.
