Kentucky Derby History: The Story Behind Horse Racing Extravaganza at Churchill Downs

A few weeks from now, the most anticipated horse race in the world, the Kentucky Derby, will be running for the 149th time. Since its first run in 1875, the Kentucky Derby has never been postponed or rained off, giving the race a long and storied history. The equestrian competition has always taken place at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

The Derby has a rich history, since the 1.25-mile horse race has been held at the same location, Churchill Downs, since its inaugural edition in 1875. With a history stretching back 149 years, today we’ll talk about how the Kentucky Derby has evolved throughout the years in terms of the riders, horses, spectators, and more.

Origins of the Kentucky Derby

Meriwether Lewis Clark’s trip to Europe in 1872 marked the beginning of the lengthy history of the Kentucky Derby. While in England, Clark saw the Epsom Derby, a famous horse race held annually since 1780, and made friends with the French Jockey Club, creators of the equally well-known Grand Prix de Paris. After returning from his trips, Clark was motivated to establish a major horse racing spectacle in the United States. John and Henry Churchill, Clark’s uncles, provided him with the property he needed to build a racetrack. The inaugural Kentucky Derby was held on May 17, 1875, with the Louisville Jockey Club as the presenting sponsor. In the inaugural Derby, 15 three-year-old thoroughbreds raced a distance of 1.5 miles. The winning horse, Aristides, was ridden by an African-American rider named Oliver Lewis and finished at 2:37.75.

Why is the Kentucky Derby called a Derby?

The Derby Stakes, held annually at England’s Epsom Downs Racecourse, inspired the creation of the Derby as we know it today. That’s because the first Derby was held in 1780, and its namesake was Edward Smith-Stanley, the 12th Earl of Derby. The Epsom Derby had a lasting impression on Meriwether Lewis Clark, the man responsible for starting the Kentucky Derby. Clark’s proposed American version of the Derby was to be named the Kentucky Derby after the state in which it would be held. Similar to the famous Triple Crown series, the moniker also denotes that the event is only open to horses that are three years old.

The Storied Venue of Churchill Downs

Famous for hosting the Kentucky Derby each year, Churchill Downs is a horse racing facility on Central Avenue in south Louisville, Kentucky, United States. Samuel Churchill, whose family was influential in Kentucky for many years, was honored with the naming of the venue at its 1875 opening. Churchill Downs Incorporated owns and manages the racecourse. Churchill Downs can hold around 170,000 people when the infield is open. The location also draws attention since celebrities and iconic influencers, often show up for the annual Kentucky Derby.

Prominent Horses and Jockeys

With his winning time of 1:59.40 in the 1973 Derby, Secretariat set a record that is yet to be broken. In 1970, Diane Crump made history by becoming the first female rider to compete in the Kentucky Derby. Bill Shoemaker, at 54 years old, made history in a different manner in 1986 when he became the oldest rider to ever win the Kentucky Derby. Regret was the first filly to win the Derby, which had always been won by male horses. However, a female rider has yet to take home the prize in the world’s most prestigious Derby.

Triple Crown and Other Races

In 1919, Sir Barton became the first horse in history to sweep all three stages of horse racing’s Triple Crown. He triumphed in the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes. The Triple Crown of Racing did not become generally recognized as one of the most prestigious accomplishments in equestrian sports until the 1930s. These three competitions are separated by a few weeks from one another. The dates for this year’s Triple Crown races are as follows: May 6th for the Kentucky Derby, May 20th for the Preakness Stakes, and June 10th for the Belmont Stakes. In 2018, Justify triumphed in the Triple Crown, but this year’s expectations are pinned on the presumed frontrunner, Forte. The Melbourne Cup in Australia, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in Paris, and the Epsom Derby in England are just a few of the world’s most famous horse races apart from the Triple Crown series.

Milestones in Kentucky Derby History

Here are a few key moments from the Kentucky Derby’s illustrious 149-year history:

• The inaugural Kentucky Derby took place on May 17, 1875. Aristides won a 1.5-mile horse race in front of a crowd of 10,000 against a field of fifteen other horses.
• In 1896, it was decided that a mile and a half was too far for three-year-old Thoroughbreds to run so early in the spring, so the event was trimmed to a mile and a quarter. After Ben Brush’s Derby victory in the same year, he was presented with a bouquet of white and pink roses.
• In 1904, after Elwood’s victory, the red rose was chosen as the official flower of the Kentucky Derby.
• In 1914, Old Rosebud ran the Derby in a record-setting 2:03:04, finishing eight lengths clear of the runner-up.
• In 1915, the Kentucky Derby makes headlines as a filly named Regret takes first place.
• In 1919, Sir Barton became the first horse in history to win the Kentucky Derby, the first leg of the Triple Crown in Thoroughbred racing.
• In 1924, Black Gold won the 50th Kentucky Derby and was awarded a trophy that is very similar to the one given out today.
• There’s cause for celebration in 1932 since the Kentucky Derby is being held despite the Great Depression. The race is aired across the world, including on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), and Burgoo King becomes the first horse to have a garland of red roses placed over him after winning the 1932 Kentucky Derby.
• Despite travel limitations due to World War II, 65,000 people nonetheless show up to the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs to see Count Fleet win.
• In 1954, the winnings in the Kentucky Derby were over $100,000, and the horse who took home the prize was named Determine.
• The first female rider, Diane Crump, competed in the Kentucky Derby in 1970.
• In the 99th Kentucky Derby, held in 1973, Secretariat won in a record-setting time. After finishing the race in 1:59:40, Secretariat became the first horse in 25 years to win the Triple Crown.
• The 100th Derby held in 1974 was won by Cannonade in front of the second-largest audience in U.S. Thoroughbred racing history. A total of 163,628 people showed up to see the race at Churchill Downs.
• The Kentucky Derby is won by Seattle Slew in 1977, and he goes on to complete the Triple Crown. He’s the first horse in history to win the Triple Crown without ever having lost a race, and he’s the 10th to do it.
• In 1995, when the Derby purse was boosted to $1 million, Thunder Gulch triumphed.
• In 2015, American Pharoah defeated the competition to claim victory in the Kentucky Derby. He ends a dry spell of nearly 30 years without a Triple Crown winner.

WATCH THIS STORY – Inside $22,000,000 Worth Equestrian Estate That Is Set to Smash Record Books