Orb on his way to winning the 2013 Kentucky Derby. Morry Gash / AP/Press Association Images
Morry Gash / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images
History
BILLED AS THE ‘fastest two minutes in sport’ the Kentucky Derby will be run for the 140th time on Saturday evening (11.24pm Irish time) and has become the premier Grade I event on the US racing calendar.
Over the years a lot of mystique has built up around the race, including it’s origins. Legend has it that back in 1779, Edward Smith-Stanley, the 12th Earl of Derby, and Sir Charles Bunbury witnessed the first running of the Epsom Oaks in England. Inspired to start their own event, the two tossed a coin for naming rights and Derby won.
Sadly, the truth is a little less colourful. While traveling in England and France in 1872-1873, 26-year-old M. Lewis Clark, devised the idea of a Louisville Jockey Club for conducting race meets.
For his inaugural race meet, Clark designed three major stakes races, the Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks and Clark Handicap, after the three premier races in England, the Epsom Derby, Epsom Oaks and St. Leger Stakes, respectively.
Last year's start was a mucky affair. Matt Slocum / AP/Press Association Images
Matt Slocum / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images
The Race
The race has been held over a distance of 1.25 miles (2km) since 1896. It is known as the ‘run for the roses’ because of the blanket of roses draped over the winning horse.
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It is contested by three-year-old colts, geldings and fillies.
The Derby represents one-third of the US Triple Crown with the Preakness and Belmont Stakes following later in the year.
First prize in this year’s race is a guaranteed $2 million (€1.5m).
One of the traditions of the Kentucky Derby is the ‘Call to Post’.
On May 17, 1875, in front of an estimated crowd of 10,000 people, a field of 15 horses contested the first Derby with a colt named Aristides winning.
In 1925, the race was called live on radio for the first time with the inaugural television broadcast taking place in 1952.
In 1968, Dancer’s Image became the first and only winner of the race to be disqualified afterwards. Traces of an anti-inflammatory drug – later legalised – were found in its system and Forward Pass was awarded the race after a lengthy legal battle.
Diane Crump became the first lady jockey to take part in the Derby in 1970 but there has yet to be a female winner of the race.
The fastest time, over the current distance, was set by Secretariat in 1973 at 1.59.40. Only two other horses, Sham (second in 1973) and Monarchos in 2001, have finished the race in under two minutes.
Last year’s winner Orb completed the race in 2.02.89, the second slowest time in the last ten years.
California Chorme goes into tonight's race as the favourite. Garry Jones / AP/Press Association Images
Garry Jones / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images
This year’s race
There are some pundits claiming that the 19-runners who will line up this evening represent one of the worst Kentucky Derby fields for years but that won’t bother the connections of California Chrome if the 2/1 favourite makes it five wins on the bounce.
Wicked Strong (7/1) has been also been getting a lot of attention after blowing away the field in the $1m Wood Memorial in April.
However, if you’re looking for even longer odds, then Tapiture (16/1) and Ride on Curlin (20/1) might be worth an each way gamble; the former because he has the pedigree to make all the running and the latter because it’s attracting some late money, coming in from 40/1 earlier today.
Following the late scratch of Pablo Del Monte – co-owned by Coolmore — there is no Irish interest in this year’s race.
An earlier version of this article was published on May 4, 2013.
Everything you need to know about the 140th Kentucky Derby
History
BILLED AS THE ‘fastest two minutes in sport’ the Kentucky Derby will be run for the 140th time on Saturday evening (11.24pm Irish time) and has become the premier Grade I event on the US racing calendar.
Over the years a lot of mystique has built up around the race, including it’s origins. Legend has it that back in 1779, Edward Smith-Stanley, the 12th Earl of Derby, and Sir Charles Bunbury witnessed the first running of the Epsom Oaks in England. Inspired to start their own event, the two tossed a coin for naming rights and Derby won.
Sadly, the truth is a little less colourful. While traveling in England and France in 1872-1873, 26-year-old M. Lewis Clark, devised the idea of a Louisville Jockey Club for conducting race meets.
For his inaugural race meet, Clark designed three major stakes races, the Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks and Clark Handicap, after the three premier races in England, the Epsom Derby, Epsom Oaks and St. Leger Stakes, respectively.
The Race
The race has been held over a distance of 1.25 miles (2km) since 1896. It is known as the ‘run for the roses’ because of the blanket of roses draped over the winning horse.
It is contested by three-year-old colts, geldings and fillies.
The Derby represents one-third of the US Triple Crown with the Preakness and Belmont Stakes following later in the year.
First prize in this year’s race is a guaranteed $2 million (€1.5m).
One of the traditions of the Kentucky Derby is the ‘Call to Post’.
Notable dates
On May 17, 1875, in front of an estimated crowd of 10,000 people, a field of 15 horses contested the first Derby with a colt named Aristides winning.
In 1925, the race was called live on radio for the first time with the inaugural television broadcast taking place in 1952.
In 1968, Dancer’s Image became the first and only winner of the race to be disqualified afterwards. Traces of an anti-inflammatory drug – later legalised – were found in its system and Forward Pass was awarded the race after a lengthy legal battle.
Diane Crump became the first lady jockey to take part in the Derby in 1970 but there has yet to be a female winner of the race.
The fastest time, over the current distance, was set by Secretariat in 1973 at 1.59.40. Only two other horses, Sham (second in 1973) and Monarchos in 2001, have finished the race in under two minutes.
Last year’s winner Orb completed the race in 2.02.89, the second slowest time in the last ten years.
This year’s race
There are some pundits claiming that the 19-runners who will line up this evening represent one of the worst Kentucky Derby fields for years but that won’t bother the connections of California Chrome if the 2/1 favourite makes it five wins on the bounce.
Wicked Strong (7/1) has been also been getting a lot of attention after blowing away the field in the $1m Wood Memorial in April.
However, if you’re looking for even longer odds, then Tapiture (16/1) and Ride on Curlin (20/1) might be worth an each way gamble; the former because he has the pedigree to make all the running and the latter because it’s attracting some late money, coming in from 40/1 earlier today.
Following the late scratch of Pablo Del Monte – co-owned by Coolmore — there is no Irish interest in this year’s race.
An earlier version of this article was published on May 4, 2013.
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