Kentucky Derby Facts and Trivia

Here are some interesting Kentucky Derby facts.

The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of the prestigious triple crown of American racing, and the Run for the Roses is rich in tradition and history.

The first Kentucky Derby was won by Aristides in 1875. Churchill Downs features a statue of the horse in the paddock area and also holds a prestigious sprint race named in his honor.

Ben Jones is the has the most wins for a trainer in Kentucky Derby history, having been at the helm for no less than six Derby winners, two of them Triple Crown winners: Lawrin (1938), Whirlaway (1941 and Triple Crown), Pensive (1944), Citation (1948 and Triple Crown), Ponder (1949), Hill Gail (1952)

A total of only 37 fillies have made a start in the Kentucky Derby, the most recent example being the late filly Eight Belles, who sustained two broken legs immediately following a gallant second in the 2008 Kentucky Derby behind winner Big Brown.

In 135 runnings of the Derby, only 3 fillies have ever captured The Run For the Roses. The first one was Regret way back in 1915. After that a filly wouldn't win the Derby again until Genuine Risk in 1980. The third and last filly to win the Kentucky Derby was Winning Colors in 1988.

The Kentucky Derby is run at a mile and a quarter, a distance at which none of the three-year-olds entered have ever run before up to that point in their racing careers.

Only two horses disqualified in the long history of the Kentucky Derby. The first was in 1968, when winner Dancer's Image was found to have medication in his system that was not allowed. Forward Pass was declared the official winner. The second was Gate Dancer in 1984. After finishing fourth in the race, he was cited for interference and placed fifth. This is the only time in Derby history interference has ever been declared.

The fastest early pace in Derby history was set by Songandaprayer in 2001, setting fractions of 22.25, 44.86, and 109.25 for the first quarter, half, and three-quarters mile.

The fastest Kentucky Derby ever recorded was by 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat, who finished in a time of 1:59 2/5.

Only three horses have ever completed the Derby in less than two minutes: Secretariat in 1973 as noted above, Monarchos in 2001 ran just under 2 minutes flat, stopping the clock at 1:59.97. and Sham who finished behind Secretariat in 1973, among one of the more interesting Kentucky Derby facts, is estimated to have crossed the wire in under 2 minutes as well in a non-winning effort.

To date, 49 bay horses (bay is a reddish-brown color) have won the Kentucky Derby, making bay the winningest color. Chestnut is the second most, with 43 wins to date.

The track at Churchill Downs has only been listed as sloppy five times in history, remarkable considering the race takes place in Louisville, Kentucky on the first Saturday in May.

Horses that start from the 1st or 5th post position have won the race the most number of times, with 12 winners having started in those posts.

More Kentucky Derby Facts to Come!