Kentucky Derby is the most famous horse race in the United States. This 11/4-mile (2.01-kilometer) race for 3-year-old horses is held annually on the first Saturday of May at Churchill Downs race track in Louisville, Kentucky.
The Kentucky Derby has been held every year since 1875, and it ranks as the nation’s oldest continually run horse race. About 10,000 spectators watched Aristides win the first Derby—and a purse of $2,850. Since then, the Derby has become one of the most popular sports events in the United States. Today, around 150,000 fans attend the race each year, and millions more watch it on TV.
The Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes form the Triple Crown of U.S. horse racing. Thirteen horses have won the Triple Crown—Sir Barton in 1919, Gallant Fox in 1930, Omaha in 1935, War Admiral in 1937, Whirlaway in 1941, Count Fleet in 1943, Assault in 1946, Citation in 1948, Secretariat in 1973, Seattle Slew in 1977, Affirmed in 1978, American Pharoah in 2015, and Justify in 2018.
All colts and geldings (male horses that have had their sex organs removed) running in the Derby carry the same weight, 126 pounds (57 kilograms). Fillies carry 121 pounds (55 kilograms). Only three fillies—Regret in 1915, Genuine Risk in 1980, and Winning Colors in 1988—have won the race. Nine geldings have been victorious. The leading Derby jockeys are Eddie Arcaro and Bill Hartack, each with five winners. Bob Baffert and Ben A. Jones each trained a record six winners. Calumet Farm is the leading owner, with eight winners.
A group headed by M. Lewis Clark established Churchill Downs in 1874. They built the track on a farm owned by a family named Churchill. The track opened on May 17, 1875, and held the first Kentucky Derby on its opening program. Clark modeled the race after the Epsom Derby, held every year in Epsom, England. From 1875 to 1895, horses in the Kentucky Derby raced 11/2 miles (2.41 kilometers). In 1896, the race was shortened to 11/4 miles (2.01 kilometers).
