The Kentucky Derby is one of the most storied events in American sports. The legendary horse race is known for its traditions—mint julep, anyone?—and its long, colourful history. Held annually since 1875, the derby is the oldest American sporting event still being staged, and it is widely considered the most prestigious in horse racing. Only three-year-old Thoroughbreds are allowed to compete, and since 1896 each race has covered 1.25 miles (about 2,000 metres).
With five Kentucky Derby wins apiece, jockeys Eddie Arcaro and Bill Hartack share the record for most victories. And although the race has been called “the most exciting two minutes in sports,” only two horses have crossed the finish line in under two minutes: Secretariat (1973) and Monarchos (2001). Other notable winners include War Admiral (1937), Seattle Slew (1977), American Pharoah (2015), and Justify (2018), all of which went on to capture the Triple Crown. The table provides a list of the Kentucky Derby’s winning horses and their jockeys.
| year | horse | jockey |
|---|---|---|
| 1The initial winner, Dancer's Image, was disqualified. | ||
| 2Fastest time—1 min 59 2/5 sec. | ||
| 3The initial winner, Maximum Security, was disqualified. | ||
| 4The initial winner, Medina Spirit, was disqualified. | ||
| 1875 | Aristides | O. Lewis |
| 1876 | Vagrant | B. Swim |
| 1877 | Baden-Baden | W. Walker |
| 1878 | Day Star | J. Carter |
| 1879 | Lord Murphy | C. Shauer |
| 1880 | Fonso | G. Lewis |
| 1881 | Hindoo | J. McLaughlin |
| 1882 | Apollo | B. Hurd |
| 1883 | Leonatus | W. Donohue |
| 1884 | Buchanan | I. Murphy |
| 1885 | Joe Cotton | E. Henderson |
| 1886 | Ben Ali | P. Duffy |
| 1887 | Montrose | I. Lewis |
| 1888 | Macbeth II | G. Covington |
| 1889 | Spokane | T. Kiley |
| 1890 | Riley | I. Murphy |
| 1891 | Kingman | I. Murphy |
| 1892 | Azra | A. Clayton |
| 1893 | Lookout | E. Kunze |
| 1894 | Chant | F. Goodale |
| 1895 | Halma | J. Perkins |
| 1896 | Ben Brush | W. Simms |
| 1897 | Typhoon II | F. Garner |
| 1898 | Plaudit | W. Simms |
| 1899 | Manuel | F. Taral |
| 1900 | Lieut. Gibson | J. Boland |
| 1901 | His Eminence | J. Winkfield |
| 1902 | Alan-a-Dale | J. Winkfield |
| 1903 | Judge Himes | H. Booker |
| 1904 | Elwood | F. Prior |
| 1905 | Agile | J. Martin |
| 1906 | Sir Huon | R. Troxler |
| 1907 | Pink Star | A. Minder |
| 1908 | Stone Street | A. Pickens |
| 1909 | Wintergreen | V. Powers |
| 1910 | Donau | F. Herbert |
| 1911 | Meridian | G. Archibald |
| 1912 | Worth | C.H. Shilling |
| 1913 | Donerail | R. Goose |
| 1914 | Old Rosebud | J. McCabe |
| 1915 | Regret | J. Nolter |
| 1916 | George Smith | J. Loftus |
| 1917 | Omar Khayyam | C. Borel |
| 1918 | Exterminator | W. Knapp |
| 1919 | Sir Barton | J. Loftus |
| 1920 | Paul Jones | T. Rice |
| 1921 | Behave Yourself | C. Thompson |
| 1922 | Morvich | A. Johnson |
| 1923 | Zev | E. Sande |
| 1924 | Black Gold | J.D. Mooney |
| 1925 | Flying Ebony | E. Sande |
| 1926 | Bubbling Over | A. Johnson |
| 1927 | Whiskery | L. McAtee |
| 1928 | Reigh Count | C. Lang |
| 1929 | Clyde Van Dusen | L. McAtee |
| 1930 | Gallant Fox | E. Sande |
| 1931 | Twenty Grand | C. Kurtsinger |
| 1932 | Burgoo King | E. James |
| 1933 | Brokers Tip | D. Meade |
| 1934 | Cavalcade | M. Garner |
| 1935 | Omaha | W. Saunders |
| 1936 | Bold Venture | I. Hanford |
| 1937 | War Admiral | C. Kurtsinger |
| 1938 | Lawrin | E. Arcaro |
| 1939 | Johnstown | J. Scout |
| 1940 | Gallahadion | C. Bierman |
| 1941 | Whirlaway | E. Arcaro |
| 1942 | Shut Out | W.D. Wright |
| 1943 | Count Fleet | J. Longden |
| 1944 | Pensive | C. McCreary |
| 1945 | Hoop Jr. | E. Arcaro |
| 1946 | Assault | W. Mehrtens |
| 1947 | Jet Pilot | E. Guerin |
| 1948 | Citation | E. Arcaro |
| 1949 | Ponder | S. Brooks |
| 1950 | Middleground | W. Boland |
| 1951 | Count Turf | C. McCreary |
| 1952 | Hill Gail | E. Arcaro |
| 1953 | Dark Star | H. Moreno |
| 1954 | Determine | R. York |
| 1955 | Swaps | W. Shoemaker |
| 1956 | Needles | D. Erb |
| 1957 | Iron Liege | W. Hartack |
| 1958 | Tim Tam | I. Valenzuela |
| 1959 | Tomy Lee | W. Shoemaker |
| 1960 | Venetian Way | W. Hartack |
| 1961 | Carry Back | J. Sellers |
| 1962 | Decidedly | W. Hartack |
| 1963 | Chateaugay | B. Baeza |
| 1964 | Northern Dancer | W. Hartack |
| 1965 | Lucky Debonair | W. Shoemaker |
| 1966 | Kauai King | D. Brumfield |
| 1967 | Proud Clarion | R. Ussery |
| 1968 | Forward Pass1 | I. Valenzuela |
| 1969 | Majestic Prince | W. Hartack |
| 1970 | Dust Commander | M. Manganello |
| 1971 | Canonero II | G. Avila |
| 1972 | Riva Ridge | R. Turcotte |
| 1973 | Secretariat2 | R. Turcotte |
| 1974 | Cannonade | A. Cordero, Jr. |
| 1975 | Foolish Pleasure | J. Vasquez |
| 1976 | Bold Forbes | A. Cordero, Jr. |
| 1977 | Seattle Slew | J. Cruguet |
| 1978 | Affirmed | S. Cauthen |
| 1979 | Spectacular Bid | R. Franklin |
| 1980 | Genuine Risk | J. Vasquez |
| 1981 | Pleasant Colony | J. Velasquez |
| 1982 | Gato del Sol | E. Delahoussaye |
| 1983 | Sunny's Halo | E. Delahoussaye |
| 1984 | Swale | L. Pincay |
| 1985 | Spend a Buck | A. Cordero, Jr. |
| 1986 | Ferdinand | W. Shoemaker |
| 1987 | Alysheba | C. McCarron |
| 1988 | Winning Colors | G. Stevens |
| 1989 | Sunday Silence | P. Valenzuela |
| 1990 | Unbridled | C. Perret |
| 1991 | Strike the Gold | C. Antley |
| 1992 | Lil E. Tee | P. Day |
| 1993 | Sea Hero | J. Bailey |
| 1994 | Go For Gin | C. McCarron |
| 1995 | Thunder Gulch | G. Stevens |
| 1996 | Grindstone | J. Bailey |
| 1997 | Silver Charm | G. Stevens |
| 1998 | Real Quiet | K. Desormeaux |
| 1999 | Charismatic | C. Antley |
| 2000 | Fusaichi Pegasus | K. Desormeaux |
| 2001 | Monarchos | J. Chavez |
| 2002 | War Emblem | V. Espinoza |
| 2003 | Funny Cide | J. Santos |
| 2004 | Smarty Jones | S. Elliott |
| 2005 | Giacomo | M. Smith |
| 2006 | Barbaro | E. Prado |
| 2007 | Street Sense | C. Borel |
| 2008 | Big Brown | K. Desormeaux |
| 2009 | Mine That Bird | C. Borel |
| 2010 | Super Saver | C. Borel |
| 2011 | Animal Kingdom | J. Velazquez |
| 2012 | I'll Have Another | M. Gutierrez |
| 2013 | Orb | J. Rosario |
| 2014 | California Chrome | V. Espinoza |
| 2015 | American Pharoah | V. Espinoza |
| 2016 | Nyquist | M. Gutierrez |
| 2017 | Always Dreaming | J. Velazquez |
| 2018 | Justify | M. Smith |
| 2019 | Country House3 | F. Prat |
| 2020 | Authentic | J. Velazquez |
| 2021 | Mandaloun4 | F. Geroux |
| 2022 | Rich Strike | S. Leon |
| 2023 | Mage | J. Castellano |
| 2024 | Mystik Dan | B. Hernandez, Jr. |