Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a horse race held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, almost always on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The competition is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds at a distance of at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry and fillies.
It is dubbed "The Run for the Roses," stemming from the blanket of roses draped over the winner. It is also known in the United States as "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports" or "The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports" because of its approximate duration. It is the first leg of the American Triple Crown, followed by the Preakness Stakes, and then the Belmont Stakes. Of the three Triple Crown races, the Kentucky Derby had the distinction of having been run uninterrupted for 144 years previous to 2020. The race was rescheduled to September, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Preakness and Belmont Stakes races had taken hiatuses in 1891–1893 and 1911–1912, respectively. Even with the Olympics and major professional sports leagues canceled at those points, the Derby, Preakness, and Belmont took place during the Great Depression and both World Wars.
A horse must win all three races to win the Triple Crown. In the 2015 listing of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities, the Kentucky Derby tied with the Whitney Handicap as the top Grade 1 race in the United States outside the Breeders' Cup races.
The attendance at the Kentucky Derby ranks first in North America and usually surpasses the attendance numbers of all other stakes races including the Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes, and the Breeders' Cup.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 146th Kentucky Derby was rescheduled from May 2, 2020, to September 5, 2020.
History
In 1872, Col. Meriwether Lewis Clark, Jr., grandson of William Clark of the Lewis and Clark expedition, traveled to England, visiting Epsom in Surrey where The Derby had been running annually since 1780. From there, Clark went on to Paris, France, where a group of racing enthusiasts had formed the French Jockey Club in 1863. They had organized the Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp, which at the time was the greatest race in France.Returning home to Kentucky, Clark organized the Louisville Jockey Club to raise money for building quality racing facilities just outside the city. The track would soon become known as Churchill Downs, named for John and Henry Churchill, who provided the land for the racetrack. The naming went official in 1937.
The Kentucky Derby was first run at 1 1/2 miles the same distance as the Epsom Derby, before changing lengths in 1896 to its current 1 1/4 miles. On May 17, 1875, in front of an estimated crowd of 10,000 people, a field of 15 three-year-old horses contested the first Derby. Under jockey Oliver Lewis, a colt named Aristides, who was trained by future Hall of Famer Ansel Williamson, won the inaugural Derby. Later that year, Lewis rode Aristides to a second-place finish in the Belmont Stakes.
Although the first race meeting proved a success, the track ran into financial difficulties, and in 1894 the New Louisville Jockey Club was incorporated with the new capitalization and improved facilities. Despite this, the business floundered until 1902 when Col. Matt Winn of Louisville put together a syndicate of businessmen to acquire the facility. Under Winn, Churchill Downs prospered, and the Kentucky Derby then became the preeminent stakes race for three-year-old thoroughbred horses in North America.
Thoroughbred owners began sending their successful Derby horses to compete in two other races. These two are the Preakness Stakes at the Pimlico Race Course, in Baltimore, Maryland, and the Belmont Stakes in Elmont, New York. The three races offered large purses, and in 1919 Sir Barton became the first horse to win all three races. However, the term Triple Crown didn't come into use for another eleven years. In 1930, when Gallant Fox became the second horse to win all three races, sportswriter Charles Hatton brought the phrase into American usage. Fueled by the media, public interest in the possibility of a "superhorse" that could win the Triple Crown began in the weeks leading up to the Derby. Two years after the term went in use, the race changed the date to the first Saturday in May. This change allows for a specific schedule for the Triple Crown races. Since 1931, the order of Triple Crown races has been the Kentucky Derby first, followed by the Preakness Stakes and then the Belmont Stakes. Before 1931, eleven times the Preakness was run before the Derby. On May 12, 1917, and again on May 13, 1922, the Preakness and the Derby took place on the same day. On eleven occasions the Belmont Stakes was run before the Preakness Stakes.
in 1901
On May 16, 1925, the first live radio broadcast of the Kentucky Derby aired on WHAS as well as on WGN in Chicago. On May 7, 1949, the first television coverage of the Kentucky Derby took place, produced by WAVE-TV, the NBC affiliate in Louisville. This coverage was aired live in the Louisville market and sent to NBC as a kinescope newsreel recording for national broadcast. On May 3, 1952, the first national television coverage of the Kentucky Derby took place, aired from then-CBS affiliate WHAS-TV. In 1954, the purse exceeded $100,000 for the first time. In 1968, Dancer's Image became the first horse to win the race and then faced disqualification. A urine test revealed traces of phenylbutazone inside Dancer's Image. Forward Pass won after a protracted legal battle by the owners of Dancer's Image. Forward Pass thus became the eighth winner for Calumet Farm. Unexpectedly, the regulations at Kentucky thoroughbred race tracks were changed some years later, allowing horses to run on phenylbutazone. In 1970, Diane Crump became the first female jockey to ride in the Derby, finishing 15th aboard Fathom.
The fastest time ever run in the Derby was in 1973 at 1:59.4 minutes, when Secretariat broke the record set by Northern Dancer in 1964 - a record time yet to be topped. Also during that race, he did something unique in Triple Crown races: for each successive quarter ran, his times were faster. Although the races do not record times for non-winners, in 1973 Sham finished second, two and a half lengths behind Secretariat in the same race. Using the thoroughbred racing convention of one length equaling one-fifth of a second to calculate Sham's time, he also finished in under two minutes. Another sub-two-minute finish, only the third, was set in 2001 by Monarchos at 1:59.97.
In 2005, the purse distribution for the Derby changed, so that horses finishing fifth would henceforth receive a share of the purse; previously only the first four finishers did so.
The Kentucky Derby began offering $3 million in purse money in 2019. Churchill Downs officials have cited the success of historical race wagering terminals at their Derby City Gaming facility in Louisville as a factor behind the purse increase. The Derby first offered a $1 million purse in 1996; then doubled to $2 million in 2005.
A new starting gate with twenty stalls is scheduled to debut for the 2020 Kentucky Derby. Designed by an Australian company, the new contiguous gate will replace the previous method of starting the Derby using the 14-stall main starting gate and a 6-stall auxiliary gate. Churchill officials cited the need for increased horse and rider safety as the reason for using the new starting gate.
In 2020, The Kentucky Derby was postponed from May 2 to September 5 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Attendance
Millions of people from around the world bet at various live tracks and online sportsbooks. In 2017, a crowd of 158,070 watched Always Dreaming win the Derby, making it the seventh biggest attendance in the history of the racetrack. The track reported a wagering total of $209.2 million from all the sources on all the races on the Kentucky Derby Day program. It was a 9 percent increase compared to the total of $192.6 million in 2016 and an increase of 8 percent over the previous record set in 2015 of $194.3 million. TwinSpires, a platform for betting online and a partner of the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders' Cup, recorded $32.8 million in handle on the Churchill Down races for the Kentucky Derby Day program. This record was a 22 percent increase over the preceding year. On the Kentucky Derby race alone, the handle of TwinSpires was $20.1 million, which is a 22 percent rise compared to the prior year.The race often draws celebrities. HM Queen Elizabeth II, on a visit to the United States, joined the racegoers at Churchill Downs in 2007.
Sponsorship
The 2004 Kentucky Derby marked the first time that jockeys—as a result of a court order—were allowed to wear corporate advertising logos on their clothing.Norman Adams has been the designer of the Kentucky Derby Logo since 2002. On February 1, 2006, the Louisville-based fast-food company Yum! Brands, Inc. announced a corporate sponsorship deal to call the race "The Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands." In 2018, Woodford Reserve replaced Yum Brands as the presenting sponsor.
Traditions
In addition to the race itself, several traditions play a significant role in the Derby atmosphere. The mint julep—an iced drink consisting of bourbon, mint, and sugar syrup—is the traditional beverage of the race. The historic beverage comes served in an ice-frosted silver julep cup. However, most Churchill Downs patrons sip theirs from souvenir glasses printed with all previous Derby winners. Also, burgoo, a thick stew of beef, chicken, pork, and vegetables, is a popular Kentucky dish served at the Derby., which was dismantled in 2015
The infield—a spectator area inside the track—offers general admission prices but little chance of seeing much of the race, particularly before the jumbotron installation in 2014. Instead, revelers show up in the infield to party with abandon. By contrast, "Millionaire's Row" refers to the expensive box seats that attract the rich, the famous and the well-connected. Women appear in elegant outfits lavishly accessorized with large, elaborate hats. Following the Call to the Post, as the horses start to parade before the grandstands, the University of Louisville Cardinal Marching Band plays Stephen Foster's "My Old Kentucky Home." This song is a tradition which began in 1921. The event attracts spectators from a large area, flying in hundreds of private aircraft to Louisville International Airport.
The Derby is frequently referred to as "The Run for the Roses," because a lush blanket of 554 red roses is awarded to the Kentucky Derby winner each year. The tradition originated in 1883 when New York socialite E. Berry Wall presented roses to ladies at a post-Derby party. Churchill Downs founder and president, Col. M. Lewis Clark, attended that event. This gesture is believed to have led Clark to the idea of making the rose the race's official flower. However, it was not until 1896 that any recorded account referred to draping roses on the Derby winner. The Governor of Kentucky awards the garland and the Kentucky Derby Trophy. Pop vocalist Dan Fogelberg composed the song "Run for the Roses," released in time for the 1980 running of the race.
Riders Up!
"Riders Up!" is the traditional command from the Paddock Judge for jockeys to mount their horses in advance of the upcoming race. Since 2012, a dignitary or celebrity attendee recites this phrase.Festival
In the weeks preceding the race, numerous activities took place for the Kentucky Derby Festival. Thunder Over Louisville—an airshow and fireworks display—generally begins the festivities in earnest two weeks before the Derby.Records
Speed record:- Mile and a Quarter: 1:59.4 – Secretariat
- Mile and a Half: 2:34.5 – Spokane
- 8 lengths – Old Rosebud, Johnstown, Whirlaway, Assault
- 5 – Eddie Arcaro
- 5 – Bill Hartack
- 6 – Ben A. Jones
- 8 – Calumet Farm
- 91 to 1 – Donerail
- In 2010, Calvin Borel set a new record, being the first jockey to win 3 out of 4 consecutive Kentucky Derbys.
- In 2018, Justify became the first horse since Apollo in 1882, to win the Derby without having raced as a two year old.
- In 2019, Country House won the Kentucky Derby after Maximum Security was disqualified.
Winners
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Track Condition | Time |
| 2019 | Country House | Flavien Prat | Bill Mott | Mrs. J.V. Shields Jr., E. J. M. McFadden Jr. and LNJ Foxwoods | 1 ¼ | Sloppy | 2:03.93 |
| 2018 | Justify | Mike E. Smith | Bob Baffert | China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners, Starlight Racing, WinStar Farm | 1 ¼ | Sloppy | 2:04.20 |
| 2017 | Always Dreaming | John Velazquez | Todd Pletcher | MeB Racing, Brooklyn Boyz, Teresa Viola, St. Elias, Siena Farm, West Point | 1 ¼ | Wet Fast | 2:03.59 |
| 2016 | Nyquist | Mario Gutierrez | Doug O'Neill | J. Paul Reddam | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:01.31 |
| 2015 | American Pharoah | Victor Espinoza | Bob Baffert | Zayat Stables, LLC | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:03.02 |
| 2014 | California Chrome | Victor Espinoza | Art Sherman | Steve Coburn & Perry Martin | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:03.66 |
| 2013 | Orb | Joel Rosario | Claude McGaughey III | Stuart S. Janney III & Phipps Stable | 1 ¼ | Sloppy | 2:02.89 |
| 2012 | I'll Have Another | Mario Gutierrez | Doug O'Neill | J. Paul Reddam | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:01.83 |
| 2011 | Animal Kingdom | John Velazquez | H. Graham Motion | Team Valor International | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:02.04 |
| 2010 | Super Saver | Calvin Borel | Todd Pletcher | WinStar Farm | 1 ¼ | Sloppy | 2:04.45 |
| 2009 | Mine That Bird | Calvin Borel | Bennie L. Woolley Jr. | Double Eagle Ranch et al. | 1 ¼ | Sloppy | 2:02.66 |
| 2008 | Big Brown | Kent Desormeaux | Richard E. Dutrow Jr. | IEAH Stables / P. Pompa | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:01.82 |
| 2007 | Street Sense | Calvin Borel | Carl Nafzger | James B. Tafel | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:02.17 |
| 2006 | Barbaro | Edgar Prado | Michael R. Matz | Lael Stables | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:01.36 |
| 2005 | Giacomo | Mike E. Smith | John Shirreffs | Jerry & Ann Moss | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:02.75 |
| 2004 | Smarty Jones | Stewart Elliott | John Servis | Someday Farm | 1 ¼ | Sloppy | 2:04.06 |
| 2003 | Funny Cide | José A. Santos | Barclay Tagg | Sackatoga Stable | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:01.19 |
| 2002 | War Emblem | Victor Espinoza | Bob Baffert | Thoroughbred Corp. | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:01.13 |
| 2001 | Monarchos | Jorge F. Chavez | John T. Ward Jr. | John C. Oxley | 1 ¼ | Fast | 1:59.97 |
| 2000 | Fusaichi Pegasus | Kent Desormeaux | Neil Drysdale | Fusao Sekiguchi | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:01.0 |
| 1999 | Charismatic | Chris Antley | D. Wayne Lukas | Bob & Beverly Lewis | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:03.2 |
| 1998 | Real Quiet | Kent Desormeaux | Bob Baffert | Michael E. Pegram | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:02.2 |
| 1997 | Silver Charm | Gary Stevens | Bob Baffert | Bob & Beverly Lewis | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:02.4 |
| 1996 | Grindstone | Jerry Bailey | D. Wayne Lukas | Overbrook Farm | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:01.0 |
| 1995 | Thunder Gulch | Gary Stevens | D. Wayne Lukas | Michael Tabor | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:01.2 |
| 1994 | Go for Gin | Chris McCarron | Nick Zito | William J. Condren & Joseph M. Cornacchia | 1 ¼ | Sloppy | 2:03.6 |
| 1993 | Sea Hero | Jerry Bailey | MacKenzie Miller | Rokeby Stables | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:02.4 |
| 1992 | Lil E. Tee | Pat Day | Lynn S. Whiting | W. Cal Partee | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:03.0 |
| 1991 | Strike the Gold | Chris Antley | Nick Zito | BCC Stable | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:03.0 |
| 1990 | Unbridled | Craig Perret | Carl Nafzger | Frances A. Genter | 1 ¼ | Good | 2:02.0 |
| 1989 | Sunday Silence | Pat Valenzuela | Charlie Whittingham | H-G-W Partners | 1 ¼ | Muddy | 2:05.0 |
| 1988 | Winning Colors | Gary Stevens | D. Wayne Lukas | Eugene V. Klein | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:02.2 |
| 1987 | Alysheba | Chris McCarron | Jack Van Berg | D. & P. Scharbauer | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:03.4 |
| 1986 | Ferdinand | Bill Shoemaker | Charlie Whittingham | Elizabeth A. Keck | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:02.8 |
| 1985 | Spend A Buck | Angel Cordero Jr. | Cam Gambolati | Dennis Diaz | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:00.2 |
| 1984 | Swale | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Woody Stephens | Claiborne Farm | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:02.4 |
| 1983 | Sunny's Halo | Eddie Delahoussaye | David C. Cross Jr. | David J. Foster Stable | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:02.2 |
| 1982 | Gato Del Sol | Eddie Delahoussaye | Edwin J. Gregson | Hancock & Peters | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:02.4 |
| 1981 | Pleasant Colony | Jorge Velasquez | John P. Campo | Buckland Farm | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:02.0 |
| 1980 | Genuine Risk | Jacinto Vasquez | LeRoy Jolley | Diana M. Firestone | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:02.0 |
| 1979 | Spectacular Bid | Ronnie Franklin | Bud Delp | Hawksworth Farm | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:02.4 |
| 1978 | Affirmed | Steve Cauthen | Laz Barrera | Harbor View Farm | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:01.2 |
| 1977 | Seattle Slew | Jean Cruguet | William H. Turner Jr. | Karen L. Taylor | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:02.2 |
| 1976 | Bold Forbes | Angel Cordero Jr. | Laz Barrera | E. Rodriguez Tizol | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:01.6 |
| 1975 | Foolish Pleasure | Jacinto Vasquez | LeRoy Jolley | John L. Greer | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:02.0 |
| 1974 | Cannonade | Angel Cordero Jr. | Woody Stephens | John M. Olin | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:04.0 |
| 1973 | Secretariat | Ron Turcotte | Lucien Laurin | Meadow Stable | 1 ¼ | Fast | 1:59.4 |
| 1972 | Riva Ridge | Ron Turcotte | Lucien Laurin | Meadow Stud | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:01.8 |
| 1971 | Canonero II | Gustavo Avila | Juan Arias | Edgar Caibett | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:03.2 |
| 1970 | Dust Commander | Mike Manganello | Don Combs | Robert E. Lehmann | 1 ¼ | Good | 2:03.4 |
| 1969 | Majestic Prince | Bill Hartack | Johnny Longden | Frank M. McMahon | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:01.8 |
| 1968 | Forward Pass | Ismael Valenzuela | Henry Forrest | Calumet Farm | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:02.2 |
| 1967 | Proud Clarion | Bobby Ussery | Loyd Gentry Jr. | Darby Dan Farm | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:00.6 |
| 1966 | Kauai King | Don Brumfield | Henry Forrest | Ford Stable | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:02.0 |
| 1965 | Lucky Debonair | Bill Shoemaker | Frank Catrone | Ada L. Rice | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:01.2 |
| 1964 | Northern Dancer | Bill Hartack | Horatio Luro | Windfields Farm | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:00.0 |
| 1963 | Chateaugay | Braulio Baeza | James P. Conway | Darby Dan Farm | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:01.8 |
| 1962 | Decidedly | Bill Hartack | Horatio Luro | El Peco Ranch | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:00.4 |
| 1961 | Carry Back | Johnny Sellers | Jack A. Price | Katherine Price | 1 ¼ | Good | 2:04.0 |
| 1960 | Venetian Way | Bill Hartack | Victor J. Sovinski | Sunny Blue Farm | 1 ¼ | Good | 2:02.4 |
| 1959 | Tomy Lee | Bill Shoemaker | Frank E. Childs | Fred & Juliette Turner | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:02.2 |
| 1958 | Tim Tam | Ismael Valenzuela | Jimmy Jones | Calumet Farm | 1 ¼ | Muddy | 2:05.0 |
| 1957 | Iron Liege | Bill Hartack | Jimmy Jones | Calumet Farm | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:02.2 |
| 1956 | Needles | David Erb | Hugh L. Fontaine | D & H Stable | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:03.4 |
| 1955 | Swaps | Bill Shoemaker | Mesh Tenney | Rex C. Ellsworth | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:01.8 |
| 1954 | Determine | Raymond York | William Molter | Andrew J. Crevolin | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:03.0 |
| 1953 | Dark Star | Henry E. Moreno | Eddie Hayward | Cain Hoy Stable | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:02.0 |
| 1952 | Hill Gail | Eddie Arcaro | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:01.6 |
| 1951 | Count Turf | Conn McCreary | Sol Rutchick | Jack J. Amiel | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:02.6 |
| 1950 | Middleground | William Boland | Max Hirsch | King Ranch | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:01.6 |
| 1949 | Ponder | Steve Brooks | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:04.2 |
| 1948 | Citation | Eddie Arcaro | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 1 ¼ | Sloppy | 2:05.4 |
| 1947 | Jet Pilot | Eric Guerin | Tom Smith | Maine Chance Farm | 1 ¼ | Slow | 2:06.8 |
| 1946 | Assault | Warren Mehrtens | Max Hirsch | King Ranch | 1 ¼ | Slow | 2:06.6 |
| 1945 | Hoop Jr. | Eddie Arcaro | Ivan H. Parke | Fred W. Hooper | 1 ¼ | Muddy | 2:07.0 |
| 1944 | Pensive | Conn McCreary | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 1 ¼ | Good | 2:04.2 |
| 1943 | Count Fleet | Johnny Longden | Don Cameron | Fannie Hertz | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:04.0 |
| 1942 | Shut Out | Wayne D. Wright | John M. Gaver Sr. | Greentree Stable | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:04.4 |
| 1941 | Whirlaway | Eddie Arcaro | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:01.4 |
| 1940 | Gallahadion | Carroll Bierman | Roy Waldron | Milky Way Farm | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:05.0 |
| 1939 | Johnstown | James Stout | Jim Fitzsimmons | Belair Stud | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:03.4 |
| 1938 | Lawrin | Eddie Arcaro | Ben A. Jones | Herbert M. Woolf | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:04.8 |
| 1937 | War Admiral | Charley Kurtsinger | George Conway | Glen Riddle Farm | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:03.2 |
| 1936 | Bold Venture | Ira Hanford | Max Hirsch | Morton L. Schwartz | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:03.6 |
| 1935 | Omaha | Willie Saunders | Jim Fitzsimmons | Belair Stud | 1 ¼ | Good | 2:05.0 |
| 1934 | Cavalcade | Mack Garner | Bob Smith | Brookmeade Stable | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:04.0 |
| 1933 | Brokers Tip | Don Meade | Herbert J. Thompson | Edward R. Bradley | 1 ¼ | Good | 2:06.8 |
| 1932 | Burgoo King | Eugene James | Herbert J. Thompson | Edward R. Bradley | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:05.2 |
| 1931 | Twenty Grand | Charley Kurtsinger | James G. Rowe Jr. | Greentree Stable | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:01.8 |
| 1930 | Gallant Fox | Earl Sande | Jim Fitzsimmons | Belair Stud | 1 ¼ | Good | 2:07.6 |
| 1929 | Clyde Van Dusen | Linus McAtee | Clyde Van Dusen | Herbert P. Gardner | 1 ¼ | Muddy | 2:10.8 |
| 1928 | Reigh Count | Chick Lang | Bert S. Michell | Fannie Hertz | 1 ¼ | Heavy | 2:10.4 |
| 1927 | Whiskery | Linus McAtee | Fred Hopkins | Harry P. Whitney | 1 ¼ | Slow | 2:06.0 |
| 1926 | Bubbling Over | Albert Johnson | Herbert J. Thompson | Edward R. Bradley | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:03.8 |
| 1925 | Flying Ebony | Earl Sande | William B. Duke | Gifford A. Cochran | 1 ¼ | Sloppy | 2:07.6 |
| 1924 | Black Gold | J. D. Mooney | Hanley Webb | Rosa M. Hoots | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:05.2 |
| 1923 | Zev | Earl Sande | David J. Leary | Rancocas Stable | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:05.4 |
| 1922 | Morvich | Albert Johnson | Fred Burlew | Benjamin Block | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:04.6 |
| 1921 | Behave Yourself | Charles Thompson | Herbert J. Thompson | Edward R. Bradley | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:04.2 |
| 1920 | Paul Jones | Ted Rice | William M. Garth | Ral Parr | 1 ¼ | Slow | 2:09.0 |
| 1919 | Sir Barton | Johnny Loftus | H. Guy Bedwell | J. K. L. Ross | 1 ¼ | Heavy | 2:09.8 |
| 1918 | Exterminator | Willie Knapp | Henry McDaniel | Willis Sharpe Kilmer | 1 ¼ | Muddy | 2:10.8 |
| 1917 | Omar Khayyam | Charles Borel | Charles T. Patterson | Billings & Johnson | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:04.6 |
| 1916 | George Smith | Johnny Loftus | Hollie Hughes | John Sanford | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:04.0 |
| 1915 | Regret | Joe Notter | James G. Rowe Sr. | Harry P. Whitney | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:05.4 |
| 1914 | Old Rosebud | John McCabe | Frank D. Weir | Hamilton C. Applegate | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:03.40 |
| 1913 | Donerail | Roscoe Goose | Thomas P. Hayes | Thomas P. Hayes | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:04.8 |
| 1912 | Worth | Carroll H. Shilling | Frank M. Taylor | Harry C. Hallenbeck | 1 ¼ | Muddy | 2:09.4 |
| 1911 | Meridian | George Archibald | Albert Ewing | Richard F. Carman | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:05.0 |
| 1910 | Donau | Frederick Herbert | George Ham | William Gerst | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:06.4 |
| 1909 | Wintergreen | Vincent Powers | Charles Mack | Jerome B. Respess | 1 ¼ | Slow | 2:08.2 |
| 1908 | Stone Street | Arthur Pickens | J. W. Hall | C. E. & J. W. Hamilton | 1 ¼ | Heavy | 2:15.2 |
| 1907 | Pink Star | Andy Minder | William H. Fizer | J. Hal Woodford | 1 ¼ | Heavy | 2:12.6 |
| 1906 | Sir Huon | Roscoe Troxler | Pete Coyne | Bashford Manor Stable | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:08.8 |
| 1905 | Agile | Jack Martin | Robert Tucker | Samuel S. Brown | 1 ¼ | Heavy | 2:10.75 |
| 1904 | Elwood | Shorty Prior | Charles E. Durnell | Lasca Durnell | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:08.5 |
| 1903 | Judge Himes | Harold Booker | John P. Mayberry | Charles R. Ellison | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:09.0 |
| 1902 | Alan-a-Dale | Jimmy Winkfield | Thomas C. McDowell | Thomas C. McDowell | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:08.75 |
| 1901 | His Eminence | Jimmy Winkfield | Frank B. Van Meter | Frank B. Van Meter | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:07.75 |
| 1900 | Lieut. Gibson | Jimmy Boland | Charles Hughes | Charles H. Smith | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:06.25 |
| 1899 | Manuel | Fred Taral | Robert J. Walden | A. H. & D. H. Morris | 1 ¼ | Fast | 2:12.0 |
| 1898 | Plaudit | Willie Simms | John E. Madden | John E. Madden | 1 ¼ | Good | 2:09.0 |
| 1897 | Typhoon II | Buttons Garner | Julius C. Cahn | Julius C. Cahn | 1 ¼ | Heavy | 2:12.5 |
| 1896 | Ben Brush | Willie Simms | Hardy Campbell Jr. | Mike F. Dwyer | 1 ¼ | Dusty | 2:07.75 |
| 1895 | Halma | James Perkins | Byron McClelland | Byron McClelland | 1 ½ | Fast | 2:37.5 |
| 1894 | Chant | Frank Goodale | H. Eugene Leigh | H. Eugene Leigh & Robert L. Rose | 1 ½ | Fast | 2:41.0 |
| 1893 | Lookout | Eddie Kunze | William McDaniel | Cushing & Orth | 1 ½ | Fast | 2:39.25 |
| 1892 | Azra | Alonzo Clayton | John H. Morris | Bashford Manor Stable | 1 ½ | Heavy | 2:41.5 |
| 1891 | Kingman | Isaac Murphy | Dud Allen | Jacobin Stable | 1 ½ | Fast | 2:52.25 |
| 1890 | Riley | Isaac Murphy | Edward Corrigan | Edward Corrigan | 1 ½ | Muddy | 2:45.0 |
| 1889 | Spokane | Thomas Kiley | John Rodegap | Noah Armstrong | 1 ½ | Fast | 2:34.5 |
| 1888 | Macbeth II | George Covington | John Campbell | Chicago Stable | 1 ½ | Fast | 2:38.25 |
| 1887 | Montrose | Isaac Lewis | John McGinty | Labold Brothers | 1 ½ | Fast | 2:39.25 |
| 1886 | Ben Ali | Paul Duffy | Jim Murphy | J. B. A. Haggin | 1 ½ | Fast | 2:36.5 |
| 1885 | Joe Cotton | Erskine Henderson | Abraham Perry | James T. Williams | 1 ½ | Good | 2:37.25 |
| 1884 | Buchanan | Isaac Murphy | William Bird | Samuel S. Brown & William Cottrill | 1 ½ | Good | 2:40.25 |
| 1883 | Leonatus | Billy Donohue | Raleigh Colston Sr. | Chinn & Morgan | 1 ½ | Heavy | 2:43.0 |
| 1882 | Apollo | Babe Hurd | Green B. Morris | Morris & Patton | 1 ½ | Fast | 2:40.25 |
| 1881 | Hindoo | Jim McLaughlin | James G. Rowe Sr. | Dwyer Bros. Stable | 1 ½ | Fast | 2:40.0 |
| 1880 | Fonso | George Lewis | Tice Hutsell | J. Snell Shawhan | 1 ½ | Dusty | 2:37.50 |
| 1879 | Lord Murphy | Charlie Shauer | George Rice | Darden & Co | 1 ½ | Fast | 2:37.00 |
| 1878 | Day Star | Jimmy Carter | Lee Paul | T. J. Nichols | 1 ½ | Dusty | 2:37.25 |
| 1877 | Baden-Baden | Billy Walker | Edward D. Brown | Daniel Swigert | 1 ½ | Fast | 2:38.0 |
| 1876 | Vagrant | Robert Swim | James Williams | William Astor Jr. | 1 ½ | Fast | 2:38.25 |
| 1875 | Aristides | Oliver Lewis | Ansel Williamson | H. Price McGrath | 1 ½ | Fast | 2:37.75 |
;Notes:
designates a Triple Crown Winner.
designates a filly.