The first ever Kentucky Derby walks hand in hand through history with hall of famer Ansel Williamson, trainer of the official winner Aristides, who together with Oliver Lewis rode to fame in 1875.
Aristides was one of the two colts Hal McGrath entered in the inaugural race. The other Chesapeake was presumed from the beginning to win. McGrath’s idea was that Aristides would be the rabbit, leading Chesapeake through to the lead, setting the pace, and then losing steam Aristides would drop back letting Chesapeake take the lead. However little speedball had other ideas, and ran on to cross the finish first, winning the Kentucky Derby by a long length, and claiming the pool of 2,850, leaving Chesapeake to finish 8th.
The Louisville Courier-Journal wrote: "It is the gallant Aristides, heir to a mighty name, that strides with sweeping gallop toward victory... And the air trembles and vibrates again with the ringing cheers that followed."
Born in 1872 Aristides became the namesake of his breeder Hal Price McGrath’s friend Aristides Welch, a horse breeder from Pennsylvania. Although Aristides bloodline was traceable to the Godolphin Arabian, McGrath didn’t perceive his greatness. Aristides sire was the famous English stud Leamington, making him half brother to Longfellow who raced to hall of fame legend, and was dubbed King of the Turf, during his glory days.
Somewhat underestimated Aristides had the heart of a Champion and proved this fact repeatedly. He went on with jockey Oliver Lewis, to win second place in the Belmont Stakes later that year. He also claimed the Jerome Handicap, the Breckinridge, and the Withers Stakes. He placed second in the Thespian Stakes, and Ocean Hotel Stakes, claimed third in the Travers Stakes, and won a race match over Ten Broeck.
Throughout his memorable career Aristides raced a total of 21 times, staking claim to nine wins, five places, and one show, earning him a grand total of 18,325 dollars, which was quite a fortune in the day. He would later go on to claim the title of American Champion Three Year Old Male, in 1875.
On June 21, 1893 Aristides died. But in honor of his vast achievements and fame Churchill Downs inaugurated the Aristides Stakes in 1988. And Carl Regutti was commissioned to create a life-sized bronze statue of Aristides, which now stands in the Clubhouse Gardens, as a memorial to the great horse.
Aristides will always be remembered for his first claim to fame in the memorable and inaugural race of the now internationally acclaimed Kentucky Derby.
