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Kentucky Derby
Three year olds 1 1/4 miles $2 million
The Kentucky Derby will be run for the 137th time on Saturday, May 7 at historic Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
The race is aptly called the most exciting two minutes in sports.
Kentucky Derby history dates back to 1875 when Aristides defeated a field of 15 to win the inaugural running, with an estimated 10,000 fans witnessing the race.
The three-year-old chestnut colt was owned by H.P. McGrath, and trained by Ansel Williamson and ridden by Oliver Lewis, both African Americans.
Not all was "Roses" for many years. The race was known more as a regional race for years, and in 1892 there were only three entered to run. Founder M. Lewis Clark committed suicide in 1899, just 12 days before the 25th running.
The race was shortened from 1 1/2 miles to its current distance of 1 1/4 miles in 1896.
Churchill Downs struggled in the early years, finally turning profitable when a group headed by former Louisville Mayor Charles Grainger, Charlie Price and Matt J. Winn agreed to take over the operation in 1902. The following year, Churchill Downs showed its first profit.
Donerail became the longest shot to win the Derby in 1913, paying $184.90 for a $2 wager.
Sir Barton became the first Triple Crown winner in 1919. The colt was actually the weaker half of an entry with highly regarded Billy Kelly. After winning the Derby, the colt was shipped to Baltimore where he won the Preakness Stakes, and was off to New York where he completed the sweep by winning the Belmont Stakes.
The box starting mechanism was first used in the Derby in 1930. Gallant Fox was the Triple Crown winner that year.
The first national television telecast was in 1952. Viewers saw Eddie Arcaro pilot Hill Gail to victory.
The first Derby winner disqualification took place in 1968 when first-place finisher Dancer's Image tested positive for an illegal medication in post-race testing. Second-place finisher Forward Pass was declared the winner.
In 1974, an all-time record U.S. Thoroughbred racing crowd of 163,628 packed Churchill Downs to see Cannonade top a field of 23 and win the 100th Derby.
In 1980, Genuine Risk became just the second filly to win the Derby. Regret was the first, taking the run for the roses in 1915. Winning Colors went gate to wire in 1988 to become the third and last filly in Derby history to win the race.
Recent Derby winners like Funny Cide, Smarty Jones and Barbaro captured the attention of not only the sports world, but also the entire nation.
Ben A. Jones leads all trainers with six Derby winners. Jockeys Eddie Arcaro and Bill Hartack both have five winning Derby mounts.
2010 Recap: Jockey Calvin Borel won his third Kentucky Derby in four years, and trainer Todd Pletcher his first as WinStar Farms’ Super Saver took to the muddy track to win the 136th running of the Run for the Roses.
Borel won the 2007 Kentucky Derby aboard Street Sense and the 2009 running aboard Mine That Bird, and used the same strategy with Super Saver: get to the rail, save all the ground, and head to the winners circle.
Super Saver won by 2 1/4 lengths, paid $18.80 for a $2 wager, and topped a $2 exacta with Ice Box that returned $152.40.
The $2 trifecta with Paddy O’Prado checking in third returned $2,337.40.
- Derby Post Positions History April 29
- Derby Post Positions April 29
- 2009 Kentucky Derby - Top Contenders April 27
- 2009 Kentucky Derby - Dark Horses April 27
- Cashing in on the Derby April 27
:: Derby Trial Preview
:: April 19th Review
:: Capistrano Invitational Preview
:: Coolmore Lexington Preview
:: The Federico Tesio Preview
:: April 12th Review
:: Holy Bull Stakes Preview
:: Arkansas Derby Preview
:: Blue Grass Stakes Preview
:: April 5th Review
:: Santa Anita Derby Preview
:: Wood Memorial Preview
:: Illinois Derby Preview
:: UAE Derby Preview
:: Florida Derby Preview
:: Palm Beach Stakes Preview
:: Derby Prep Recaps
:: Lane's End Stakes Preview
:: Private Terms Stakes Preview
:: Rushaway Stakes Preview
:: Derby Prep Recaps
:: Tampa Bay Derby Preview
:: Rebel Stakes Betting Preview
:: Weekend Stakes Recap March 10th
:: Louisiana Derby Preview
:: Gotham Stakes Wagering Preview
:: El Camino Real Derby
:: Weekend Stakes Recap March 3rd
:: Sham Stakes Wagering Preview
:: John Battaglia Betting Preview
Saratoga
Saratoga opens for the 143rd year on Friday, July 22 for an outstanding 40-day meeting that includes over 50 stakes races and 17 Grade 1 races. The marquee event of the meeting is the $1 million Travers Stakes (G1) on Saturday, Aug. 27.
Michael Dempsey will be providing his full card selections throughout the meeting. Mike’s Reports include his selections, analysis, fair odds, and wagering recommendations for every race.
Get your day off to a good start with Michael’s Free Pick of the day from Saratoga.
For information on Saratoga including stakes information, wagering menu, post time information, and track layout Click Here.
Keeneland
Get info on racing dates, stakes races scheduled and track contact information by Clicking Here
Get Free Racing Picks for Keeneland from professional handicapper Michael Dempsey or purchase his top selections by Clicking Here
Churchill Downs
The spring/summer meeting at Churchill Downs gets underway on Saturday April 30, with 24 graded stakes on the betting menu. The marquee events are the Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Kentucky Derby (G1).
Michael Dempsey will be providing Full Card Analysis for Churchill Downs from Friday through Sunday each week.
Each racing day Michael will be providing his Free Betting Selection of the day for Churchill Downs.
For information on Churchill Downs including stakes information, wagering menu, post time information, and track layout Click Here
Belmont Park
Racing in New York shifts to Belmont Park on Friday April 29 for the spring / summer meeting, which includes the Belmont Stakes (G1) on Saturday June 11.
Michael Dempsey will be providing Full Card Analysis for Belmont Park each racing day from Wednesday through Sunday.
Each racing day Michael will be providing his Free Betting Selection of the day for Belmont Park.
For information on Belmont Park including stakes information, wagering menu, post time information, and track layout Click Here
Gulfstream Park
For information on Gulfstream Park including stakes information, wagering menu, post time information, and track layout Click Here
Get Free Selections for Gulfstream Park from professional handicapper Brian Mulligan or purchase his highly rated selections by
Clicking Here
Aqueduct
For Aqueduct racing info including racing dates, stakes schedule, track layout and contact information, Click Here
Get Free Picks for Aqueduct races from professional handicapper Michael Dempsey or purchase his top selections by Clicking Here
Daily past performances, track entries and race results.