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The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of the thoroughbred horse racing Triple Crown. It is widely regarded as the most prominent horse race in the United States. The race is run on the first Saturday in May each year, and has been held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky since 1875.
The 50-1 underdog Mine That Bird won the 135th Kentucky Derby on May 2, 2009.USA Today: Mine That Bird, 50-1 shot, wins Kentucky Derby Just 11 hours before he was set to run, I Want Revenge, an early favorite, was found to have a hot spot on his left front ankle and was pulled from the Kentucky Derby.Newsday.com: I Want Revenge Scratched from Kentucky Derby (May 2, 2009)
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Fast Facts
- AKA: The Run for the Roses
- Date: 1st Saturday in May, annually
- Location: Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky
- Race type: Thoroughbred
- Distance: 1¼ miles
- Track: Dirt, left-handed
- Qualification: 3-year-old
- Purse: $2 million
- Referred to as "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports"
- 2008 winner: Big Brown
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The Run for the Roses
The Kentucky Derby is held as the culmination of the two-week-long celebration of the Kentucky Derby Festival. Each race generally lasts around two minutes and attracts celebrities, prominent business people and politicians from around the world. The race is one and a quarter miles long and open to three-year-old thoroughbred horses. With a purse of $2 million dollars, it has attracted horse breeders worldwide. The winner receives a blanket of 554 red roses that the Governor of Kentucky presents along with the trophy. The mint julep is the traditional drink of the race; 80,000 are served during the two-day event. Women appear in formal attire and often are wearing large, elaborate hats that may be entered in the Parade of Hats. -
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Official Site: Kentucky Derby
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USA Today: Mine That Bird, 50-1 shot, wins Kentucky Derby
usatoday.com (May 02, 2009) -
Kentucky Derby Museum
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Churchill Downs
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Wikipedia: Kentucky Derby
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Odds
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Twitter: Kentucky Derby Twitter Account
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Official Site: Kentucky Derby
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Kentucky Derby on Amazon | View All
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Derby Hats - Sun Goddess Hat - $28.00
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Barbie Kentucky Derby Doll - $44.99
She's ready for a day at the races! Highly detailed! Add to your collection!This stunning Kentucky Derby Barbie doll features America's sweetheart taking in a day at the races. Featuring a stunningly detailed outfit, this is one doll you wo...
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Secretariat Kentucky Derby b/w 16x20 Photograph signed in Blue Ink - $87.99
Ron Turcotte became internationally famous in 1973 when he rode Secretariat to the first Triple Crown win in 25 years. In the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs Secretariat set a then track record as he did at Preakness Stakes. And when he...
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Kentucky Derby Greatest Moments - $24.95
The Kentucky Derby... the history, the mystery, the magic. It is the traditon of the Twin Spires and mint juleps on the first Saturday in May - where the sun shines bright on clubhouse celebrities, infield revelers, and full-fledged Kentuck...
Amazon
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Questions and Answers About Kentucky Derby | View All | Ask a Question
View All Kentucky Derby Questions (60) | Ask a QuestionWhere is {Mayfield Kentucky}? (3 Answers)Mayfield Kentucky is about a three hour drive north/east from Memphis. You'd take the 155 to get there by car. Mayfield is a town of roughly 10,000 people. read moreWhat time is the Kentucky Derby? (1 Answer)Watch the Kentucky Derby live on TV with NBC at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The Derby is on Saturday May 2, 2009 raced at Churchill Downs Racecourse in Louisville, Kentucky. read moreWhy is the Kentucky Derby such a big deal? (5 Answers)The Kentucky Derby is the first race in a group of three races (hence the term triple crown). These races are the most prestigous in the world. There is some ... read moreWhat is the best website for information on the Kentucky Derby? (2 Answers)www.thoroughbredtimes.com read more
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Kentucky Derby Timeline
- Official Site: Kentucky Derby Timeline
- 1863: Col. M. Lewis Clark, grandson of William Clark, founded the Louisville Jockey Club
- 1875: Churchill Downs formally opened, and the first Kentucky Derby was held on May 17
- 1896: Derby shortened from 1 1/2 to l 1/4 miles
- 1899: Founder Clark committed suicide 12 days before the 25th running of the Derby
- 1903: Has its first profit in history
- 1904: The red rose became the official flower of the Kentucky Derby
- 1925: First network radio broadcast of Derby was aired
- 1930: First box starting mechanism is used for the horses
- 1938: First tunnel under the track is completed from the grandstand to the infield
- 1952: First network television broadcast of a Derby
- 1973: Secretariat breaks the magic two-minute plateau for the Derby
- 1974: An all-time record U.S. Thoroughbred racing crowd of 163,628 attends
- 1985: Track begins an multi-million-dollar capital improvement
- 1989: The track celebrates the 100th running of the Fall Meet
- 2005: Purse was doubled to a record $2 million
- 2005: A tornado struck, killing three horses, damaging 11 barns and the grandstand terrace
- 2007: Infield opened for the 50th anniversary of the Boy Scouts "Scout-O-Rama"]
- 2007: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip attend for their first time
