Kentucky Derby History: Winners, Creator, and More

Do you know the history of the Kentucky Derby?

The first Saturday in May is upon us, which means it’s time for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. The top thoroughbred horses will be running for the roses at the historic racetrack. Here’s everything you need to know about the Kentucky Derby history, winners, and more.

First Kentucky Derby and History

The Kentucky Derby is held annually on the first Saturday in May. Twenty horses compete in the first leg of the Triple Crown. The first Kentucky Derby traces all the way back to 1875. Churchill Downs opened that year, and the first-ever Derby raced on May 17. A horse named Aristides claimed victory.

In the first Kentucky Derby, 13 of the 15 jockeys were black, including Oliver Lewis. Lewis rode Aristides to win the Derby in 1875. Burns Murphy – one of the most famous riders in the sport’s history – was the first jockey to ride the winning horse three times, as he won in 1884, 1890, and 1891.

In 1895, the twin-spired grandstand was completed at the racetrack. Since then, the Derby has been one of the biggest events in the United States.

Race Length

The current derby is a 1.25-mile race that usually takes around 120 seconds to complete. This is why the sporting event in the United States is called the greatest two minutes in sports. The race actually started at 1.5 miles back in 1875. Aristides won by a one-quarter length over the second-place finisher in the 12-furlong race. The race was shortened to 1.25 miles in 1896.

Who Created the Kentucky Derby Horse Race?

The creator of the Kentucky Derby was Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr. He was the grandson of the famous explorer William Clark who traveled the western United States with Lewis Clark. Traveling the world helped spring the idea of the Derby. Clark Jr. traveled to Europe and met prominent figures in the horse racing business.

Clark Jr. ended up building a racing track on land owned by his uncles John and Henry Churchill. Later, he named the racetrack Churchill Downs in their honor. In 2023, we will see the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby.

Kentucky Derby Traditions

Festivals, galas, and more fill the week leading up to the Saturday at Churchill Downs. Fancy hats are a big deal as women pull out all the stops with elaborate hats while attending the event. These hats usually include wide brims, jewelry, feathers, and more.

Also, the winning horse is typically covered with a blanket made up of red roses. This is one of the reasons it’s called “running for the roses” and that nickname came about back in 1925.

Recent Winners of the Kentucky Derby

There has been plenty of drama over the years as the top horses have won the Kentucky Derby in front of thousands of spectators. Here’s a look at some of the recent winners.

2022: Rich Strike (Sonny Leon)

2021: Mandaloun (Florent Geroux)

2020: Authentic (John R. Velazquez)

2019: Country House (Flavien House)

2018: Justify (Mike E. Smith)

2017: Always Dreaming (John R. Velazquez)

2016: Nyquist (Mario Guitierrez)

2015: American Pharoah (Victor Espinoza)

Justify and American Pharoah each went on to win the Triple Crown after winning on Derby day. American Pharoah was the first Triple Crown winner since 1978.

Secretariat still holds the record for the fastest derby time. The horse ran a sub-two-minute finish at 1:59.40 back in 1973 for the fastest time ever. Monarchos came close to breaking the record in 2001 after running the race in 1:59.97 for the second-fastest time ever.

2023 Kentucky Derby

This year, some of the top horses competing at the Churchill Downs racetrack include Tapit Trice, Forte, Angel of Empire, and more.

Here’s a look at the full field for the greatest two minutes in sports. The 149th Kentucky Derby begins on NBC at 6:57 p.m. ET.

  1. Hit Show (30-1)
  2. Verifying (15-1)
  3. Two Phil’s (12-1)
  4. Confidence Game (20-1)
  5. Tapit Trice (5-1)
  6. Kingsbarns (12-1)
  7. Reincarnate (50-1)
  8. Mage (15-1)
  9. Skinner (20-1)
  10. Practical Move (10-1) (Withdrawn due to illness)
  11. Disarm (30-1)
  12. Jace’s Road (50-1)
  13. Sun Thunder (50-1)
  14. Angel of Empire (8-1)
  15. Forte (3-1)
  16. Raise Cain (50-1)
  17. Derma Sotogake (JPN) (10-1)
  18. Rocket Can (30-1)
  19. Lord Miles (30-1)
  20. Continuar (JPN) (50-1)
  21. Cyclone Mischief (30-1)
  22. Mandarin Hero (JPN) (20-1)
  23. King Russell (50-1)

The largest running sporting event sees some of the top horses that have already won a few events earlier this year. Practical Move won the Santa Anita Derby while Forte won the Florida Derby. Practical Move was recently scratched from the Derby due to an elevated temperature.

If any of these horses can pick up a victory in the first big race of the year, they have a shot to win the Triple Crown with the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes to follow.

Kentucky Derby History FAQs

When is the 2023 Kentucky Derby?

The 2023 Derby is on Saturday, May 6 at 6:57 p.m. ET. You can watch the Derby on NBC or its streaming option Peacock.

When was the first race at the Kentucky Derby and who won?

The first Derby winner was Aristides and jockey Oliver Lewis all the way back in 1875.

Why is it called Churchill Downs?

Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr. named the racetrack after his uncles John and Henry Churchill. He built the racetrack on their land.

Why is it called “running for the roses?”

Winning horses receive a blanket of roses after being victorious. The red rose is the official flower of the Kentucky Derby.

Kentucky Derby Resources

  • Kentucky Derby History
  • Kentucky Derby Horses
  • How to Bet the Kentucky Derby
  • Best Kentucky Derby Betting Sites
  • Best Kentucky Betting Sites
  • written by

    Sam hails from Grandville, Michigan. He has a rich sports background, including playing baseball at Central Michigan before covering high school sports and working with the Orlando Magic. He earned his broadcasting/journalism degree from Central Michigan University and was a member of the 2010 MAC Championship baseball team. Sam developed his expertise while working with Betsperts, Bleacher Nation, and 4for4 in various areas such as writing, social media, betting research, and business development. He's a big fan of the NBA, NFL, and MLB, highly interested in data and statistics.

    more news news

    Champions League Quarterfinal Draw Revealed: Real Madrid vs Manchester City, PSG vs Barcelona, More

    The Champions League Quarterfinal draw is out and we are set for the next round in the top competition for Europe's soccer clubs. We have some amazing matchups with plenty of storylines as the field has been narrowed down to...

    The 2024 PLAYERS Sleeper Picks: Target Adam Hadwin and Aaron Rai as Profitable Long Shots

    Finding PLAYERS Sleeper Picks may not be easy considering the strong field, but with this many good golfers competing, there are bound to be some big prices on guys who can compete here. The PLAYERS Championship, held annually at TPC...

    2024 THE PLAYERS Championship Tee Times, TV Channel, Live Stream

    THE PLAYERS Championship 2024: Stars Align at TPC Sawgrass for a Million-Dollar Showdown The stage is set and the pristine greens of TPC Sawgrass await. THE PLAYERS Championship brings together the world's best golfers for a week of high-stakes competition...

    Baker Mayfield to Sign Three-Year Contract with Buccaneers

    The next quarterback domino fell on Sunday as Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers worked on a deal to keep the signal caller in Tampa Bay for three more years. That came on the heels of former New England quarterback Mac...

    Top 5 Active North Carolina NASCAR Drivers

    This article about the Top 5 Active North Carolina NASCAR drivers and is part of a series of top North Carolina athletes and teams. As North Carolina sports betting gets set to launch on March 11th, take a look at the top...

    Top Las Vegas Raiders Free Agent Targets

    The Las Vegas Raiders had an interesting season in 2023 that included a change at QB and head coach. The latter change resulted in a full-time gig for Antonio Pierce. So as we head to 2024 with Pierce at the...

    UFC 299: Preview, Odds, How to Watch, Sean O’Malley vs Marlon Vera’s Big Main Event & More

    The highly anticipated UFC 299 has arrived! Tomorrow night at the Kaseya Center in Miami we have a jam-packed card headlined by the rematch of Sean O'Malley and Marlon Vera with the bantamweight title on the line in a five-round...

    Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson Fight Announced for July 20

    This is just WILD news. On July 20th at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, internet-star-turned-boxer Jake Paul will take on Mike Tyson in a boxing match. The fight will be the main event of a card that will be airing on...

    Top 5 New York Jets Free Agent Targets

    The Jets made a splash by bringing in Aaron Rodgers and a bunch of his friends ahead of last season. However, any hopes of truly competing were dashed just four plays into the year when Rodgers suffered a torn Achilles....

    Top 5 Seattle Seahawks Free Agent Targets

    The Seattle Seahawks were surprisingly very competitive in 2023, but many of their key contributors, especially on defense, are unrestricted free agents. This has left massive holes to fill on that side of the ball. This means most of the...

    Latest News

    Nuggets vs. Timberwolves Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets – Tuesday, March 19, 2024

    The Minnesota Timberwolves (47-21) are underdogs (+7) as they try to build on a three-game win streak when they host the Denver Nuggets (47-21) at 9:00 PM ET on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at Target Center. The game airs on...

    Mavericks vs. Spurs Predictions, Best Bets and Odds – Tuesday, March 19, 2024

    Southwest Division opponents square off when the Dallas Mavericks (39-29) visit the San Antonio Spurs (15-53) at AT&T Center, tipping off at 8:00 PM ET on Tuesday, March 19, 2024. The Mavericks are 8.5-point favorites in the game, the fourth...

    Pelicans vs. Nets Predictions, Best Bets and Odds – Tuesday, March 19, 2024

    The Brooklyn Nets (26-42) will try to break a three-game losing streak when they host the New Orleans Pelicans (41-26) on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at Barclays Center as 8.5-point underdogs. The matchup airs at 7:30 PM ET on YES....

    Nuggets vs. Timberwolves Predictions, Best Bets and Odds – Tuesday, March 19, 2024

    The Minnesota Timberwolves (47-21) are 7-point underdogs as they try to extend a three-game winning streak when they host the Denver Nuggets (47-21) on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at Target Center. The contest airs at 9:00 PM ET on NBA....

    Canucks vs. Sabres Prediction: Odds, Picks, Best Bets – Tuesday, March 19, 2024

    The Vancouver Canucks are fancied by oddsmakers to defeat the Buffalo Sabres when they match up on Tuesday at 10:00 PM ET, with the Canucks at -205 on the moneyline, and the visiting Sabres at +170.Canucks vs. Sabres Favorite, Moneyline,...

    OH MY: ANTHONY EDWARDS JUST HAD THE BEST DUNK OF THE YEAR

    Anthony Edwards has done it again. The emerging Minnesota Timberwolves superstar jammed the most impressive poster dunk of the season against the Utah Jazz on Monday night. Pushing the pace in transition during the third quarter, Edwards passed the ball...

    De’Aaron Fox Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Grizzlies – Monday, March 18, 2024

    To beat his 3-point prop, De'Aaron Fox must make three from beyond the arc on Monday, when his Sacramento Kings face the Memphis Grizzlies, tipping off at 10:00 PM ET.De'Aaron Fox's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the GrizzliesDe'Aaron Fox's over/under for...

    Malik Monk Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Grizzlies – Monday, March 18, 2024

    Will Malik Monk make three 3-pointers when the Sacramento Kings face the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday at 10:00 PM ET? If so, he'll beat his prop for the game.Malik Monk's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the GrizzliesMalik Monk's over/under for three-pointers...

    Bogdan Bogdanovic Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Lakers – Monday, March 18, 2024

    At 10:30 PM ET on Monday, it'll be the Atlanta Hawks against the Los Angeles Lakers, with Bogdan Bogdanovic needing three trifectas to beat his 3-pointer prop.Bogdan Bogdanovic's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the LakersBogdan Bogdanovic's over/under for three-pointers in this...

    Anthony Davis Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Hawks – Monday, March 18, 2024

    The Los Angeles Lakers face the Atlanta Hawks at 10:30 PM ET on Monday, and one of the 3-pointer over/unders available for this clash requires just one make from Anthony Davis.Anthony Davis' Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the HawksAnthony Davis' over/under...

    more news news