History Kentucky Derby

a thoroughbred horse depicted on reverse of kentucky state quarter

returning home kentucky, clark organized louisville jockey club purpose of raising money build quality racing facilities outside city. track become known churchill downs, named john , henry churchill, provided land racetrack. officially, racetrack incorporated churchill downs in 1937.

the kentucky derby first run @ 1 ⁄2 miles (2.4 kilometres), same distance epsom derby. distance changed in 1896 current 1 ⁄4 miles (2.0 kilometres). on may 17, 1875, in front of estimated crowd of 10,000 people, field of 15 three-year-old horses contested first derby. under jockey oliver lewis, colt named aristides, trained future hall of famer ansel williamson, won inaugural derby. later year, lewis rode aristides second-place finish in belmont stakes.

although first race meeting proved success, track ran financial difficulties , in 1894 new louisville jockey club incorporated new capitalization , improved facilities. despite this, business foundered until 1902 when col. matt winn of louisville put syndicate of businessmen acquire facility. under winn, churchill downs prospered , kentucky derby became preeminent stakes race three-year-old thoroughbred horses in north america.

derby participants limited three-year-old horses. apollo (1882) horse have won derby without having raced @ age two.

thoroughbred owners began sending successful derby horses compete few weeks later in preakness stakes @ pimlico race course, in baltimore, maryland, followed belmont stakes in elmont, new york. 3 races offered largest purse , in 1919 sir barton became first horse win 3 races. however, term triple crown didn t come use eleven years. in 1930, when gallant fox became second horse win 3 races, sportswriter charles hatton brought phrase american usage. fueled media, public interest in possibility of superhorse win triple crown began in weeks leading derby. 2 years after term coined, race, had been run in mid-may since inception, changed first saturday in may allow specific schedule triple crown races. since 1931, order of triple crown races has been kentucky derby first, followed preakness stakes , belmont stakes. prior 1931, eleven times preakness run before derby. on may 12, 1917 , again on may 13, 1922, preakness , derby run on same day. on eleven occasions belmont stakes run before preakness stakes.

churchill downs in 1901

on may 16, 1925, first live radio broadcast of kentucky derby originated whas , carried wgn in chicago. on may 7, 1949, first television coverage of kentucky derby took place, produced wave-tv, nbc affiliate in louisville. coverage aired live in louisville market , sent nbc kinescope newsreel recording national broadcast. broadcast first time zoomar lenses used on broadcast tv sports show. on may 3, 1952, first national television coverage of kentucky derby took place, aired then-cbs affiliate whas-tv. in 1954, purse exceeded $100,000 first time. in 1968 dancer s image became first (and day only) horse win race , disqualified after traces of phenylbutazone, analgesic , anti-inflammatory drug, found in horse s urinalysis; forward pass won after protracted legal battle owners of dancer s image (which lost). forward pass became eighth winner calumet farm. unexpectedly, regulations @ kentucky thoroughbred race tracks changed years later, allowing horses run on phenylbutazone. in 1970, diane crump became first female jockey ride in derby, finishing 15th aboard fathom.

the fastest time ever run in derby set in 1973 @ 1:59.4 minutes when secretariat broke record set northern dancer in 1964. not has secretariat s record time yet topped, in race itself, did unique in triple crown races: each successive quarter, times faster. though times non-winners not recorded, in 1973 sham finished second, 2 , half lengths behind secretariat in same race. using thoroughbred racing convention of 1 length equaling one-fifth of second calculate sham s time, finished in under 2 minutes. sub-two-minute finish, third, set in 2001 monarchos @ 1:59.97.

the 2004 derby marked first time jockeys, result of court order, allowed wear corporate advertising logos on clothing.

in 2005, purse distribution derby changed, horses finishing fifth henceforth receive share of purse; first 4 finishers did so.

norman adams has been designer of kentucky derby logo since 2002. on february 1, 2006, louisville-based fast-food company yum! brands, inc. announced corporate sponsorship deal call race kentucky derby presented yum! brands.

in 2007, hm queen elizabeth ii, on visit united states, joined racegoers @ churchill downs.

in 2010 calvin borel set new record, being first jockey win 3 out of 4 consecutive kentucky derbys.