Ben Brush wins the Derby, and he receives a floral arrangement of white and pink roses.ġ899 – Founder of the Kentucky Derby, Colonel Meriwether Lewis Clark, commits suicide on April 22, 1899, just twelve days before the 25th running of the Kentucky Derby, where Manuel wins.ġ903 – Now under the leadership of Colonel Matt J. Halma wins the Derby.ġ896 – It is thought that the distance of the Derby race is too long for three year old Thoroughbreds that early in the spring, so the distance of the Derby race is shortened from one and a half miles to one and a quarter miles. Chant wins the Derby.ġ895 – The famed Twin Spires greet the Kentucky Derby crowd, on May 6th. Spokane wins the Derby.ġ894 – Due to the growing crowd size, a 285-foot grandstand is constructed to accommodate race fans. Aristides races 1.5 miles to win, in a field of fifteen horses, in front of a crowd of 10,000 spectators.ġ883 – Leonatus wins the Derby, and the name “Churchill Downs” is first used to landmark the racetrack that is the home of the Kentucky Derby.ġ889 – Bookmakers demand that Colonel Clark remove pari-mutuel betting machines, because they are cutting into the bookmakers profits. You’ll learn about special events in the history of the Kentucky Derby, like legendary horse performances, record-setting race facts and significant changes in the celebration of the Kentucky Derby.ġ874 – Colonel Meriwether Lewis Clark forms the Louisville Jockey Club and acquires land for racetrack from his uncles John & Henry Churchill.ġ875 – The first Kentucky Derby race takes place on May 17th. From shortening the distance of the race, the introduction of traditions like draping the winning horse in a garland of roses, to the growing size of Derby crowds, the Kentucky Derby has embraced the change of time, while honoring the integrity of the spectacle race set forth by Meriwether Lewis Clark.įollow the timeline below to see just how far the Kentucky Derby has come since 1875.
Aristides was the first winner of the Kentucky Derby.Īs with any major event, the Kentucky Derby has undergone various changes over the course of three centuries. A total of fifteen three-year-old Thoroughbred horses raced one and a half miles in front of a cheering crowd of approximately 10,000 spectators. On May 17th, 1875, the racetrack opened its gates and the Louisville Jockey Club sponsored the very first Kentucky Derby. With the help of his uncle’s John & Henry Churchill, who gifted Clark the necessary land to develop a racetrack, and by formally organizing a group of local race fans to be named the Louisville Jockey Club, Clark and his new club raised funds to build a permanent racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky. Clark was inspired by his travels and experiences, and, upon his return, was determined to create a spectacle horse racing event in the States. While there, Clark attended the Epsom Derby in England, a well-known horse race run since 1780, and also fraternized with the French Jockey Club, a group that developed another popular horse race, the Grand Prix de Paris Longchamps. The Kentucky Derby’s long history began in 1872, when Meriwether Lewis Clark, the grandson of William Clark – of the famed pair Lewis and Clark – traveled to Europe. The race is often referred to as "The Run for the Roses®" and has continuously produced “the most exciting two minutes in sports” uninterrupted, even when coinciding with profound historical events like The Great Depression and World Wars I & II.
The Kentucky Derby is the longest running sporting event in the United States, dating back to 1875. It’s rich traditions – sipping a mint julep, donning a beautiful hat, and joining fellow race fans in singing “My Old Kentucky Home” – transcend the Kentucky Derby from just a sporting event, making it a celebration of southern culture and a true icon of Americana.
There are few American sporting events with the history and popularity of the Kentucky Derby.