2008 Kentucky Derby
The 2008 Kentucky Derby was the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby. The race took place on May 3, 2008 with 157,770 in attendance, the second largest in Derby history. Post time was 6:15 p.m. EDT and was televised in the United States on the NBC television network.
Big Brown won the race by nearly 5 lengths. Eight Belles, the second-place finisher and the first filly to run the Derby in nine years, was euthanized following the end of the race after fracturing both front ankles while galloping out. It is believed to be the first fatality in Kentucky Derby history.
Payout
;The 134th Kentucky Derby Payout Schedule| Program Number | Horse Name | Win | Place | Show |
| 20 | Big Brown | $ 6.80 | $5.00 | $4.80 |
| 5 | Eight Belles | - | $10.60 | $6.40 |
| 16 | Denis of Cork | - | - | $11.60 |
- $2 Exacta Paid $141.60
- $2 Trifecta Paid $3,445.60
- $2 Superfecta Paid $58,737.80
Field
| Finished | Time/ Behind | Post | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Odds |
| 1 | 20 | Big Brown | Kent Desormeaux | Richard E. Dutrow, Jr. | IEAH Stables & Paul Pompa Jr. | 2-1 | |
| 2 | 04 | 5 | Eight Belles | Gabriel Saez | Larry Jones | Fox Hill Farms, Inc. | 13-1 |
| 3 | 08 | 16 | Denis of Cork | Calvin Borel | David Carroll | Mr. & Mrs. William K. Warren Jr. | 27-1 |
| 4 | 11 | 2 | Tale of Ekati | Eibar Coa | Barclay Tagg | Charles E. Fipke | 37-1 |
| 5 | 11 | 18 | Recapturetheglory | E. T. Baird | Louie J. Roussel III | Louie J. Roussel III & Ronald Lamarque | 49-1 |
| 6 | 14 | 10 | Colonel John | Corey Nakatani | Eoin G. Harty | WinStar Farm LLC | 9-2 |
| 7 | 15 | 3 | Anak Nakal | Rafael Bejarano | Nick Zito | Four Roses Thoroughbreds LLC | 53-1 |
| 8 | 15 | 9 | Pyro | Shaun Bridgmohan | Steve Asmussen | Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC | 5-1 |
| 9 | 15 | 17 | Cowboy Cal | John Velazquez | Todd Pletcher | Stonerside Stable | 39-1 |
| 10 | 19 | 6 | Z Fortune | Robby Albarado | Steve Asmussen | Zayat Stables, LLC | 19-1 |
| 11 | 21 | 12 | Smooth Air | Manoel Cruz | Bennie Stutts Jr. | Mount Joy Stables, Inc. | 42-1 |
| 12 | 22 | 8 | Visionaire | Jose Lezcano | Michael Matz | Team Valor & Vision Racing LLC | 25-1 |
| 13 | 24 | 4 | Court Vision | Garrett Gomez | William I. Mott | IEAH Stables & WinStar Farm LLC | 17-1 |
| 14 | 24 | 11 | Z Humor | Rene Douglas | William I. Mott | Zayat Stables, LLC | 63-1 |
| 15 | 31 | 1 | Cool Coal Man | Julien Leparoux | Nick Zito | Robert V. LaPenta | 44-1 |
| 16 | 32 | 13 | Bob Black Jack | Richard Migliore | James Kasparoff | Jeff Harmon & Tim Kasparoff | 29-1 |
| 17 | 36 | 19 | Gayego | Mike E. Smith | Paulo Lobo | Cubanacan Stables | 18-1 |
| 18 | 48 | 7 | Big Truck | Javier Castellano | Barclay Tagg | Eric Fein | 28-1 |
| 19 | 50 | 15 | Adriano | Edgar Prado | Graham Motion | Courtlandt Farms | 28-1 |
| 20 | 59 | 14 | Monba | Ramon Dominguez | Todd Pletcher | Starlight, Lucarelli & Saylor | 31-1 |
Subsequent Grade I wins
Several horses recorded Grade I wins after the Derby.- Big Brown – Preakness Stakes, Haskell Invitational
- Bob Black Jack – Malibu Stakes
- Colonel John – Travers Stakes
- Court Vision – Hollywood Derby, 2009 Turf Mile Stakes, 2010 Breeders' Cup Mile, Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap, Woodbine Mile
- Gayego – 2009 Ancient Title Stakes
- Pyro – 2009 Forego Stakes
- Tale of Ekati – Cigar Mile
- Visionaire – King's Bishop Stakes
Subsequent breeding careers
Big Brown
Colonel John
- La Coronel – Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Stakes
- Storm the Court – 2019 American champion 3yo, Breeders' Cup Juvenile
- Mr. Havercamp – 2018 Canadian champion older horse
- King and His Court – 2016 Canadian champion 2yo
- Girvin – Haskell Invitational