15 Things You Might Not Know about the Kentucky Derby

Held every year since 1875 and on the first Saturday of May since 1946, the Kentucky Derby is the longest running sporting event in the United States. To prepare you for the 144th edition of the famous horse race, check out these fun facts about the Kentucky Derby and the amazing animals God created who run in it.

1. The grandson of William Clark of the Lewis and Clark expedition formed the Louisville Jockey Club which organizes the race. Clark wanted to mimic racing clubs he witnessed in England and France.

2. The race takes place at Churchill Downs, named for John and Henry Churchill, who leased the land for the track to their nephew William Clark.

3. The track is perhaps best known for its two hexagonal twin spires atop the track’s grandstand.

4. The race length was originally 1.5 miles, but it was shortened to the current 1¼-mile distance in 1896.

5. Nearly 90% of thoroughbred horses are a shade of brown or gray. Although rare, there are also black and white thoroughbreds.

6. Horses are measured in hands from the ground to the top of its withers, the highest part at the base of a horse’s neck. A hand is 4 inches. The abbreviation is simply h or hh for “hands high.” Most thoroughbreds range from 15-17 hh or 60-68 inches tall.

7. The fastest speed officially clocked by a horse is just under 44 mph.

8. The race is nicknamed as “the most exciting two minutes in sports.” In 143 previous races, only 2 horses posted times under 2 minutes: Secretariat (1973) and Monarchos (2001).

9. All colts must weigh-in at 126 pounds for the race, while fillies have a 121-pound weight requirement.

10. Only 3 fillies have won the race: Regret (1915), Genuine Risk (1980), and Winning Colors (1988).

11. The Derby is also known as the Run for the Roses, since the winning horse is draped with a 40-pound rose garland that consists of more than 400 red roses sewn on green satin.

12. The winning trainers in two of the first three Derbys were former slaves.

13. While owners have paid up to $4 million for a Derby winner, Canonnero II, which won the race in 1971, was purchased for only $1,200.

14. For some horses, it’s all in the family, as 11 Kentucky Derby winners had a parent that also won the race. Most recently, Unbridled (1990) was the sire of Grindstone (1996).

15. The field for the Kentucky Derby is limited to 20 horses, but the odds aren’t in your favor if you draw a post gate above 17. Posts 18, 19, and 20 have only had 1 victorious horse, while no horse has ever won from post 17, but there’s a first time for everything, right?

Sources:
Newsday
Reader’s Digest
WalletHub