Grade 1 race
Kentucky Derby
"The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports"
Location	Churchill Downs Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Inaugurated	1875
Race type	Thoroughbred
Website	2008 Kentucky Derby
Race information
Distance	1¼ miles (10 furlongs)
Track	Dirt, Left-handed
Qualification	3-year-old
Weight	Colt/Gelding: 126 lbs (57. History The track is named for John and Henry Churchill who leased 80 acres (320000 m² of land to their nephew Colonel Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Thoroughbred is a horse breed A colt is a young Male Horse, under the age of four However in olden days the word 'colt' referred to any young or infant horse regardless of gender A gelding is a castrated animal &mdash in English the term specifically refers to a castrated male Horse or other Equine such as a Donkey The pound or pound-mass (abbreviation lb, lbm, or sometimes in the United States #) is a unit of Mass 2 kg) Filly: 121 lbs. A filly is a young Female Horse too young to be called a mare. (54. 9 kg)
Purse	US$2 million
Bonuses	US$ 200

The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three year-old thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. A graded stakes race is a term applied by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to a Thoroughbred horse race in The Thoroughbred is a horse breed The Kentucky Derby Festival is an annual festival held in Louisville Kentucky during the two weeks preceding the first Saturday in May the day The race is one and a quarter miles (2 km) at Churchill Downs. A mile is a unit of Length, usually used to measure Distance, in a number of different systems including Imperial units United States The kilometre ( American spelling: kilometer) symbol km is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one thousand History The track is named for John and Henry Churchill who leased 80 acres (320000 m² of land to their nephew Colonel Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds (57. A colt is a young Male Horse, under the age of four However in olden days the word 'colt' referred to any young or infant horse regardless of gender A gelding is a castrated animal &mdash in English the term specifically refers to a castrated male Horse or other Equine such as a Donkey The pound or pound-mass (abbreviation lb, lbm, or sometimes in the United States #) is a unit of Mass 2 kg) and fillies 121 pounds (54. A filly is a young Female Horse too young to be called a mare. 9 kg). ^[1] The race is known in the United States as "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports" for its approximate duration, and is also called "The Run for the Roses" for the blanket of roses draped over the winner. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the It is the first leg of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing in the US and typically draws around 155,000 fans. The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing (although sometimes shortened to Triple Crown, the full name is used to avoid possible confusion with other sports consists of three

History

A thoroughbred horse is depicted on the reverse of the Kentucky state quarter

Kentucky has been a major center of horse breeding and racing since the late 18th century. The 50 State Quarters program ( is the release of a series of commemorative coins by the United States Mint. The Commonwealth of Kentucky ( is a state located in the East Central United States of America. Horse breeding refers to reproduction in Horses and particularly the human-directed process of Selective breeding of animals particularly Purebred This article is about the sport For other uses see Horserace (drinking game or Horse race (politics. From the time the region was settled, the fields of the Bluegrass region were noted for producing superior race horses. The Bluegrass Region is a region of the United States, mostly in northern Kentucky, containing a majority of the state's population In 1872, Col. Meriwether Lewis Clark, Jr., grandson of William Clark of the Lewis and Clark expedition, traveled to England, visiting the Epsom Derby, a famous race that had been running annually since 1780. Colonel Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr ( January 27, 1846 &ndash April 22, 1899) was the founder of the Louisville Jockey Club and the William Clark ( August 1, 1770 &ndash September 1, 1838) was an American explorer soldier Indian agent, and territorial governor England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland The Derby Stakes, known colloquially as The Derby or internationally as the Epsom Derby, is considered one of the most prestigious flat Thoroughbred horse races From there, Clark went on to Paris, France, where in 1863, a group of racing enthusiasts had formed the French Jockey Club and had organized the Grand Prix de Paris, which at the time was the greatest race in France. Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The Grand Prix de Paris is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old Thoroughbred colts and fillies

Returning home to Kentucky, Clark organized the Louisville Jockey Club for the purpose of raising money to build quality racing facilities just outside of the city. The track would soon become known as Churchill Downs, named for Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr. History The track is named for John and Henry Churchill who leased 80 acres (320000 m² of land to their nephew Colonel Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr 's relatives, John and Henry Churchill, who had provided the land for the racetrack. Officially, the racetrack was incorporated as Churchill Downs in 1937.

The Kentucky Derby was first run at 1. 5 miles (2. 4 km), the same distance as the Epsom Derby and the Grand Prix de Paris. In 1896, the distance was changed to its current 1. 25 miles (2 km). On May 17, 1875, in front of an estimated crowd of 10,000 people, a field of 15 three-year-old horses contested the first Derby. Events 1521 - Edward Stafford 3rd Duke of Buckingham, is executed for Treason. Year 1875 ( MDCCCLXXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Under African-American jockey Oliver Lewis, a colt named Aristides, who was trained by future Hall of Famer, Ansel Williamson, won the inaugural Derby. African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa Oliver Lewis was an African-American Jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing. Aristides (1872-1893 was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the first Kentucky Derby in 1875 The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred Ansel Williamson was an African American Thoroughbred horse racing trainer Ansel Williamson was born a slave in Virginia sometime Later that year, Lewis rode Aristides to a second-place finish in the Belmont Stakes. The Belmont Stakes is a prestigious American Grade I stakes race held yearly in June at Belmont Park in Elmont New York.

Churchill Downs in 1901

Although the first race meet proved a success, the track ran into financial difficulties and in 1894 the New Louisville Jockey Club was incorporated with new capitalization and improved facilities. History The track is named for John and Henry Churchill who leased 80 acres (320000 m² of land to their nephew Colonel Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr Despite this, the business floundered until 1902 when Col. Matt Winn of Louisville put together a syndicate of businessmen to acquire the facility. Colonel Martin J "Matt" Winn ( 1861 - October 6, 1949) was a prominent personality in American Under Winn, Churchill Downs prospered and the Kentucky Derby became the preeminent thoroughbred horse race in America. Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide Sport and Industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred Horses It is governed by different national The United States of America —commonly referred to as the

Between 1875 and 1902, African-American jockeys won 15 of the 28 runnings of the Kentucky Derby. African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa On May 11, 1892, African-American jockey Alonzo "Lonnie" Clayton, age 15, became the youngest rider to win the Derby. Events 330 - Byzantium is renamed ''Nova Roma'' during a dedication ceremony but is more popularly referred to as Constantinople Year 1892 ( MDCCCXCII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year The 1904 race was won by Elwood, the first Derby starter and winner owned by a woman, Laska Durnell. In 1915, Regret became the first filly to win the Kentucky Derby (of only three in the history of the race), and in 1917, the English bred colt "Omar Khayyam" became the first foreign-bred horse to win the race. Regret (1912 - April 11 1934 was a famous American Thoroughbred Racehorse and the first of three fillies to ever win the Kentucky Derby

Derby participants are limited to three-year-old horses. No horse since Apollo in 1882 has won the Derby without racing at age two. Year 1882 ( MDCCCLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common

As part of gaining income, horse owners began sending their successful Derby horses to compete a few weeks later in the Preakness Stakes at the Pimlico Race Course, in Baltimore, Maryland, followed by the Belmont Stakes in Elmont, New York. The Preakness Stakes is an American Grade I stakes race 1-3/16 mile (1 Physical attributes The track has a one-mile dirt oval and a seven Furlong turf oval The Belmont Stakes is a prestigious American Grade I stakes race held yearly in June at Belmont Park in Elmont New York. Elmont is a hamlet (and Census-designated place) as well as a bedroom suburb of New York City in Long Island, Nassau County New York The three races offered the largest purse and in 1919 Sir Barton became the first horse to win all three races. Sir Barton, (1916-1937 was a chestnut Thoroughbred colt who in 1919 became the first winner of the American Triple Crown. However, the term Triple Crown didn't come into use for another eleven years. The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing (although sometimes shortened to Triple Crown, the full name is used to avoid possible confusion with other sports consists of three In 1930, when Gallant Fox became the second horse to win all three races, sportswriter Charles Hatton brought the phrase into American usage. Gallant Fox (March 23 1927 - November 13 1954 was a United States Thoroughbred Horseracing champion Fueled by the media, public interest in the possibility of a "superhorse" that could win the Triple Crown began in the weeks leading up to the Derby. Two years after the term was coined, the race, which had been run in mid-May since inception, was changed to the first Saturday in May to allow for a specific schedule for the Triple Crown races.

On May 3, 1952, the first national television coverage of the Kentucky Derby took place. Events 1491 - Kongo monarch Nkuwu Nzinga is baptised by Portuguese missionaries adopting the baptismal name of João Year 1952 ( MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. In 1954, the purse exceeded $100,000 for the first time. Year 1954 ( MCMLIV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1954 Gregorian calendar) The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been In 1968 Dancer's Image became the first (and to this day the only) horse to win the race and then be disqualified after traces of phenylbutazone, an analgesic and anti-inflammatory drug, were found in the horse's urinalysis; unexpectedly, the regulations at Kentucky thoroughbred race tracks were changed some years later, allowing horses to run on phenylbutazone. Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Dancer's Image (1965-1992 an American Thoroughbred racehorse who is the only winner in the history of the Kentucky Derby to have been disqualified Phenylbutazone, often referred to as bute, is a Crystalline substance having the structure shown at right Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, usually abbreviated to NSAID s or NAID s, are drugs with Analgesic, Antipyretic and in higher A urinalysis (or "UA" is an array of tests performed on Urine and one of the most common methods of Medical Diagnosis. Phenylbutazone, often referred to as bute, is a Crystalline substance having the structure shown at right

The fastest time ever run in the Derby (at its present distance) was set in 1973 at 1 minute 59 2/5 seconds when Secretariat broke the record set by Northern Dancer in 1964. Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. Secretariat ( March 30, 1970 &ndash October 4, 1989) was an American Thoroughbred Racehorse. Northern Dancer ( May 27, 1961 - November 16, 1990) was a Canadian -bred Thoroughbred racehorse and the most successful Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar. Not only has Secretariat's record time stood for 35 years and counting, but in the race itself, he did something unique in Triple Crown races: each successive quarter, his times were faster. A world record is the best performance in a certain discipline usually a Sports event The second sub-two minute time was recorded by Sham, two-fifths of a second behind Secretariat in the same race. Sham ( April 9, 1970 – April 3, 1993) was an American Thoroughbred Race horse, often overlooked in history Another sub-two minute finish, only the third, was set by in 2001 by Monarchos at 1:59. Monarchos (born 1998) is a stallion Thoroughbred Racehorse who won the Kentucky Derby in 2001 97.

The 2004 Derby marked the first time that jockeys, as a result of a court order, were allowed to wear corporate advertising logos on their clothing. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " A court order (or court ruling) is an official proclamation by a Judge (or panel of judges that defines the legal relationships between the parties to a hearing

In 2005, the purse distribution for the Derby was changed, so that horses finishing fifth would henceforth receive a share of the purse; previously only the first four finishers did so. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. In Horse racing, the term purse distribution may refer to the total amount of money paid out to the owners of horses racing at a particular track over a given period of time

Norman Adams has been the designer of the Kentucky Derby Logo since 2002. On February 1, 2006, the Louisville-based fast-food company Yum! Brands, Inc. announced a corporate sponsorship deal to call the race "The Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands. Events 1327 - Teenaged Edward III is crowned King of England, but the country is ruled by his mother Queen Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Fast food is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly Yum! Brands Inc ( or Yum! is a Fortune 500 Corporation, that operates or licenses Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut, and " ^[2]

Traditions

In addition to the race itself, a number of traditions play a large role in the Derby atmosphere. The Mint Julep, an iced drink consisting of bourbon, mint and a sugar syrup is the traditional beverage of the race. The mint julep is a mixed alcoholic drink or Cocktail, associated with the Cuisine of the Southern United States. Bourbon is an American Whiskey, a type of distilled spirit, made primarily from Corn and named for Bourbon County Kentucky. Mentha ( mint) is a Genus of about 25 Species (and many hundreds of varieties) of Flowering plants in the family Sugar is a class of edible Crystalline substances mainly Sucrose, Lactose, and Fructose. The historic drink can be served in an ice-frosted silver julep cup but most Churchill Downs patrons sip theirs from a souvenir glass printed with all previous Derby winners. Also, burgoo, a thick stew of beef, chicken, pork and vegetables, is a popular Kentucky dish served at the Derby. Burgoo is a term used for many types of Stew or porridge made from a mixture of ingredients

The infield, a spectator area inside the track, offers general admission prices but little chance of seeing much of the race. Instead, revelers show up in the infield to party with abandon. By contrast, "Millionaire's Row" refers to the expensive box seats that attract the rich, the famous and the well-connected. Women appear in fine outfits lavishly accessorized with large, elaborate hats. As the horses are paraded before the grandstands, the University of Louisville marching band plays Stephen Foster's "My Old Kentucky Home. The University of Louisville (also known as U of L) is a public University in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. A marching band is in the broadest terms a group of performers that consist of instrumental Musicians and sometimes dance teams / color guard who generally perform Stephen Collins Foster (July 4 1826 – January 13 1864 known as the "father of American music" was the pre-eminent Songwriter in the United States " My Old Kentucky Home " (originally titled " Poor Uncle Tom Good Night! " and sometimes also titled " My Old Kentucky Home Good-Night! " "

The Derby is frequently referred to as "The Run for the Roses," because a lush blanket of 554 red roses is awarded to the Kentucky Derby winner each year. A rose is a perennial flowering Shrub or vine of the Genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae, that contains over 100 species The tradition is as a result of New York socialite E. New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous Berry Wall presenting roses to ladies at a post-Derby party in 1883 that was attended by Churchill Downs founder and president, Col. M. Lewis Clark. This gesture is believed to have eventually led Clark to the idea of making the rose the race's official flower. However, it was not until 1896 that any recorded account referred to roses being draped on the Derby winner. The Governor of Kentucky awards the garland and the trophy. The Governor of Kentucky is the head of the executive branch of the U Pop vocalist Dan Fogelberg composed a song by that title for the 1980 running of the race. Daniel Grayling Fogelberg ( August 13 1951 &ndash December 16 2007) was an American singer songwriter and Multi-instrumentalist

Winners of the Kentucky Derby

A † designates a Triple Crown Winner. The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing (although sometimes shortened to Triple Crown, the full name is used to avoid possible confusion with other sports consists of three

^*In 1968, Dancer's Image, ridden by Bobby Ussery, trained by Lou Cavalaris, Jr. Dancer's Image (1965-1992 an American Thoroughbred racehorse who is the only winner in the history of the Kentucky Derby to have been disqualified Robert N "Bobby" Ussery (born 1935 in Vian Oklahoma) is an American Thoroughbred Horse racing Hall of Fame Jockey. , and owned by Peter Fuller, finished first, but was disqualified after a post-race urine sample revealed traces of a banned drug in the horse. Peter Michael Fuller (born 31st August 1947 in Damascus, Syria &mdash 1990 was a British art critic and magazine editor who was educated at Epsom College The drug in question - phenylbutazone - is now legal for use on racehorses in many states, including Kentucky. Phenylbutazone, often referred to as bute, is a Crystalline substance having the structure shown at right

Notes

• D. Wayne Lukas swept the 1995 Triple Crown with two different horses. Darrell Wayne Lukas (born September 2, 1935 in Antigo Wisconsin) is a former Educator who became one of the most successful Horse trainers
• The 2008 second place winner, Eight Belles, marks the first time that any horse has died in the Kentucky Derby. Eight Belles ( February 23, 2005 – May 3 2008) was a grey Thoroughbred racehorse owned by Rick Porter's Fox Hill Farms The filly came in second place before breaking both front ankles on the cool-down. She was immediately euthanized.

See also

• Kentucky Derby Museum
• 2008 Kentucky Derby
• 2007 Kentucky Derby
• Derby pie
• Kentucky Derby Festival
• Kentucky Derby top three finishers
• Kentucky Oaks (sister race)
• List of attractions and events in Louisville, Kentucky
• List of graded stakes at Churchill Downs
• The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent and Depraved, a journalism piece by Hunter S. Thompson. The Kentucky Derby Museum is an American Thoroughbred horse racing museum located on the grounds of Churchill Downs in Louisville Kentucky. The 2008 Kentucky Derby was the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby. The 2007 Kentucky Derby was the 133rd running of the Kentucky Derby. Derby pie is a pastry created in the Melrose Inn of Prospect Kentucky, USA, by George Kern with the help of his parents The Kentucky Derby Festival is an annual festival held in Louisville Kentucky during the two weeks preceding the first Saturday in May the day This is a listing of first place second place and third place finishers of the Kentucky Derby, listed by year The Kentucky Oaks is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies staged annually in Louisville Kentucky, United States This is a list of notable visitor attractions and annual events in the Louisville metropolitan area " The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent and Depraved " is a seminal sports article by Hunter S Hunter Stockton Thompson ( July 18, 1937 &ndash February 20, 2005) was an American Journalist and Author, most
• Preakness Stakes
• Belmont Stakes

References

External links

• Kentucky Derby (official site)
• Kentucky Derby
• Kentucky Derby Museum
• The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Ky.
• Kentucky Derby Festival
• Kentucky Derby Site
• Map of All Derby Events
• ESPN.COM Attending the Kentucky Derby (includes future dates)