KentuckyDerbyGreats

The Kentucky Derby is the most prestigious thoroughbred race run not just in the United States of America, not just in North America, not just in the Western Hemisphere, but in the entire world. The race is run on the first Saturday in May every year, and only stakes winning thoroughbred horses are even eligible to run in the race. The race has always been run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, is run at a mile and a quarter, or ten furlongs, and has been the sight and the stage for many incredible performances. One of the things that makes the Kentucky Derby such an ultra-prestigious and high-profile race is that it's the first jewel in the so-called Triple Crown, which consists of three races run at longer-than-normal distances that take place over a period of five weeks. The second jewel is the Preakness Stakes, run at a mile and three-sixteenths, or nine-and-a-half furlongs, at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland exactly two weeks after the running of the Kentucky Derby. The third and most difficult jewel in the Triple Crown is the Belmont Stakes, run at a mile and a half, or 12 furlongs, at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, just outside of Queens, exactly three weeks after the running of the Preakness Stakes. Eleven horses in the history of American horse racing have managed to win the Triple Crown. Each one of them, of course, won the Kentucky Derby. Because the Kentucky Derby is such a prestigious race, the race usually features a large field of at least twelve or more stakes-winning thoroughbreds. When the great Citation won the race, which is also known as The Run for the Roses, the muddy track and the dominance of Citation contributed to a field of only five horses to face the amazing Citation. Of course, he waltzed home not only to take the Derby, but also to take the Triple Crown, as well. The greatest of the Kentucky Derby greats is no doubt the 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat. When he won his race, he set a Derby record that still stands today, and became the very first thoroughbred to run the race in under two minutes. Thus far, only two others have done so, though not as fast as Secretariat. What makes Secretariat's performance so special is that, in winning the race, he ran each of the five succeeding quarter-miles in the race faster, the only time such a thing has ever happened in the history of horse racing at a race of that distance.

Race Event List - Santa Anita Derby - A Grade 1 thoroughbred race held annually in early April, this race is open to three year olds only and is the biggest west coast Kentucky Derby prep race. Run at a mile and an 8th, six winners of this race have subsequently won the Kentucky Derby. Swale Stakes - Named after Seattle Slew's fantastic son, this 6.5 furlong dirt race was run at 7 furlongs when first run in 1985 following Swale's fatal heart attack after winning the 1984 Belmont and changed to the current distance in 2007. Louisiana Derby - Open to thoroughbred horses aged 3, this race is currently run at 1&1/16th's miles, though before 1989 it was run at a mile and an 8th. 1988 winner Risen Star went on to win the Preakness and Belmont. Apple Blossom Handicap - Run at Oaklawn Park, this Grade 1 horse race is open to fillies 4 and older. Run at a mile and a 16th, this race has been run since 1958. Azeri won this race three straight time from 2002-04. Breeders' Cup Classic - Next to the Kentucky Derby, this race is the biggest race of them all. Run since 1984 at a mile and a quarter, this race is for 3 year olds and older, and is by invitation only. Run in October at the Breeders' Cup host site, most Grade 1 races run earlier in the year feature spots in this race for the winner. Bold Ruler Handicap - Named after the sire of Secretariat, this 6 furlong race is run in mid-May at Belmont. Kentucky Oaks - This race, held at Churchill Downs the day before the Kentucky Derby, is a mile and an 8th on dirt. Open only to 3 year old fillies, this Grade 1 race features a 0,000 purse. Pimlico Special - A Grade 1 race for horses 3 and older, though generally speaking 4 year olds and up run in this race. The very first Pimlico Special was run in 1937 and was won by War Admiral, and the 2nd was the famous match race between War Admiral and Seabiscuit in 1938. Run at a mile and 3/16ths, this race was discontinued after 1958 but revived in 1988. It was not run in 2007, with the half-million dollar purse spread out among other Maryland races.

Eclipse - Eclipse (1764 to 1789) was a famed thoroughbred racehorse, undefeated during his career. His first race was at age 5, and he won handily, causing Captain Denis O’Kelly to coin the famous phrase, “Eclipse first and the rest nowhere.” In total, Eclipse won all 18 races. Eclipse was a temperamental horse; fortunately, his jockey, John Oakley, understood him. Oakley never once spurred or whipped Eclipse. Eclipse was retired to stud in 1771; nobody would race against the wonder, and only a fool would bet against him. He sired over 300 foals before dying of colic in 1789. His skeleton resides in Newmarket’s National Horseracing Museum. The Royal Veterinary College in Great Britain believes that nearly 80% of thoroughbreds today can trace their pedigree back to Eclipse.