There are few more famous races on the international horse racing schedule than the Kentucky Derby. The annual race is staged at Churchill Downs, forming the opening leg of the Triple Crown series in the United States, with the Preakness and Belmont Stakes staged after.
Some of the biggest legends in American racing have landed victories in the Kentucky Derby, and this year’s edition will be one of the most famous as the race celebrates its 150th anniversary. But what are some of the most surprising facts surrounding the world-famous race?
Horses Starting With An ‘S’ Have An Excellent Record
According to TwinSpires, bettors will go through several facts and trends when considering the chances of each runner that will post in the Kentucky Derby. But one of the more strange facts is that there have been 19 race winners whose name has started with an ‘S.’
The most famous was Secretariat, who later landed victories in the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes to become a Triple Crown hero. The most recent horse to follow this trend came in 2010, as Super Saver was an excellent winner in the race for Todd Pletcher.
Triple Crown Winners
The Triple Crown in the United States gets underway with the Kentucky Derby before the Preakness Stakes occurs two weeks later. The final leg occurs in the Belmont Stakes, staged around a month after the opening race at Churchill Downs.
However, only 13 horses have claimed victories in all Triple Crown races. The first was Sir Barton in 1919, with his victories even coming before the term’ Triple Crown’ was born. Gallant Fox was the second winner of all three races, with Omaha and War Admiral also achieving the feats in the 1930s.
There were four Triple Crown winners in the 1940s, including Citation and Count Fleet. The legendary Secretariat completed the clean sweep in 1973 before Seattle Slew and Affirmed completed the sets back-to-back in 1977 and 1978. American Pharoah and Justify are the two most recent Triple Crown heroes.
Fillies Have Enjoyed Rare Victories
Trainers have rarely targeted the Kentucky Derby with fillies throughout history, as the Kentucky Oaks, which is staged on the day prior, is also a very esteemed race in its regard. However, there have been three filly winners of the Kentucky Derby throughout history, with Regret becoming the first female Derby victor in 1915.
Genuine Risk emulated the feat in 1980 before Winning Colors became the most recent filly winner of the race in 1988. However, it is becoming rarer that fillies take their chance in the Derby, with many connections preferring to take their chance in the Oaks.
Derby Firsts
There have been some historic moments throughout Derby’s history, and the event is also quick to landmark some of the moments that have happened for the first time.
Millions of fans now watch the action from Churchill Downs on television while having watch-along parties, but the first televised Derby didn’t occur until 1952. The winner on that occasion was Hill Gail for the connections of Eddie Arcaro and Ben Jones.
History was also made in 2019, as the edition in that year marked the first time in the race’s history that the horse that crossed the line first wasn’t awarded the win.
Maximum Security was first over the line, but he was later disqualified after impeding another horse, meaning that runner-up Country House was awarded the victory. Since then, Medina Spirit was stripped of his Derby success, with Mandaloun upgraded to be the winner.
Oaks/Derby Double
There are few bigger races to be staged at Churchill Downs throughout the season than the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby. Connections typically aim to win both big purses in successive days, but it is a race achievement. That is highlighted by the fact that only seven jockeys throughout history have achieved the feat.
Meanwhile, three trainers and four owners have achieved the Oaks/Derby double. The most recent came in 2018 when Monomoy Girl won the Oaks, and Justify won the Derby for owners Head of Plains Partners/Monomoy Stables.
Calvin Borel was the most recent jockey to achieve the double in 2009 after winning the Oaks with Rachel Alexandra and the Derby with Mine That Bird.
Ben Jones was the most recent trainer to achieve the unlikely double in 1952, completing the Oaks/Derby double for the second time in his career with Real Delight and Hill Gail.
That success was also one of just two times the same trainer and jockey combination have teamed up for the double. The same jockey, trainer, and owner combination in the Oaks/Derby double has only been achieved twice, the first coming with Barn Swallow and Brokers Tip in 1933.
