History of Kentucky Derby in Timeline

The Kentucky Derby is a prestigious Grade I stakes race held annually at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. It features three-year-old Thoroughbred horses competing over a distance of 1 1/4 miles. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds, while fillies carry 121 pounds. Known as "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports," it is the first leg of the American Triple Crown and is steeped in tradition and pageantry. The Derby is a significant event in American culture, attracting large crowds and generating considerable media attention.

1901: Jimmy Winkfield wins the Derby

In 1901, Jimmy Winkfield won the Kentucky Derby, marking the start of back-to-back wins.

1902: Matt Winn Acquires Churchill Downs

In 1902, a syndicate led by Col. Matt Winn of Louisville acquired Churchill Downs. Under Winn's leadership, the Kentucky Derby prospered and became the preeminent stakes race for three-year-old thoroughbreds in North America.

1913: Donerail wins with 91 to 1 odds

In 1913, Donerail won the Kentucky Derby with the highest odds of a winning horse, at 91 to 1.

1914: Old Rosebud's Victory Margin

In 1914, Old Rosebud won the Kentucky Derby by a margin of 8 lengths.

May 12, 1917: Preakness and Derby on the Same Day

On May 12, 1917, the Preakness Stakes and the Kentucky Derby took place on the same day.

1919: Sir Barton Wins All Three Races

In 1919, Sir Barton became the first horse to win all three races of what would later be known as the Triple Crown: the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes.

1921: Tradition of "My Old Kentucky Home"

In 1921, the tradition began of the University of Louisville Cardinal Marching Band playing Stephen Foster's "My Old Kentucky Home" as the horses parade before the grandstands.

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May 13, 1922: Preakness and Derby on the Same Day

On May 13, 1922, the Preakness Stakes and the Kentucky Derby took place on the same day.

May 16, 1925: First Live Radio Broadcast of Kentucky Derby

On May 16, 1925, the first live radio broadcast of the Kentucky Derby aired on WHAS as well as on WGN in Chicago.

1925: "The Run for the Roses" Description

In 1925, New York sports columnist Bill Corum began describing the Kentucky Derby as "The Run for the Roses".

1930: Term "Triple Crown" Comes Into Use

In 1930, after Gallant Fox became the second horse to win all three races, sportswriter Charles Hatton brought the phrase "Triple Crown" into American usage.

1931: Kentucky Derby Date Change

Starting in 1931, the Kentucky Derby date was changed to the first Saturday in May, allowing for a specific schedule for the Triple Crown races. Since 1931, the order of Triple Crown races has been the Kentucky Derby first, followed by the Preakness Stakes and then the Belmont Stakes.

1932: Herbert J. Thompson wins the Derby

In 1932, Herbert J. Thompson won the Kentucky Derby, starting a streak of back-to-back wins.

1935: Grantland Rice Quote on Kentucky Derby

In 1935, sportswriter Grantland Rice remarked that the two minutes of the Kentucky Derby hold more emotional thrills per second than any other sport, capturing the essence of the race's excitement.

1937: Official Naming of Churchill Downs

In 1937, the name of the racetrack, Churchill Downs, became official. The track was named after John and Henry Churchill, who provided the land.

1938: Darley Arabian Line

From 1938 to present, all Kentucky Derby winners are descendants of the Darley Arabian sire line.

1938: All winners traced back to Darley Arabian

Since 1938, all Kentucky Derby winners can be traced back to the Darley Arabian.

1939: Johnstown's Victory Margin

In 1939, Johnstown won the Kentucky Derby by a margin of 8 lengths.

1939: Souvenir Glasses First Offered

In 1939, souvenir glasses printed with all previous Derby winners were first offered at the Kentucky Derby, and have been available in revised form each year since.

1941: Whirlaway's Victory Margin

In 1941, Whirlaway won the Kentucky Derby by a margin of 8 lengths.

1945: Kentucky Derby Postponed due to WWII

In 1945, the Kentucky Derby was postponed due to the Second World War.

1945: Kentucky Derby Rescheduled due to World War II

In 1945, the Kentucky Derby was rescheduled due to World War II, marking one of the few times in its history that the race was not held on its traditional date.

1946: Assault's Victory Margin

In 1946, Assault won the Kentucky Derby by a margin of 8 lengths.

1948: Ben Jones wins the Derby

In 1948, Ben Jones won the Kentucky Derby, the first of two consecutive wins.

May 7, 1949: First Television Coverage of the Kentucky Derby

On May 7, 1949, the first television coverage of the Kentucky Derby took place. It was produced by WAVE-TV, the NBC affiliate in Louisville. This coverage was aired live in the Louisville market and sent to NBC as a kinescope newsreel recording for national broadcast.

May 3, 1952: First National Television Coverage of the Kentucky Derby

On May 3, 1952, the first national television coverage of the Kentucky Derby took place, aired from then-CBS affiliate WHAS-TV.

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1954: Kentucky Derby Purse Exceeds US$100,000

In 1954, the purse for the Kentucky Derby exceeded US$100,000 for the first time.

1957: Jimmy Jones wins the Derby

In 1957, Jimmy Jones won the Kentucky Derby, leading to another win the following year.

1964: Previous Record Set by Northern Dancer

In 1964, the record for speed in Kentucky Derby was set by Northern Dancer.

1968: Dancer's Image Disqualification

In 1968, Dancer's Image became the first horse to win the race and then face disqualification after a urine test revealed traces of phenylbutazone. Forward Pass was declared the winner after a legal battle.

1970: First Female Jockey in the Derby

In 1970, Diane Crump became the first female jockey to ride in the Derby, finishing 15th aboard Fathom.

1972: Lucien Laurin wins the Derby

In 1972, Lucien Laurin won the Kentucky Derby, achieving a back-to-back win the next year.

1973: Secretariat Sets Fastest Derby Time

In 1973, Secretariat set the record for the fastest time ever run in the Derby at 1:59.4 minutes. Also during that race, for each successive quarter run, his times were faster.

1973: Secretariat Sets Speed Record

In 1973, Secretariat set the speed record for the Kentucky Derby with a time of 1:59.4.

1980: "Run for the Roses" Song Released

In 1980, Pop vocalist Dan Fogelberg composed the song "Run for the Roses", released in time for the running of the race.

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1982: Eddie Delahoussaye wins the Derby

In 1982, Eddie Delahoussaye won the Kentucky Derby, setting up a repeat win the following year.

1995: D. Wayne Lukas wins the Derby

In 1995, D. Wayne Lukas won the Kentucky Derby, and followed up with another win the next year.

1996: Kentucky Derby Offers $1 Million Purse

In 1996, the Kentucky Derby first offered a $1 million purse.

1997: Bob Baffert wins the Derby

In 1997, Bob Baffert won the Kentucky Derby, starting a consecutive win the following year.

2001: Monarchos Sets Third Sub-Two-Minute Finish

In 2001, Monarchos set the third sub-two-minute finish with a time of 1:59.97, marking the first year the race used hundredths of seconds instead of fifths in timing.

2002: Norman Adams Designer of Kentucky Derby Logo

Since 2002, Norman Adams has been the designer of the Kentucky Derby Logo.

2004: Jockeys Allowed to Wear Corporate Advertising Logos

In 2004, jockeys were allowed to wear corporate advertising logos on their clothing as a result of a court order.

2005: Kentucky Derby Purse Doubled to $2 Million

In 2005, the Kentucky Derby purse was doubled to $2 million.

2005: Purse Distribution Change

In 2005, the purse distribution for the Derby changed, so that horses finishing fifth would henceforth receive a share of the purse; previously only the first four finishers did so.

February 1, 2006: Yum! Brands Corporate Sponsorship Deal

On February 1, 2006, Yum! Brands, Inc. announced a corporate sponsorship deal to call the race "The Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands."

2007: Calvin Borel's first win in a four-year span

In 2007, Calvin Borel won the Kentucky Derby. Borel is the only jockey with three wins in a four-year span (2007, '09, '10).

2007: Queen Elizabeth II Attends Kentucky Derby

In 2007, HM Queen Elizabeth II visited the United States and attended the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

2009: Calvin Borel wins the Derby

In 2009, Calvin Borel won the Kentucky Derby. Borel is also the only jockey with three wins in a four-year span (2007, '09, '10).

2012: Grand Marshal Recites "Riders Up!"

Since 2012, the grand marshal has recited the phrase "Riders Up!", which is the traditional command for jockeys to mount their horses.

2014: Victor Espinoza wins the Derby

In 2014, Victor Espinoza won the Kentucky Derby, leading to a subsequent win the following year.

2014: Jumbotron Installation

In 2014, a jumbotron was installed in the infield of the Kentucky Derby track.

2015: Previous Record Set in Wagering

In 2015, the wagering total was $194.3 million.

2016: Increase in Wagering Total

In 2016, the Kentucky Derby had a wagering total of $192.6 million.

2017: High Attendance at Kentucky Derby

In 2017, the Kentucky Derby had the seventh-highest attendance in the history of the racetrack, with a crowd of 158,070 watching Always Dreaming win.

2018: Justify wins without competing as a two-year-old

In 2018, Justify won the Kentucky Derby without having competed as a two-year-old.

2018: Woodford Reserve Replaces Yum! Brands as Sponsor

In 2018, Woodford Reserve replaced Yum! Brands as the presenting sponsor of the Kentucky Derby.

2019: Kentucky Derby Offers $3 Million Purse

In 2019, the Kentucky Derby began offering $3 million in purse money.

2020: Belmont Stakes Run Before Kentucky Derby

In 2020, due to scheduling adjustments, the Belmont Stakes was run first, followed by the Kentucky Derby, and the Preakness Stakes last.

2020: Kentucky Derby Postponed Due to COVID-19

In 2020, the Kentucky Derby was postponed from May 2 to September 5 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020: Kentucky Derby Rescheduled due to COVID-19 Pandemic

In 2020, the Kentucky Derby was rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This marked only the second time in its history that the race had been postponed.