KentuckyDerbyGreats

Each horse that crosses the wire on the first Saturday in May goes down in Kentucky Derby history. Some moments are thoroughly unexpected, some memorable, and some are extraordinary and are talked about decades later.

In the Kentucky Derby, three-year-olds are running a distance of a mile and a quarter for the very first time (with the possible exception of horses that had a prep race in Dubai). It is this venturing into unknown territory and the continual improvement of thoroughbreds at this age that makes the Kentucky Derby so compelling.

In 2009, we saw a horse named Mine That Bird that looked hopelessly outmatched glide under the wire by six lengths, a testament to the fact that anything can happen on Derby day.

Who can forget the feelings of awe inspired in us by the performance given by Big Brown in overcoming post 20 and powering away from the 2008 Kentucky Derby field mixed with the feeling of sadness from the tragedy that befell the filly Eight Belles as she broke down right after crossing the wire.

And when the undefeated Smarty Jones drew away by four lengths over the muddy Churchill Downs strip in 2004, we were sure we were going to see the next Triple Crown champion.

What about when the ill-fated Barbaro drew away by over six widening lengths from the 2006 Derby field, we knew we were witnessing a special horse. Unfortunately now he will be known more for breaking down in front of the grandstand in the Preakness Stakes and fighting gallantly but ultimately losing the battle for his own survival.

Among the most historic moments both strange and awe-inspiring in Kentucky Derby history, we find plenty in the past.

For instance, in 1957 jockey Bill Shoemaker made the embarrassing mistake of standing up too soon before the wire in the 1957 Kentucky Derby, mistaking a furlong post for the finish line. Iron Liege charged past his mount Gallant Man for the win, and stands today as one of the greatest blunders ever made in horse racing history.

In 1973 Secretariat broke the track and race record in the Kentucky Derby by finishing the race in 159 and 2/5 seconds, a time that stands to this day, a distinction which earned him the covers of both Time and Newsweek magazine. He even

In 1977 we saw another great champion Seattle Slew take the field wire to wire who would go on to win the Triple Crown. Just one year later, we would witness two more of racings immortals battle it out on racing’s biggest stage – Affirmed would hold off his arch rival Alydar in the 1978 Kentucky Derby and would go on to narrowly defeat him in the Preakness and Belmont Stakes to give racing its second Triple Crown winner in as many years.