Horse racing’s most prestigious event, the Kentucky Derby, will be run for the 145th time on Saturday, May 4. It is the oldest continuously held major sporting event in the United States since it was first held in 1875.
Dubbed “the most exciting two minutes in sports,” it draws 150,000 fans to Churchill Downs Racetrack in Louisville each year. It’s no surprise then that the Kentucky Derby is one of the best events held in the state every year.
In recognition of this prestigious sporting event, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the Kentucky Derby Woodford Reserve’s list of winners since the race began in 1875 to compile a list of the Kentucky Derby winners the year you were born.
Included on the list are Triple Crown winners, such as Whirlaway (in 1941), Citation (in 1948), Secretariat (in 1973), Seattle Slew (in 1977), and Affirmed (in 1978).
The Derby track was shortened in 1896 to 1.25 miles from 1.50 miles because the original distance was considered too long for 3-year-old horses, and only 3-year-old thoroughbreds can qualify for the race.
This year’s Kentucky Derby was thrown into chaos Wednesday when race favorite Omaha Beach was scratched because of a breathing issue. The colt developed a cough and an examination indicated he had an entrapped epiglottis, which is not life-threatening. Omaha Beach will need surgery and will be out for three weeks. As of the morning of May 2, Game Winner was the favorite at 5-1, followed by Improbable and Roadster, whose odds are 6-1.
This group of 3-year-olds is seeking equine immortality to join the previous 144 winners of America’s premier horse race. And these are the most iconic horses to race in the Kentucky Derby history.
Click here for to see every Kentucky Derby winner since 1990
1990
> Winner: Unbridled
> Time: 2:02.00
> Jockey: Craig Perret
> Trainer: Carl Nafzger
> Owner: Frances A. Genter
1991
> Winner: Strike the Gold
> Time: 2:03.00
> Jockey: Chris Antley
> Trainer: Nick Zito
> Owner: BCC Stable
1992
> Winner: Lil E. Tee
> Time: 2:03.00
> Jockey: Pat Day
> Trainer: Lynn Whiting
> Owner: W. Cal Partee
1993
> Winner: Sea Hero
> Time: 2:02.00
> Jockey: Jerry Bailey
> Trainer: MacKenzie “Mack” Miller
> Owner: Rokeby Stable
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1994
> Winner: Go for Gin
> Time: 2:03.60
> Jockey: Chris McCarron
> Trainer: Nick Zito
> Owner: William J. Condren & Joseph M. Cornacchia
1995
> Winner: Thunder Gulch
> Time: 2:01.20
> Jockey: Gary Stevens
> Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
> Owner: Michael Tabor
1996
> Winner: Grindstone
> Time: 2:01.00
> Jockey: Jerry Bailey
> Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
> Owner: Overbrook Farm
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1997
> Winner: Silver Charm
> Time: 2:02.40
> Jockey: Gary Stevens
> Trainer: Bob Baffert
> Owner: Robert B. & Beverly J. Lewis
1998
> Winner: Real Quiet
> Time: 2:02.20
> Jockey: Kent Desormeaux
> Trainer: Bob Baffert
> Owner: Mike Pegram
1999
> Winner: Charismatic
> Time: 2:02.29
> Jockey: Chris Antley
> Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
> Owner: Robert B. & Beverly J. Lewis
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2000
> Winner: Fusaichi Pegasus
> Time: 2:01.00
> Jockey: Kent Desormeaux
> Trainer: Neil D. Drysdale
> Owner: Fusao Sekiguchi
2001
> Winner: Monarchos
> Time: 1:59.97
> Jockey: Jorge Chavez
> Trainer: John T. Ward, Jr.
> Owner: John C. Oxley
2002
> Winner: War Emblem
> Time: 2:02.13
> Jockey: Victor Espinoza
> Trainer: Bob Baffert
> Owner: The Thoroughbred Corporation
2003
> Winner: Funny Cide
> Time: 2:01.19
> Jockey: José Santos
> Trainer: Barclay Tagg
> Owner: Sackatoga Stable (Jackson Knowlton)
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2004
> Winner: Smarty Jones
> Time: 2:02.06
> Jockey: Stewart Elliott
> Trainer: John Servis
> Owner: Someday Farm
2005
> Winner: Giacomo
> Time: 2:02.75
> Jockey: Mike Smith
> Trainer: John Shirreffs
> Owner: Mr. & Mrs. Jerome S. Moss
2006
> Winner: Barbaro
> Time: 2:01.36
> Jockey: Edgar Prado
> Trainer: Michael Matz
> Owner: Lael Stables (Roy & Gretchen Jackson)
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2007
> Winner: Street Sense
> Time: 2:02.17
> Jockey: Calvin Borel
> Trainer: Carl Nafzger
> Owner: James B. Tafel
2008
> Winner: Big Brown
> Time: 2:01.82
> Jockey: Kent Desormeaux
> Trainer: Richard Dutrow, Jr.
> Owner: IEAH Stable (Michael Iavarone) and Paul P. Pompa Jr.
2009
> Winner: Mine That Bird
> Time: 2:02.66
> Jockey: Calvin Borel
> Trainer: Bennie Woolley Jr.
> Owner: Double Eagle Ranch & Bueno Suerte Equine
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2010
> Winner: Super Saver
> Time: 2:04.45
> Jockey: Calvin Borel
> Trainer: Todd Pletcher
> Owner: WinStar Farm LLC.
2011
> Winner: Animal Kingdom
> Time: 2:02.04
> Jockey: John Velazquez
> Trainer: H. Graham Motion
> Owner: Team Valor International
2012
> Winner: I’ll Have Another
> Time: 2:01.83
> Jockey: Mario Gutierrez
> Trainer: Doug O’Neill
> Owner: J. Paul Reddam
2013
> Winner: Orb
> Time: 2:02.89
> Jockey: Joel Rosario
> Trainer: Claude R. “Shug” McGaughey III
> Owner: Stuart Janney III & Phipps Stable (Ogden Mills “Dinny” Phipps)
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2014
> Winner: California Chrome
> Time: 2:03.66
> Jockey: Victor Espinoza
> Trainer: Art Sherman
> Owner: Steve and Carolyn Coburn & Perry and Denise Martin
2015
> Winner: American Pharoah
> Time: 2:03.02
> Jockey: Victor Espinoza
> Trainer: Bob Baffert
> Owner: Ahmed Zayat
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> Winner:
> Time: 2:01:31
> Jockey: Mario Gutierrez
> Trainer: Doug F. O’Neill
> Owner: Reddam Racing LLC
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2017
> Winner: Always Dreaming
> Time: 2:03.59
> Jockey: John R. Velazquez
> Trainer: Todd Pletcher
> Owner: Brooklyn Boyz Stables
2018
> Winner: Justify
> Time: 2:04.20
> Jockey: Mike E. Smith
> Trainer: Bob Baffert
> Owner: China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners, Starlight Racing and WinStar Farms
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