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| kentucky derby: The Kentucky Derby James C. Nicholson, 2012-05-05 Each year on the first Saturday in May, the world turns its attention to the twin spires of Churchill Downs for the high-stakes excitement of the greatest two minutes in sports, the Kentucky Derby. No American sporting event can claim the history, tradition, or pageantry that the Kentucky Derby holds. For more than 130 years, spectators have been fascinated by the magnificent horses that run the Louisville track. Thoroughbreds such as Secretariat and Barbaro have earned instant international fame, along with jockeys such as Isaac Murphy, Ron Turcotte, and Calvin Borel. The Kentucky Derby: How the Run for the Roses Became America's Premier Sporting Event calls this great tradition to post and illuminates its history and culture. Rising from its humble beginnings as an American variation of England's Epsom Derby, the Kentucky Derby became a centerpiece of American sports and the racing industry, confirming Kentucky's status as the Horse Capital of the World. James C. Nicholson argues that the Derby, at its essence, is a celebration of a place, existing as a connection between Kentucky's mythic past and modern society. The Derby is more than just a horse race—it is an experience enhanced by familiar traditions, icons, and images that help Derby fans to understand Kentucky and define themselves as Americans. Today the Kentucky Derby continues to attract international attention from royalty, celebrities, racing fans, and those who simply enjoy an icy mint julep, a fabulous hat, and a wager on who will make it to the winner's circle. Nicholson provides an intriguing and thorough history of the Kentucky Derby, examining the tradition, spectacle, culture, and evolution of the Kentucky Derby—the brightest jewel of the Triple Crown. |
| kentucky derby: Little Freddie at the Kentucky Derby Kathryn Cocquyt, 2023-01-22 Little Freddie is just a foal with big dreams. Not every racehorse gets to run in the Kentucky Derby. Even then, there is only one winner.Join this Thoroughbred horse on an adventure from his first days in the pasture to the excitement of Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby. Share his triumphs and failures as Little Freddie learns what it takes to make your dreams come true! |
| kentucky derby: Two Minutes to Glory Pamela K. Brodowsky, Tom Philbin, Inc. Churchill Downs, 2009-02-17 Take a front row seat at the Run for the Roses with the first comprehensive history of the Kentucky Derby. From mint juleps to the garland of roses, to weeping men and women in the Winner's Circle, Two Minutes to Glory is the official story of the world's greatest horse race—the Kentucky Derby. This book is chockablock with facts, figures, and statistics on all 132 years of this incredible race. It also contains a capsuled yet detailed history of the race and of Churchill Downs, focusing on all the larger-than-life personalities from Col. M. Lewis Clark, who founded the Derby in 1875, to Col. Matt Winn, who saved it when it was in the stretch, out of breath, about to break down, and in need of a miracle—and beyond that to the present day. But perhaps the best parts of this lavishly illustrated book are the stories of the races, from 1875 to 2006. It is not a mere recitation of what happened—though there is that—but the human (and horse) stories behind the races, like that of Conn McCreary, who, astride Count Turf in 1951, looked down the track before the gates opened and knew that he was riding not just to win the Derby, but for his life. Or the 2005 race where a seventy-nine-year-old woman named Alice Chandler burst into tears as she watched her 50-1 shot Giacomo roar down the stretch to win—but also cried because she knew that when just a foal, he had previously beaten an opponent called death. This book looks at all the people and horses who made the Derby what it is over the years: trainer Ben A. Jones with six Derby winners; Eddie Banana Nose Arcaro and Secretariat, who broke the two-minute barrier and ran the fastest Derby in history; the great owners, the grooms—and all the rest. It is history, yes, but history with heart and soul. As horsemen say, have a good ride. |
| kentucky derby: The Last Black King of the Kentucky Derby Crystal Hubbard, 2008 Born into an African American sharecropping family in 1880s Kentucky, Jimmy Winkfield grew up loving horses. The large, powerful animals inspired little Jimmy to think big. Looking beyond his family's farm, he longed for a life riding on action-packed racetracks around the world. Like his hero, the great Isaac Murphy, Jimmy Wink Winkfield would stop at nothing to make it as a jockey. Though his path to success was wrought with obstacles both on the track and off, Wink faced each challenge with passion and a steadfast spirit. Along the way he carved out a lasting legacy as one of history's finest horsemen and the last African American ever to win the Kentucky Derby. The Last Black King of the Kentucky Derby brings to life a vivacious hero from a little-known chapter of American sports history. Readers are transported trackside to witness the heart-pounding story of a vibrant young man chasing down his dream. |
| kentucky derby: Dancer's Image Milton C. Toby, 2011-03-25 On May 4, 1968, Dancer's Image crossed the finish line at Churchill Downs to win the 94th Kentucky Derby. Yet the jubilation ended three days later for the owner, the jockey and the trainers who propelled the celebrated thoroughbred to victory. Amid a firestorm of controversy, Dancer's Image was disqualified after blood tests revealed the presence of a widely used anti-inflammatory drug with a dubious legal status. Over forty years later, questions still linger over the origins of the substance and the turmoil it created. Veteran turfwriter and noted equine law expert Milt Toby gives the first in-depth look at the only disqualification in Derby history and how the Run for the Roses was changed forever. |
| kentucky derby: Kentucky Derby Stories Jim Bolus, |
| kentucky derby: Two Minutes to Glory Pamela K. Brodowsky, Tom Philbin, Inc. Churchill Downs, 2009-02-17 Take a front row seat at the Run for the Roses with the first comprehensive history of the Kentucky Derby. From mint juleps to the garland of roses, to weeping men and women in the Winner's Circle, Two Minutes to Glory is the official story of the world's greatest horse race—the Kentucky Derby. This book is chockablock with facts, figures, and statistics on all 132 years of this incredible race. It also contains a capsuled yet detailed history of the race and of Churchill Downs, focusing on all the larger-than-life personalities from Col. M. Lewis Clark, who founded the Derby in 1875, to Col. Matt Winn, who saved it when it was in the stretch, out of breath, about to break down, and in need of a miracle—and beyond that to the present day. But perhaps the best parts of this lavishly illustrated book are the stories of the races, from 1875 to 2006. It is not a mere recitation of what happened—though there is that—but the human (and horse) stories behind the races, like that of Conn McCreary, who, astride Count Turf in 1951, looked down the track before the gates opened and knew that he was riding not just to win the Derby, but for his life. Or the 2005 race where a seventy-nine-year-old woman named Alice Chandler burst into tears as she watched her 50-1 shot Giacomo roar down the stretch to win—but also cried because she knew that when just a foal, he had previously beaten an opponent called death. This book looks at all the people and horses who made the Derby what it is over the years: trainer Ben A. Jones with six Derby winners; Eddie Banana Nose Arcaro and Secretariat, who broke the two-minute barrier and ran the fastest Derby in history; the great owners, the grooms—and all the rest. It is history, yes, but history with heart and soul. As horsemen say, have a good ride. |
| kentucky derby: Kentucky Derby Sue L. Hamilton, 2013-01-01 This title explores the history of the Kentucky Derby. Readers will meet important people in Kentucky Derby history such as Meriweather Lewis Clark, Jr. Readers will learn about the race's dirt track at historic Churchill Downs. Readers will learn the rules of the race from the Kentucky Derby Championship Series qualifying events to the finish line. Famous horses such as Aristides, Regret and Citation, Secretariat and Seattle Slew are introduced, as are top jockeys such as Bill Hartack, Willie Schumacher. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. A&D Xtreme is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO. |
| kentucky derby: D is for Derby Helen L. Wilbur, 2014 Following the alphabet this book uses poetry and expository text to explain the Kentucky Derby horse-racing event, focusing on its culture and history, famous winners both horse and rider, and offering a behind-the scenes view of thoroughbred breeding and racing. |
| kentucky derby: The Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes Richard Sowers, 2014-02-18 This is the definitive history of thoroughbred racing's three premier events, which have never before been explored in such detail. This book gives the history of America's classic races from the inaugural Belmont Stakes in 1867 through 2013, identifying which equine participants were truly worthy of lasting acclaim and which were one-hit wonders. Perhaps even more compelling are the stories of the men and women who rode, trained, owned, or bred classic winners, including their exploits on the turf and their triumphs and failures in arenas far removed from horse racing. |
| kentucky derby: The Mystery at the Kentucky Derby Carole Marsh, 2004-04-01 When a horse and two jockeys disappear, Christina, Grant, Mimi, and Papa have two minutes to solve the mystery and save the race. |
| kentucky derby: Black Winning Jockeys in the Kentucky Derby James Robert Saunders, Monica Renae Saunders, 2002-12-03 Oliver Lewis was champion jockey of the Kentucky Derby in 1875 with a winning race time of two minutes and 37 seconds. Jockey Willie Simms won in 1896, bringing his horse in at two minutes and seven seconds. James Winkfield was the winning jockey in both 1901 and 1902 with winning race times of two minutes and seven seconds and two minutes and eight seconds, respectively. Each of these men possessed the skill and power necessary to spur a horse to glorious victory. All are members of the small, select group of Derby-winning jockeys who were African Americans. The stakes were high: Black jockeys who won a race in the late 1700s and 1800s sometimes won freedom from slavery as well. This work examines the presence of black jockeys in the Kentucky Derby, from the first instance of slaves working as stable hands and tending their masters' horses to the first black jockey to win the prestigious Kentucky Derby in 1875 and the continued participation of black jockeys in the Kentucky Derby. Black owners and trainers in the Kentucky Derby are also discussed. Three appendices list black winning jockeys, black trainers and black owners of Kentucky Derby horses. |
| kentucky derby: The Longest Shot John Eisenberg, 2002-08-01 On the first Saturday in May every year in Louisville, Kentucky, shortly after 5:30 PM, a new horse attains racing immortality. The Kentucky Derby is like no other race, and its winners are the finest horses in the world. Covered in rich red roses, surrounded by flashing cameras and admiring crowds, these instant celebrities bear names like Citation, Secretariat, Spectacular Bid, and Seattle Slew. They're worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. But in 1992, a funny thing happened on the way to the roses. The rattling roar of 130,000 voices tailed off into a high, hollow shriek as the horses crossed the finish line. Lil E. Tee? ABC broadcasters knew nothing about him, but they weren't alone. Who knew about Lil E. Tee? A blacksmith in Ocala, Florida, a veterinary surgeon in Ringoes, New Jersey, a trainer a Calder Race Course, and a few other people used to dealing with average horses knew this horse -- and realized what a long shot Lil E. Tee really was. On a Pennsylvania farm that raised mostly trotting horses, a colt with a dime-store pedigree was born in 1989. His odd gait and tendency to bellow for his mother earned him the nickname E.T. Suffering from an immune deficiency and a bad case of colic, he survived surgery that usually ends a horse's racing career. Bloodstock agents dismissed him because of his mediocre breeding, and once he was sold for only $3,000. He'd live in five barns in seven states by the time he turned two. Somehow, this horse became one of the biggest underdogs to appear on the American sporting landscape. Lil E. Tee overcame his bleak beginnings to reach the respected hands of trainer Lynn Whiting, jockey Pat Day, and owner Cal Partee. After winning the Jim Beam stakes and finishing second in the Arkansas Derby, Lil E. Tee arrived at Churchill Downs to face a field of seventeen horses, including the highly acclaimed favorite, Arazi, a horse many people forecast to become the next Secretariat. A 17-to-1 longshot, Lil E. Tee won the Derby with a classic rally down the home stretch, and finally Pat Day had jockeyed a horse to Derby victory. John Eisenberg draws on more than fifteen years of sports writing experience and a hundred interviews throughout Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Florida, and Arkansas to tell the story almost nobody knew in 1992. Eisenberg is a sports columnist for the Baltimore Sun and has won more than twenty awards for his sports writing, including several Associated Press sports editors' first places. |
| kentucky derby: History of the Kentucky Derby, 1875-1921 John Lawrence O'Connor, 2019-12-17 History of the Kentucky Derby, 1875-1921 is an account of the yearly Derby events from 1875 to 1921, aimed to preserve the plain facts of each year's Kentucky Derby for the followers to refresh their memory and awaken happy reminiscences. For a modern reader, it is an important historical document, providing tons of interesting details and a glimpse into the tradition of past sporting events. |
| kentucky derby: The History of the Kentucky Derby in 75 Objects Kentucky Derby Museum, Jessica K. Whitehead, 2024-04-30 To understand the Kentucky Derby is to understand the contemporary American spirit. One hundred and fifty years have passed since the Thoroughbreds of the inaugural Kentucky Derby sprang from the starting gate to race beneath the iconic Twin Spires of Churchill Downs. But the story of the greatest two minutes in sports is more than the pageantry of the horses and thrill of the people who love and celebrate the event. Through the decades, the Derby, like the state that founded it, has experienced profound moments of social, economic, and cultural change. As one of Kentucky's flagship cultural and economic institutions, the Thoroughbred racing industry must constantly reconcile with its past and think critically about the stories that have traditionally made it into the winner's circle. In the right hands, artifacts of material culture related to the Derby have the power to inspire nuanced stories of the past and shed light on marginalized voices in the industry's history. In The History of the Kentucky Derby in 75 Objects, Jessica K. Whitehead sets out to recover the accurate history of America's longest continuously held sporting event and establish a balance between well-known narratives and those that are less widely shared. Whitehead, curator of collections at the Kentucky Derby Museum, gives readers a personal tour of 75 objects from the museum. Her selections place Black, Latin American, and female riders, owners, and trainers closer to the center of the Derby story, spotlighting the contributions and achievements of groups that have played an increasingly important role in shaping the legacy of the Run for the Roses. |
| kentucky derby: D is for Derby: A Kentucky Derby Alphabet Helen L. Wilbur, 2014-02-01 The Kentucky Derby is the oldest continuous sporting event in the United States. But don't call it just a horse race. This annual May event, known as the most exciting two minutes in sports, is steeped in tradition and pageantry far beyond what happens on the track. Following the alphabet, D is for Derby: A Kentucky Derby Alphabet uses poetry and expository text to explain this world-famous event. Topics include famous jockeys, legendary horses, fabled Bluegrass farms and owners, as well as offering a behind-the scenes view of thoroughbred breeding and racing. Readers young and old, along with horse enthusiasts and diehard Derby fans, will enjoy this celebration of one of the most prestigious sporting and cultural events in our country. |
| kentucky derby: Never Say Die James C. Nicholson, 2013-05-04 A history of the American horse that won Britain’s greatest race and changed the Thoroughbred racing world. A quarter of a million people braved miserable conditions at Epsom Downs on June 2, 1954, to see the 175th running of the prestigious Derby Stakes. Queen Elizabeth II and Sir Winston Churchill were in attendance, along with thousands of Britons who were all convinced of the unfailing superiority of English bloodstock and eager to see a British colt take the victory. They were shocked when a Kentucky-born chestnut named Never Say Die galloped to a two-length triumph at odds of 33–1, winning Britain’s greatest race and beginning an important shift in the world of Thoroughbred racing. Never Say Die traces the history of this extraordinary colt, beginning with his foaling in Lexington, Kentucky, as well as the stories of the influential individuals brought together by the horse and his victory?from the heir to the Singer sewing machine fortune to the Aga Khan. Most fascinating is the tale of Mona Best of Liverpool, England, whose well-placed bet on the long-shot Derby contender allowed her to open the Casbah Coffee Club. There, her son met musicians John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison, later joining their band. Featuring a foreword by the original drummer for the Beatles, Pete Best, this remarkable book reveals how an underdog’s surprise victory played a part in the formation of the most successful and influential rock band in history and made the Bluegrass region of Kentucky the center of the international Thoroughbred industry. Praise for Never Say Die “Nicholson has done a very fine job of placing the unique role of Never Say Die in perspective within the specific confines of Thoroughbred racing history, while at the same time explaining how this horse was touched by a vivid array of characters in other social and historical contexts. Who would have imagined that a racehorse would link such diverse institutions as the Singer sewing machine company, the Epsom Derby, and the Beatles?” —Edward L. Bowen, author of The Lucky Thirteen “As a reader, I was left with a clear understanding of how the breeding industry has gone global, and importantly, how it will always follow the money. Racing enthusiasts will enjoy how the author sews together this unusual patchwork of characters into a narrative.” —John Eisenberg, author of The Great Match Race: When North Met South in America’s First Sports Spectacle “[E]nlightening and entertaining. . .Nicholson’s tale of close connections and global links is a yarn worth following.” —Wall Street Journal |
| kentucky derby: Betting the Kentucky Derby Dean Keppler, 2008 The Kentucky Derby attracts thousands of spectators on and off track and millions of wagering dollars. Now for the first time there's one title geared specifically for successfully handicapping and playing America's biggest race day.The author discusses proven historical handicapping methods, the advantages of modern exotic betting menus, and other expert tools that will enhance both your wallett and your Kentucky Derby experience. |
| kentucky derby: The Greatest Gambling Story Ever Told Mark Paul, 2020-01-06 |
| kentucky derby: Horse Racing's Holy Grail Steve Haskin, 2022-04 Interlaced with hunor, this book looks at the pitfalls and pressures owners, trainers, and jockeys face at Derby time and why most fail, while others, notably the big three of D. Wayne Lukas, Bob Baffert, and Nick Zito, always seem to win the big prize. |
| kentucky derby: Kentucky Derby IQ Joel Katte, 2014-04-22 New in this edition: - 60 additional, brand new questions - improved layout for questions and answer keys makes it easier than ever to quiz family and friends - brand new chapters on Orb, California Chrome and American Pharaoh - improved functionality for e-readers, smartphones and tablets - print edition includes 17 B&W photographs - digital edition includes 25 full color photographs - 320 total Kentucky Derby trivia questions Spying the twin spires, hugging the rail, hearing the snap of the gate, the crowd takes a nervous deep breath in unison. The horses lunge, the jockeys crouch. Now the race for the roses is run and timelessness has begun. Long-shot odds, winning tickets, record crowds, Hall of Fame statistics, and historical dates all add up to the most exciting two minutes in sports. Think you know Kentucky Derby history? Think again. This IQ Series book will test even the best horsemen and trainers who have been around the sport their whole lives. Test your skills. Wrack your brain. It's the ultimate Kentucky Derby IQ test. |
| kentucky derby: Derby Dreams Jim Bolus, 1996-01-01 People in racing have to be dreamers, says Jim Bolus in the beginning of his fourth chronicle of the Kentucky Derby. The Derby itself has been dreamlike in its history. After nearly fading into oblivion at the turn of the century, the Kentucky Derby has grown into a national cultural institution and the premier annual horse race in America, if not the world. The stories about this great race and its participants have grown through the years. They have evolved into both heroic epics and much-maligned tragedies. The author relates the triumphant tale of Regret, the first filly to win the Derby on what was her very first start of the year. He also tells of Riley, who, in spite of a muddy track, won the first Kentucky Derby held in the rain. Some of the shattered Derby dreams are described as well. Included is the story of the tumultuous feud between horse owner Jim T. Williams and jockey Roscoe Troxler, whom Williams accused of throwing the 1911 race. The author entertains and informs with his Kentucky Derby tales of the dreams realized and the dreams never achieved at Churchill Downs. |
| kentucky derby: Derby Day , 2005 The history and traditions of the Kentucky Derby, for horse lovers of all ages.-- |
| kentucky derby: Beating the Odds John S. Sutton Jr, Amber D. Sims, 2021-09-24 Beating The Odds: 82 Years At The Kentucky Derby is an Autobiography of a man who has attended 82 consecutive Kentucky Derbies and the ensuing unique lifestyle that accompanied this feat. Featured intermittently with an unusual childhood and later life experiences that very few people have had the privilege of being exposed to (good or bad). In addition, there are pictures and legacies of the immediately family that supported this endeavor. |
| kentucky derby: The Kentucky Derby Sheri Seggerman, 2010-04-01 Long shots and closers. Secretariat, War Admiral, Citation, and Seattle Slew. The astonishing ride of Mine That Bird. The lovable spirit of Smarty Jones. Trainers and owners. A sea of spectacular hats. A classic mint julep in a silver cup. The break from the gate. Photo finishes. Holding the winning ticket. These are only a few of the things that make the Kentucky Derby the most exciting two minutes in sports. The Kentucky Derby offers a compendium of the legendary horses and rich history, the personalities, and the real-life experience of Derby Day from the backstretch to the winner’s circle. With colorful anecdotes and striking photography, Sheri Seggerman and Mary Tiegreen have captured the rivalries, fanfare, and unpredictability that give the Run for the Roses its allure. The third title in a series that celebrates the nation’s most iconic sporting events, The Kentucky Derby captures the pageantry and the passion of this great American race. |
| kentucky derby: A Handicapper's Guide to the Kentucky Derby Liam Durbin, 2012-01-21 Handicapping reference guide for the Kentucky Derby, by Liam Durbin, public handicapper for the Chicago Tribune and LA Times |
| kentucky derby: The Mystery at the Kentucky Derby Carole Marsh, 2011 When a horse and two jockeys disappear, Christina, Grant, Mimi and Papa have two minutes to solve the mystery and save the race. |
| kentucky derby: Little Foal's Busy Day Sleeping Bear Press, 2019-09-15 When his mother takes him outside for the first time, Little Foal experiences the wonder of the world around him. He runs, he plays, and he makes new friends. And at the end of his busy day, it's time to head back to the barn for bedtime. |
| kentucky derby: Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby Since 1875 Frank G. Menke, 2008-06-01 This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work. |
| kentucky derby: The First Kentucky Derby Mark Shrager, 2023-05-01 Today’s Kentucky Derby is a multimillion-dollar spectacle involving corporate sponsorship, worldwide media coverage, and an annual citywide festival in Louisville. Over its nearly century-and-a-half history, the Kentucky Derby has grown to be one of the biggest sporting events of the year, attracting 150,000 spectators at the track and nearly 15 million television viewers on the first Saturday each May. But 1875, the year of the first Derby, was a different time. The Louisville Jockey Club track, which would one day bear the name “Churchill Downs,” was a small structure that might, on its best day, provide seating and standing room for 12,000 spectators. The grandstand was plain and functional and included a section reserved for bookmakers, whose trade was legal and who operated in the open. Perhaps most significantly, the majority of jockeys in the race were Black, in stark contrast to the present-day Derby, where participation by African-American jockeys is rare. In The First Kentucky Derby, racing historian Mark Shrager examines the events leading up to the first “Run for the Roses,” the unsuccessful effort that the winning owner might have made to rig the race for his preferred horse, and the prominent role played by African Americans in Gilded Age racing culture—a holdover from pre-emancipation days, when slaves were trained from birth to ride for their wealthy owners and grew up surrounded by the horses that would be their life’s work. |
| kentucky derby: Derby Fever Jim Bolus, 1995-03-31 Each spring as the Kentucky Derby grows near, a kind of frenzy hits a wide section of the population. People suddenly turn their attention to Churchill Downs, and the anticipation of the Run for the Roses sends everyone into Derby fever. Here in his third book on the Kentucky Derby, Jim Bolus brings together a collection of his favorite Derby Stories that are sure to make an avid race fan out of anyone. Bolus covers a wide range of topics--from the Duke at the Derby; to the famous Derby photograph of the Fighting Finish in 1933; to his favorite Derby, the 1969 running. Also included are such champions as Whirlaway, Exterminator, Secretariat, Spend a Buck, and Nashua. Bolus has devoted a chapter to the Stevens family, whose horse-racing roots trace back more than 120 years, and to the Derby chart callers, those men who through the years have documented the race for posterity. Bolus also relates his own personal experiences as a bettor (and a loser!) on the Derby. In particular, he devotes a chapter to Holy Land, a horse who ran in the 1970 race but lost his jockey and the race. It's a pick Bolus has been kidded about a lot over the years. An authority on the subject, Jim Bolus has conducted hundreds of interviews about the Derby. With this book, readers will understand his passion for the grand old race and its traditions as they learn why so many get Derby fever every spring. Also by Jim Bolus are Remembering the Derby and Kentucky Derby Stories, both published by Pelican. |
| kentucky derby: Sir Barton and the Making of the Triple Crown Jennifer S. Kelly, 2019-05-03 The true story of a forgotten champion: “Bringing Sir Barton out from the shadows, Jennifer Kelly restores him to a richly-deserved spotlight.” ―Dorothy Ours, author of Man o’ War He was always destined to be a champion. Royally bred, with English and American classic winners in his pedigree, Sir Barton shone from birth, dubbed the “king of them all.” But after a winless two-year-old season and a near-fatal illness, uncertainty clouded the start of Sir Barton’s three-year-old season. Then his surprise victory in America’s signature race, the Kentucky Derby, started him on the road to history, where he would go on to dominate the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes, completing America’s first Triple Crown. His wins inspired the ultimate chase for greatness in American horse racing and established an elite group that would grow to include legends like Citation, Secretariat, and American Pharoah. After a series of dynamic wins in 1920, popular opinion tapped Sir Barton as the best challenger for the wonder horse Man o’ War, and demanded a match race to settle once and for all which horse was the greatest. That duel would cement the reputation of one horse for all time and diminish the reputation of the other for the next century—until now. Sir Barton and the Making of the Triple Crown is the first book to focus on Sir Barton, his career, and his historic impact on horse racing. Jennifer S. Kelly uses extensive research and historical sources to examine this champion’s life and achievements. Kelly charts how Sir Barton broke track records, scored victories over other champions, and sparked the yearly pursuit of Triple Crown glory. |
| kentucky derby: The Kentucky Derby Julian May, 1975 Gives a brief history of the Kentucky Derby from 1875 to the present day. |
| kentucky derby: Cañonero II Milton C. Toby, 2014-02-11 In the months leading up to the 1971 Kentucky Derby, Canonero II was an unknown horse with a Venezuelan trainer who spoke only Spanish. The Derby experts laughed when an exercise boy rode the horse out on the track with no saddle or stirrups. But the laughter promptly ended when Canonero II charged to the front from twenty lengths back to win the Derby, followed by a victory at the Preakness Stakes in track record time. In recounting Canonero II's quest to become the first Triple Crown winner since Citation, award-winning turf historian Milt Toby tells the compelling story of how one man's wildly improbable dream became the dream of a nation and how a bargain-basement yearling born with a crooked front leg became the people's horse. |
| kentucky derby: Kentucky Derby Blaine Wiseman, 2010-07-15 Every year, spectators flock to Louisville, Kentucky, to watch one of the world's best-known horse races. Known as 'the most exciting two minutes in sports,' the Kentucky Derby features fast horses, skilled jockeys, and intense competition--P. [4] of cove |
| kentucky derby: The Kentucky Derby Bill Doolittle, 1998 Celebrates the tradition and spectacle of the Kentucky Derby with photographs and text devoted to the legends, heroes, memorable moments, and rivalries of the past 125 years. |
| kentucky derby: Racing for America James C. Nicholson, 2021-04-06 On October 20, 1923, at Belmont Park in New York, Kentucky Derby champion Zev toed the starting line alongside Epsom Derby winner Papyrus, the top colt from England, to compete for a $100,000 purse. Years of Progressive reform efforts had nearly eliminated horse racing in the United States only a decade earlier. But for weeks leading up to the match race that would be officially dubbed the International, unprecedented levels of newspaper coverage helped accelerate American horse racing's return from the brink of extinction. In this book, James C. Nicholson explores the convergent professional lives of the major players involved in the Horse Race of the Century, including Zev's oil-tycoon owner Harry Sinclair, and exposes the central role of politics, money, and ballyhoo in the Jazz Age resurgence of the sport of kings. Zev was an apt national mascot in an era marked by a humming industrial economy, great coziness between government and business interests, and reliance on national mythology as a bulwark against what seemed to be rapid social, cultural, and economic changes. Reflecting some of the contradiction and incongruity of the Roaring Twenties, Americans rallied around the horse that was, in the words of his owner, racing for America, even as that owner was reported to have been engaged in a scheme to defraud the United States of millions of barrels of publicly owned oil. Racing for America provides a parabolic account of a nation struggling to reconcile its traditional values with the complexity of a new era in which the US had become a global superpower trending toward oligarchy, and the world's greatest consumer of commercialized spectacle. |
| kentucky derby: Kentucky Derby , 2003 News, information, and updates about the Kentucky Derby and its contenders. Includes information on the history and social experience of the Derby and on Churchill Downs. |
2026 Kentucky Derby & Oaks | May 1 and May 2, 2026
2026 Kentucky Derby is the 152nd renewal of The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports and will run on May 2nd, 2026. Find live odds, horse bios, travel info, tickets, news, and updates.
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Our Kentucky Derby Leaderboard features the initial Morning Line Odds set following the post-position draw followed by the latest live odds, updated instantly as the wagering unfolds. Watch …
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The Kentucky Derby, often called 'The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports®,' has a storied history dating back to 1875. Held annually on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, …
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No other entertainment event is as alluring, captivating, and thrilling as the Kentucky Derby. Call it what you will—the Run for the Roses®, the Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports®, or America's …
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Apr 26, 2025 · KENTUCKY DERBY. SATURDAY MAY 3, 2025. No other entertainment event is as alluring, captivating, and thrilling as the Kentucky Derby. Call it what you will—the Run for the …
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Experience the thrill and tradition of the Kentucky Derby from every angle. Whether you’re planning a trip to Churchill Downs or celebrating from home, this page guides you through all aspects of …
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Apr 27, 2025 · Let’s meet the 2025 Kentucky Derby horses: The Favorite. Journalism. Santa Anita Derby (G1) and San Felipe (G2) winner Journalism is unbeaten racing one mile or farther and …
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The Kentucky Derby is held annually on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. What time does the Kentucky Derby race start? The exact race time can vary from …
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KENTUCKY DERBY. SATURDAY MAY 2, 2026. No other entertainment event is as alluring, captivating, and thrilling as the Kentucky Derby. Call it what you will—the Run for the Roses®, the …
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Apr 21, 2025 · How Much Will the 2025 Kentucky Derby Winner Earn? Purse Breakdown & Payout Insights from Churchill Downs. The Kentucky Derby isn’t just the most iconic horse race in …
2026 Kentucky Derby & Oaks | May 1 and May 2, 2026
2026 Kentucky Derby is the 152nd renewal of The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports and will run on May 2nd, 2026. Find live odds, horse bios, travel info, tickets, news, and updates.
Kentucky Derby Horses | Kentucky Derby
Our Kentucky Derby Leaderboard features the initial Morning Line Odds set following the post-position draw followed by the latest live odds, updated instantly as the wagering unfolds. …
About - Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby, often called 'The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports®,' has a storied history dating back to 1875. Held annually on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in …
2025 Kentucky Derby | Derby Week Events | Kentucky Derby
No other entertainment event is as alluring, captivating, and thrilling as the Kentucky Derby. Call it what you will—the Run for the Roses®, the Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports®, or …
Come To The Derby - Kentucky Derby
Apr 26, 2025 · KENTUCKY DERBY. SATURDAY MAY 3, 2025. No other entertainment event is as alluring, captivating, and thrilling as the Kentucky Derby. Call it what you will—the Run for …
Experience - Kentucky Derby
Experience the thrill and tradition of the Kentucky Derby from every angle. Whether you’re planning a trip to Churchill Downs or celebrating from home, this page guides you through all …
Introducing the 2025 Kentucky Derby contenders
Apr 27, 2025 · Let’s meet the 2025 Kentucky Derby horses: The Favorite. Journalism. Santa Anita Derby (G1) and San Felipe (G2) winner Journalism is unbeaten racing one mile or farther and …
Ticket Information - Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is held annually on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. What time does the Kentucky Derby race start? The exact race time can vary from …
Tickets - Kentucky Derby
KENTUCKY DERBY. SATURDAY MAY 2, 2026. No other entertainment event is as alluring, captivating, and thrilling as the Kentucky Derby. Call it what you will—the Run for the Roses®, …
Kentucky Derby 2025 Payout: Winner’s Purse & Prize Money
Apr 21, 2025 · How Much Will the 2025 Kentucky Derby Winner Earn? Purse Breakdown & Payout Insights from Churchill Downs. The Kentucky Derby isn’t just the most iconic horse …
