Brushing Up on Kentucky Derby Trivia

With the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby coming up on Saturday, now is a good time to brush up on some Derby Trivia.

After all, for some horseplayers, this is about the only time of year some of our relatives talk to us. Friends you have not heard from in a year mysteriously call, knowing you are a bettor, asking, “Who do you like in the Derby on Saturday?”

Loving the Ladies: Only three fillies have won the Run for the Roses. Regret in 1915, Genuine Risk in 1980 and Winning Colors in 1988. The ill-fated Eight Belles finished second in last year’s Derby behind Big Brown.

Top Jocks: Eddie Arcaro and Bill Hartack are tied among jockeys for most Derby wins with five. Bill Shoemaker won four. The most of any active jockey is Kent Desormeaux, who picked up his third victory last year aboard Big Brown. His previous Derby winners were Real Quiet in 1998 and Fusaichi Pegasus in 2000.

The Fast Track: Only one of the last 14 runnings of the Derby was contested over a wet track. That was in 2004 when Smarty Jones was a popular winner over a sloppy surface.

More on the Ladies: No female has trained or ridden a Derby winner, although there have been a few close calls. Trainer Shelly Riley was the trainer of Casual Lies, who finished second in the 1992 Derby behind Lil E. Tee. No female jockey has cracked the top ten. Julie Krone is the only female jockey to have more than one Derby mount. She checked in 14th on Ecstatic Ride in 1992 and 11th on Suave Prospect in 1995.

Lighting Up the Toteboard: Giacomo lit up the toteboard in 2005, returning $102.60 and topping a $1 superfecta payoff of $864,253.50, but he was not the longest price to win a Derby. That distinction goes to Donerail, who won the 1913 Derby, returning $184.90 for a $2 ticket. Don’t ask what the superfecta paid. There were no exotic wagers back then.

Born in the Blue Grass: There have been 134 runnings of the Derby, and 101 of the winners were born in Kentucky. Florida is second on the list with six. It is safe to say Kentucky will stay on top of the list for at least another century.

Geldings in the Derby: If you do not know what a gelding is, check Google, it is too painful for me to explain. There have been over 100 geldings that have started in the Derby, but just two winners. Clyde Van Dusen won the Derby sans his “equipment” in 1929, and Funny Cide did the same in 2003.

Border Patrol: There have been about 20 horses that were based outside of the U.S. who have attempted to win the Derby. In recent years, horses coming from the United Arab Emirates have tried to take home the roses, and two are entered this year. The only horse based outside of the U.S. that won the Derby was Canonero II, who was based in Venezuela and took home top honors in the 1971 Derby.

Two Minute Warning: Only two horses in the history of the Derby have completed the 1 ¼ miles in less than two minutes. One is easy. Secretariat holds the record for the fastest time, stopping the clock in the 1973 Derby in 1:59 2/5. The colt went on to win the Triple Crown. The other is Monarchos, who was clocked in 1:59.97 over a fast track in 2001. Northern Dancer was timed in 2:00 flat in his victory in 1964.