50 Fun Facts About Kentucky Derby Quiz

What year was the first Kentucky Derby held?

The first Kentucky Derby was held on May 17, 1875, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

Which horse won the very first Kentucky Derby?

Aristides, ridden by jockey Oliver Lewis, won the inaugural Kentucky Derby in 1875. He was originally entered as a pacemaker for his stablemate Chesapeake.

What is the Kentucky Derby commonly nicknamed?

The Kentucky Derby is known as 'The Run for the Roses,' a nickname coined by sports columnist Bill Corum in 1925, referring to the garland of roses draped over the winner.

At which racetrack is the Kentucky Derby held?

The Kentucky Derby is held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The track was built by Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr. on land owned by his cousins John and Henry Churchill.

What is the current distance of the Kentucky Derby?

The Kentucky Derby is run at a distance of 1 and 1/4 miles (10 furlongs). The race was originally 1 and 1/2 miles but was shortened to its current distance in 1896.

Which horse holds the record for the fastest Kentucky Derby time?

Secretariat set the Kentucky Derby record in 1973 with a time of 1:59 2/5 (1:59.40), a record that still stands. He went on to win the Triple Crown that year.

What traditional beverage is most associated with the Kentucky Derby?

The Mint Julep, made with bourbon, mint, sugar, and crushed ice, has been the traditional beverage of the Kentucky Derby for nearly a century. Churchill Downs serves approximately 120,000 mint juleps over the Derby weekend.

What song is traditionally played as horses walk to the starting gate at the Kentucky Derby?

'My Old Kentucky Home' by Stephen Foster has been performed by the University of Louisville Marching Band as the horses make their way from the paddock to the starting gate since 1936.

How many roses make up the garland draped over the Kentucky Derby winner?

The garland of roses contains 426 roses in the actual blanket, with additional roses in the fronds on each side. The full arrangement weighs approximately 40 pounds.

Which famous Triple Crown winner was nicknamed 'Big Red'?

Secretariat was famously nicknamed 'Big Red' due to his striking chestnut coat. He won the Triple Crown in 1973, setting records in all three races.

Which two jockeys share the record for most Kentucky Derby wins with five each?

Eddie Arcaro and Bill Hartack each won the Kentucky Derby five times, sharing the all-time jockey record for the race.

Who founded Churchill Downs and organized the first Kentucky Derby?

Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr., grandson of explorer William Clark, founded Churchill Downs and organized the first Kentucky Derby in 1875. He built the track on land owned by his cousins John and Henry Churchill.

The Kentucky Derby is often called 'the most exciting' how many minutes 'in sports'?

The Kentucky Derby is nicknamed 'the most exciting two minutes in sports' because the race typically lasts approximately two minutes from start to finish.

Which horse was the first Triple Crown winner in history?

Sir Barton became the first Triple Crown winner in 1919, winning the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. He also notably broke his maiden in the Kentucky Derby itself.

What architectural feature is the most recognizable symbol of Churchill Downs?

The Twin Spires atop Churchill Downs' grandstand are the track's most iconic symbol. They were added by architect Joseph Baldez, who felt the structure needed something to give it a striking appearance.

Which trainer is tied with Ben Jones for the most Kentucky Derby wins at six?

Bob Baffert tied Ben Jones with six Kentucky Derby wins when Authentic won in 2020. Baffert also trained two Triple Crown winners: American Pharoah (2015) and Justify (2018).

In which city is Churchill Downs located?

Churchill Downs is located in Louisville, Kentucky. The track has been the home of the Kentucky Derby since the race's inception in 1875.

Which filly was the first to win the Kentucky Derby?

Regret became the first filly to win the Kentucky Derby in 1915. Only two other fillies have won since: Genuine Risk in 1980 and Winning Colors in 1988.

What is the largest margin of victory in Kentucky Derby history?

The record margin of victory is eight lengths, achieved by four different horses: Old Rosebud (1914), Johnstown (1939), Whirlaway (1941), and Assault (1946).

Which longshot winner paid the highest return to bettors in Kentucky Derby history?

Donerail in 1913 paid $184.90 on a $2 bet as a 91-1 longshot, making it the biggest upset payout in Kentucky Derby history.

Which horse ended a 37-year Triple Crown drought in 2015?

American Pharoah won the Triple Crown in 2015, ending a 37-year drought since Affirmed completed the feat in 1978. He was trained by Bob Baffert.

What was the original distance of the Kentucky Derby when it began in 1875?

The Kentucky Derby was originally run at 1 and 1/2 miles. The distance was shortened to the current 1 and 1/4 miles in 1896.

Which horse race inspired Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr. to create the Kentucky Derby?

Clark modeled the Kentucky Derby after the Epsom Derby in England, one of the oldest and most prestigious horse races in the world.

How many fillies have won the Kentucky Derby in its entire history?

Only three fillies have won the Kentucky Derby: Regret (1915), Genuine Risk (1980), and Winning Colors (1988).

Which Triple Crown winner also set the still-standing Belmont Stakes record of 2:24 in 1973?

Secretariat won the 1973 Belmont Stakes by an astonishing 31 lengths, setting a track record of 2:24 that still stands.

What color are the roses in the Kentucky Derby winner's garland?

The garland is made of red roses. The tradition of awarding roses to the Kentucky Derby winner began in 1896.

Which horse won the 2018 Triple Crown, completing it undefeated?

Justify won the Triple Crown in 2018 while remaining undefeated in his career, trained by Bob Baffert. He was only the second undefeated Triple Crown winner after Seattle Slew in 1977.

Approximately how many mint juleps are served at Churchill Downs over the Kentucky Derby weekend?

Churchill Downs serves approximately 120,000 mint juleps over the two-day Kentucky Derby event, making it one of the largest cocktail-serving events in the world.

What is the circumference of the main dirt track at Churchill Downs?

The main dirt oval track at Churchill Downs is one mile in circumference and is 79-80 feet wide.

Which horse won the 2022 Kentucky Derby as a massive 80-1 longshot?

Rich Strike stunned the racing world by winning the 2022 Kentucky Derby at 80-1 odds, paying $163.60 on a $2 win bet. He was only added to the field after a late scratch.

What three races make up horse racing's Triple Crown?

The Triple Crown consists of the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes (at Pimlico in Baltimore), and the Belmont Stakes (at Belmont Park in New York).

In what year did the tradition of singing 'My Old Kentucky Home' at the Derby begin?

The tradition of playing 'My Old Kentucky Home' began in 1936, performed by the University of Louisville Marching Band as the horses make their way from the paddock to the starting gate.

Which trainer won four Kentucky Derbies including Winning Colors in 1988 and Thunder Gulch in 1995?

D. Wayne Lukas trained four Kentucky Derby winners: Winning Colors (1988), Thunder Gulch (1995), Grindstone (1996), and Charismatic (1999).

What is the most common coat color among Kentucky Derby winners?

Bay is the most common color among Kentucky Derby winners with 57, followed by chestnut with 50 and brown with 17.

Which 1941 Triple Crown winner was known for his dramatic come-from-behind running style and distinctive long tail?

Whirlaway, trained by Ben Jones, was famous for his dramatic closing kicks and his unusually long tail. He won the 1941 Triple Crown and the Kentucky Derby by eight lengths.

Which jockey rode Mine That Bird to a stunning upset victory in the 2009 Kentucky Derby?

Calvin Borel rode Mine That Bird to a shocking 50-1 upset win in the 2009 Kentucky Derby, navigating the rail in a brilliant ride. Borel won three Kentucky Derbies total.

How many horses have broken the two-minute barrier in the Kentucky Derby?

Only two horses have run the Kentucky Derby in under two minutes: Secretariat in 1973 (1:59.40) and Monarchos in 2001 (1:59.97).

What is the purse amount for the Kentucky Derby as of 2024?

The Kentucky Derby purse was increased to $5 million in 2024, with the first-place winner receiving $3.1 million.

Approximately how much does the garland of roses placed on the Kentucky Derby winner weigh?

The garland of roses weighs approximately 40 pounds. It is 2.5 yards long and 14 inches wide, with each rose having its own hidden water vial inside the lining.

Which horse won the 1948 Triple Crown, the last in a 25-year drought before Secretariat?

Citation won the Triple Crown in 1948, trained by Ben Jones. There would not be another Triple Crown winner until Secretariat in 1973, a gap of 25 years.

The Kentucky Derby is the longest continuously held annual sporting event in which country?

The Kentucky Derby is the longest continuously held annual sporting event in the United States, running uninterrupted since 1875.

Which horse won the 1977 Triple Crown as the first ever undefeated Triple Crown winner?

Seattle Slew won the 1977 Triple Crown while undefeated, the first horse to accomplish this feat. Justify later matched it in 2018.

Who was the jockey aboard Aristides for the first Kentucky Derby in 1875?

Oliver Lewis rode Aristides to victory in the first Kentucky Derby in 1875. Lewis was one of several African American jockeys who dominated the early years of the Derby.

What fashion accessory is most famously associated with Kentucky Derby spectators?

Elaborate and fashionable hats are the most iconic accessory worn by Kentucky Derby spectators. The tradition dates back to the late 1800s when hats signified social status.

In which year did Churchill Downs set its all-time attendance record of 170,513?

Churchill Downs set its all-time attendance record of 170,513 spectators during the 2015 Kentucky Derby, the same year American Pharoah began his Triple Crown run.

Which horse broke his maiden (won his first race ever) in the 1919 Kentucky Derby on the way to becoming the first Triple Crown winner?

Sir Barton entered the 1919 Kentucky Derby without a single victory, yet won the race and went on to sweep all three Triple Crown races, becoming the first Triple Crown winner in history.

Which sportswriter coined the term 'Run for the Roses' for the Kentucky Derby?

Sports columnist Bill Corum coined the phrase 'Run for the Roses' in 1925. He later served as president of Churchill Downs from 1949 until his death in 1958.

What happened in the 2019 Kentucky Derby that was unprecedented in the race's history?

In the 2019 Kentucky Derby, Maximum Security crossed the finish line first but was disqualified for interference, marking the first time in Derby history that a winner was taken down. Country House was declared the official winner.

On which day of the week is the Kentucky Derby traditionally run?

The Kentucky Derby is traditionally held on the first Saturday in May each year.

Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr., the founder of Churchill Downs, was the grandson of which famous American explorer?

Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr. was the grandson of William Clark, the famous explorer of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Despite sharing a first name with Meriwether Lewis, he was descended from Clark.