Kentucky Derby in History

Events in Sport

Events 1 - 100 of 154

  • 1875-05-17 1st Kentucky Derby: Oliver Lewis aboard Aristides wins in 2:37.75
  • 1876-05-15 2nd Kentucky Derby: Bobby Swim aboard Vagrant wins in 2:38.25
  • 1877-05-22 3rd Kentucky Derby: Billy Walker aboard Baden-Baden wins in 2:38
  • 1878-05-21 4th Kentucky Derby: Jimmy Carter aboard Day Star wins in 2:37.25
  • 1879-05-20 5th Kentucky Derby: Charlie Shauer aboard Lord Murphy wins in 2:37
  • 1880-05-18 6th Kentucky Derby: George Garrett Lewis aboard Fonso wins in 2:37.5; race run in estimated 5 inch deep dust
  • 1881-05-17 7th Kentucky Derby: HOF jockey Jim McLaughlin aboard heavy favourite Hindoo wins in 2:40.00
  • 1881-09-01 The Dwyer Brothers' 3-year-old Kentucky Derby winner Hindoo wins his 19th consecutive race, a purse event at Sheepshead Bay; winning streak snapped 6 days later in the September Handicap at Sheepshead
  • 1882-05-16 8th Kentucky Derby: Babe Hurd aboard Apollo wins in 2:40.00
  • 1883-05-23 9th Kentucky Derby: William Donohue aboard Leonatus wins in 2:43
  • 1884-05-16 10th Kentucky Derby: Isaac Murphy aboard Buchanan wins in 2:40.25
  • 1885-05-14 11th Kentucky Derby: Babe Henderson aboard Joe Cotton wins in 2:37.25
  • 1886-05-14 12th Kentucky Derby: Paul Duffy aboard Ben Ali wins in 2:36.50
  • 1887-05-11 13th Kentucky Derby: Isaac Lewis aboard Montrose wins in 2:39.25
  • 1888-05-14 14th Kentucky Derby: George Covington aboard MacBeth II wins in 2:38.00
  • 1889-05-09 15th Kentucky Derby: Thomas Kiley aboard Spokane wins in 2:34.50
  • 1890-05-14 16th Kentucky Derby: Isaac Murphy aboard Riley wins in 2:45
  • 1891-05-13 17th Kentucky Derby: Isaac Murphy aboard Kingman wins in 2:52.25
  • 1892-05-11 18th Kentucky Derby: Lonnie Clayton aboard Azra wins in 2:41½
  • 1893-05-10 19th Kentucky Derby: Eddie Kunze aboard Lookout wins in 2:39.25
  • 1894-05-15 20th Kentucky Derby: Frank Goodale aboard Chant wins in 2:41
  • 1895-05-06 21st Kentucky Derby: James "Soup" Perkins aboard Halma wins last KD run over a distance of 1.5 miles (2.4km)
  • 1896-05-06 22nd Kentucky Derby: Willie Simms aboard Ben Brush wins first Derby held at the current distance of 1.25 miles (2.0km)
  • 1897-05-04 23rd Kentucky Derby: Buttons Garner aboard Typhoon II wins in 2:12.5
  • 1898-05-04 24th Kentucky Derby: Willie Simms aboard Plaudit wins in 2:09
  • 1899-05-04 25th Kentucky Derby: Fred Taral aboard Manuel wins in 2:12
  • 1900-05-03 26th Kentucky Derby: Jimmy Boland aboard Lieut Gibson wins in 2:06.25
  • 1901-04-29 27th Kentucky Derby: Jimmy Winkfield on His Eminence wins in 2:07.75
  • 1902-05-03 28th Kentucky Derby: Jimmy Winkfield on Alan-a-Dale wins in 2:08.75
  • 1903-05-02 29th Kentucky Derby: Hal Booker riding Judge Himes wins in 2:09
  • 1904-05-02 30th Kentucky Derby: Shorty Prior riding Elwood wins in 2:08.50
  • 1905-05-10 31st Kentucky Derby: Jack Martin aboard Agile wins in 2:100.75
  • 1906-05-02 32nd Kentucky Derby: Roscoe Troxler aboard Sir Huon wins in 2:08.8
  • 1907-05-06 33rd Kentucky Derby: In muddy conditions and against a reduced field Andy Minder aboard Pink Star wins in a slow 2:12.6
  • 1908-05-05 34th Kentucky Derby: Arthur Pickens aboard 66-1 chance Stone Street wins in muddy track conditions; 2:15.20 slowest Derby in history
  • 1909-05-03 35th Kentucky Derby: Vincent Powers on Wintergreen wins in 2:08.2
  • 1910-05-10 36th Kentucky Derby: Fred Herbert aboard Donau wins in 2:06.4
  • 1911-05-13 37th Kentucky Derby: George Archibald aboard Meridian wins in 2:05
  • 1912-05-11 38th Kentucky Derby: Carol H Shilling aboard Worth wins in 2:09.4
  • 1913-05-10 39th Kentucky Derby: Roscoe Goose aboard Donerail wins in 2:04.8
  • 1914-05-09 40th Kentucky Derby: John McCabe aboard Old Rosebud wins in 2:03.4
  • 1915-05-08 41st Kentucky Derby: Joe Notter aboard Regret wins in 2:05.4
  • 1916-05-13 42nd Kentucky Derby: Johnny Loftus aboard George Smith wins in 2:04
  • 1917-05-12 43rd Kentucky Derby: Charles Borel on Omar Khayyam wins in 2:04.6
  • 1918-05-11 44th Kentucky Derby: William Knapp on Exterminator wins in 2:10.8
  • 1919-05-10 45th Kentucky Derby: Johnny Loftus aboard Sir Barton wins in 2:09.8 on way to first Triple Crown
  • 1920-05-08 46th Kentucky Derby: Ted Rice aboard Paul Jones wins by a head from Upset in 2:09
  • 1921-05-07 47th Kentucky Derby: Charles Thompson on Behave Yourself wins 2:04.2
  • 1922-05-13 48th Kentucky Derby: Albert Johnson aboard Morvich wins in 2:04.6

49th Kentucky Derby

1923-05-19 49th Kentucky Derby: Earl Sande wins aboard Zev for his first Derby success

  • 1924-05-17 50th Kentucky Derby: John Mooney aboard Black Gold wins in 2:05.2
  • 1925-05-16 51st Kentucky Derby: Earl Sande aboard Flying Ebony wins in 2:07.6
  • 1926-05-15 52nd Kentucky Derby: Albert Johnson on Bubbling Over wins in 2:03.8
  • 1927-05-14 53rd Kentucky Derby: HOF jockey Linus McAtee aboard Whiskery defeats Osmand by a nose in the stretch in 2:06
  • 1928-05-19 54th Kentucky Derby: Chick Lang aboard Reigh Count wins in 2:10.4
  • 1929-05-18 55th Kentucky Derby: Hall of Fame jockey Linus McAtee on 3-1 chance Clyde Van Dusen wins in 2:10.8 on a muddy track
  • 1930-05-17 56th Kentucky Derby: Earl Sande aboard Gallant Fox wins in 2:07.6
  • 1931-05-16 57th Kentucky Derby: Charley Kurtsinger on Twenty Grand wins 2:01.8
  • 1932-05-07 58th Kentucky Derby: Eugene James aboard Burgoo King wins in 2:05.2
  • 1933-05-06 59th Kentucky Derby: Don Meade aboard Brokers Tip wins in 2:06.8
  • 1934-05-05 60th Kentucky Derby: Mack Garner aboard Cavalcade wins in 2:04
  • 1934-07-07 Mary Hirsch, daughter of 3-time Kentucky Derby winning trainer Max Hirsch, becomes first woman to be licensed to train thoroughbred horses in the United States
  • 1935-05-04 61st Kentucky Derby: Willie Saunders aboard Omaha wins in 2:05
  • 1936-05-02 62nd Kentucky Derby: Ira Hanford aboard Bold Venture wins in 2:03.6
  • 1937-05-08 63rd Kentucky Derby: Charley Kurtsinger on War Admiral wins 2:03.2

64th Kentucky Derby

1938-05-07 64th Kentucky Derby: Eddie Arcaro aboard Lawrin scores first of record 5 Derby wins

  • 1939-05-06 65th Kentucky Derby: James Stout aboard Johnstown wins in 2:03.4
  • 1940-05-04 66th Kentucky Derby: Carroll Bierman aboard Gallahadion wins in 2:05
  • 1941-05-03 67th Kentucky Derby: Eddie Arcaro aboard Whirlaway, 1st leg of successful Triple Crown
  • 1942-05-02 68th Kentucky Derby: Wayne D Wright aboard Shut Out wins in 2:04.4

69th Kentucky Derby

1943-05-01 69th Kentucky Derby: Johnny Longden wins aboard heavy favourite Count Fleet in the 'street car Derby'

  • 1944-05-06 70th Kentucky Derby: Conn McCreary aboard Pensive wins in 2:04.2
  • 1945-06-09 71st Kentucky Derby: Eddie Arcaro aboard Hoop Jr scores his third of record 5 Derby wins
  • 1946-05-04 72nd Kentucky Derby: Warren Mehrtens aboard Assault wins in 2:06.6
  • 1947-05-03 73rd Kentucky Derby: Eric Guerin aboard Jet Pilot wins in 2:06.8
  • 1948-05-01 74th Kentucky Derby: Eddie Arcaro wins aboard Citation to become first 4-time Derby winning jockey
  • 1949-05-07 75th Kentucky Derby: Steve Brooks aboard Ponder wins in 2:04.2
  • 1950-05-06 76th Kentucky Derby: William Boland on Middleground wins in 2:01.6
  • 1951-05-05 77th Kentucky Derby: Conn McCreary aboard Count Turf wins in 2:02.6
  • 1952-05-03 78th Kentucky Derby: Eddie Arcaro aboard Hill Gail wins his record fifth Derby
  • 1953-05-02 79th Kentucky Derby: Hank Moreno aboard Dark Star wins in 2:02
  • 1954-05-01 80th Kentucky Derby: Raymond York wins aboard Determine, his only Derby success

81st Kentucky Derby

1955-05-07 81st Kentucky Derby: Bill Shoemaker aboard Swaps wins in 2:01.8

  • 1956-05-05 82nd Kentucky Derby: David Erb aboard Needles wins in 2:03.4
  • 1957-05-04 83rd Kentucky Derby: Bill Hartack aboard Iron Liege wins in 2:02.2
  • 1958-05-03 84th Kentucky Derby: Ismael Valenzuela aboard Tim Tam wins in 2:05
  • 1959-05-02 85th Kentucky Derby: Bill Shoemaker aboard Tomy Lee wins in 2:02.2
  • 1960-05-07 86th Kentucky Derby: Bill Hartack on Venetian Way wins in 2:02.4
  • 1961-05-06 87th Kentucky Derby: John Sellers aboard Carry Back wins in 2:04
  • 1962-05-05 88th Kentucky Derby: Bill Hartack aboard Decidedly wins in 2:00.4
  • 1963-05-04 89th Kentucky Derby: Braulio Baeza aboard Chateaugay wins in 2:01.8
  • 1964-05-02 90th Kentucky Derby: Bill Hartack aboard Northern Dancer wins in 2:00
  • 1965-05-01 91st Kentucky Derby: Bill Shoemaker wins aboard Lucky Debonair, the third of his 4 Derby victories
  • 1966-05-07 92nd Kentucky Derby: Donald Brumfield aboard Kauai King wins in 2:02
  • 1967-05-06 93rd Kentucky Derby: Bobby Ussery on Proud Clarion wins in 2:00.6
  • 1968-05-04 94th Kentucky Derby: Ismael Valenzuela aboard Forward Pass wins
  • 1969-05-03 95th Kentucky Derby: Bill Hartack on Majestic Prince wins in 2:01.8
  • 1970-05-02 1st woman jockey at Kentucky Derby (Diane Crump)
  • 1970-05-02 96th Kentucky Derby: Mike Manganello on Dust Commander wins 2:03.4
  • 1971-05-01 97th Kentucky Derby: Gustavo Ávila wins aboard Canonero II (wins Preakness May 15)

Birthdays in Sport

  • 1859-12-12 Edward R. Bradley, American businessman and horse owner (1st to own 4 Kentucky Derby winners), born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania (d. 1946)
  • 1861-02-12 Jim McLaughlin, American Hall of Fame thoroughbred jockey (Kentucky Derby 1881, Preakness Stakes 1885, 6 x Belmont Stakes), born in Hartford, Connecticut (d. 1927)
  • 1870-01-16 Willie Simms, American jockey (US Champion Jockey by wins 1893, 94; Kentucky Derby 1896, 98; Preakness Stakes 1898; Belmont Stakes 1893, 94), born in Augusta, Georgia (d. 1927)
  • 1879-02-28 James "Soup" Perkins, American jockey (Kentucky Derby 1985; winningest jockey in America 1895), born in Lexington, Kentucky (d. 1911)
  • 1882-12-31 Ben A. Jones, American horse trainer (US Champion trainer by earnings 1941, 43, 44, 52; Kentucky Derby x 6 including Citation, Whirlaway), born in Parnell, Missouri (d. 1961)
  • 1898-10-05 Linus McAtee, American Hall of Fame jockey (Preakness Stakes 1916; Kentucky Derby 1927, 29; US Champion Jockey by earnings 1928), born in Frenchtown, New Jersey (d. 1963)

Earl Sande (1898-1968)

1898-11-13 American HOF jockey (Triple Crown 1930 Gallant Fox; 3 x Kentucky Derby; 5 x Belmont Stakes; 1 x Preakness Stakes; 3 x US Champion Jockey by earnings; US Champion Trainer by earnings 1938), born in Groton, South Dakota

  • 1925-08-29 Loyd Gentry, American thoroughbred trainer (Kentucky Derby 1967 Proud Clarion), born in Covington, Kentucky (d. 2012)

Bill Shoemaker (1931-2003)

1931-08-19 American Racing Hall of Fame jockey (8,833 career victories, Kentucky Derby 1955, 59, 65, 86), born in Fabens, Texas

  • 1935-09-03 Bobby Ussery, American thoroughbred horse racing HOF jockey (Preakness Stakes 1960; Kentucky Derby 1967), born in Vian, Oklahoma (d. 2023)
  • 1938-06-14 Gustavo Ávila, Venezuelan jockey (Kentucky Derby/Preakness 1971), born in Caracas, Venezuela
  • 1940-03-26 Braulio Baeza, American jockey, 1st Latin American to win Kentucky Derby (National Horse Racing Hall of Fame), born in Panama City

Ángel Cordero Jr. (81 years old)

1942-11-08 Puerto Rican jockey (Kentucky Derby 1974, 76, 85; US Racing Hall of Fame), born in Santurce, Puerto Rico

  • 1945-08-02 John T. Ward Jr., American racehorse trainer (Kentucky Derby 2001 Monarchos; Breeders' Cup Distaff 1999 Beautiful Pleasure), born in Lexington, Kentucky (d. 2021)
  • 1946-12-28 Jorge Velásquez, Panamanian Hall of Fame jockey (Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes 1981; 6,795 career wins), born in Chepo, Panama
  • 1951-09-21 Ed Delahoussaye, American Racing Hall of Fame jockey (1982-83 Kentucky Derby), born in New Iberia, Louisiana
  • 1957-08-29 Jerry D. Bailey, American Racing Hall of Fame jockey/broadcaster (Kentucky Derby 1993, 1996), born in Dallas, Texas
  • 1961-05-01 Steven Cauthen, American Hall of Fame jockey (Triple Crown 1978-Affirmed, Epsom Derby 1985, 87; Ascot Gold Cup 1984, 87), born in Covington, Kentucky
  • 1965-03-01 Stewart Elliott, Canadian jockey (2004 Kentucky Derby & Preakness on Smarty Jones), born in Toronto, Ontario
  • 1966-01-06 Chris Antley, American Racing Hall of Fame jockey (Kentucky Derby 1991, 1999; Preakness 1999), born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida (d. 2000)
  • 1966-11-07 Calvin Borel, American Racing Hall of Fame jockey (Kentucky Derby 2007, 09, 10), born in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana

Kent Desormeaux (54 years old)

1970-02-27 American thoroughbred jockey (Kentucky Derby 1998, 2000, 08; Preakness Stakes 1998, 2008, 16; Belmont Stakes 2009; US Champion Jockey by wins 1987, 88, 89), born in Maurice, Louisiana

  • 1971-11-24 John Velasquez, Puerto Rican jockey (Kentucky Derby 2011, 17, 20; Belmont Stakes 2007, 12), born in Carolina, Puerto Rico
  • 1985-01-14 Joel Rosario, Dominican jockey (Kentucky Derby, Dubai World Cup 2013; Belmont Stakes 2014, 19), born in San Francisco, Dominican Republic
  • 1986-07-16 Florent Geroux, French jockey (Breeders' Cup Classic 2017; Kentucky Derby 2021), born in Argentan, France
  • 1992-08-04 Flavien Prat, French jockey (Kentucky Derby 2019; Preakness Stakes 2021; Prix Marcel Boussac 2013), born in Melun, Seine-et-Marne, France

Deaths in Sport

  • 1911-08-10 James "Soup" Perkins, American jockey (Kentucky Derby 1985; winningest jockey in America 1895), dies from a heart attack at 32
  • 1927-01-19 Jim McLaughlin, American Hall of Fame thoroughbred jockey (Kentucky Derby 1881, Preakness Stakes 1885, 6 x Belmont Stakes), dies at 65
  • 1927-02-26 Willie Simms, American jockey (US Champion Jockey by wins 1893, 94; Kentucky Derby 1896, 98; Preakness Stakes 1898; Belmont Stakes 1893, 94), dies at 57
  • 1943-05-05 Andy Minder, American jockey (Kentucky Derby 1907), dies from a heart attack at 62
  • 1946-08-15 Edward R. Bradley, American businessman and horse owner (1st to own 4 Kentucky Derby winners), dies at 86
  • 1961-06-13 Ben A. Jones, American horse trainer (US Champion trainer by earnings 1941, 43, 44, 52; Kentucky Derby x 6 including Citation, Whirlaway), dies at 78
  • 1963-11-15 Linus McAtee, American Hall of Fame jockey (Preakness Stakes 1916; Kentucky Derby 1927, 29; US Champion Jockey by earnings 1928), dies at 65

Earl Sande (1898-1968)

1968-08-20 American HOF jockey (Triple Crown 1930 Gallant Fox; 3 x Kentucky Derby; 5 x Belmont Stakes; 1 x Preakness Stakes; 3 x US Champion Jockey by earnings; US Champion Trainer by earnings 1938), dies at 69

Bill Shoemaker (1931-2003)

2003-10-12 American Racing Hall of Fame jockey (8,833 career victories, Kentucky Derby 1955, 59, 65, 86), dies of natural causes at 72

  • 2012-07-01 Loyd Gentry, American thoroughbred trainer (Kentucky Derby 1967 Proud Clarion), dies of heart failure at 86
  • 2021-04-24 John T. Ward Jr., American racehorse trainer (Kentucky Derby 2001 Monarchos; Breeders' Cup Distaff 1999 Beautiful Pleasure), dies at 75
  • 2023-11-16 Bobby Ussery, American thoroughbred horse racing HOF jockey (Preakness Stakes 1960; Kentucky Derby 1967), dies of heart failure at 88