Who won the Kentucky Derby the year you were born?
The Kentucky Derby has taken place for more than 140 years and counting. The first leg of the Triple Crown is arguably the most famous, and the winners are remembered for ages. So who won the year you were born? Take a look at the Kentucky Derby winners since the race's inception.
2022: Rich Strike
Entering the Kentucky Derby at 80-1 odds, Rich Strike ran true to his name. He won the race running with a time of 2:02.61.
2021: Mandaloun
Mandaloun finished second to Medina Spirit at the Kentucky Derby. However, he was later anointed the winner when Medina Spirit was disqualified for testing positive for betamethasone.
2020: Authentic
Authentic made the best of a fast track with a blazing time of 2:00.61 to win the Kentucky Derby. The win marked the sixth Kentucky Derby for trainer Bob Baffert.
2019: Country House
Maximum Security crossed the finish line first, but his disqualification crowned Country House as the Kentucky Derby winner in 2019. His winning time was 2:03.93.
2018: Justify
Jockey Mike Smith rode Justify to a Kentucky Derby win, and the horse became the first since 1882 to win the race despite not racing as a 2-year-old. The 2:04.20 time gave trainer Bob Baffert his fifth Kentucky Derby victory.
2017: Always Dreaming
In the 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby, Always Dreaming held off Classic Empire, Lookin At Lee and Battle of Midway to win the first leg of the Triple Crown. Jockey John Velazquez won for the second time, after winning his first Kentucky Derby in 2011 riding Animal Kingdom.
2016: Nyquist
Nyquist became just the second horse to complete the Juvenile-Derby double, winning the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile before taking home the 2016 Kentucky Derby. The 2-1 favorite didn’t disappoint, winning by more than a length in Louisville. The horse’s Triple Crown dreams were dashed at the Preakness Stakes, where he finished third.
2015: American Pharoah
American Pharoah was the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978. Trainer Bob Baffert finally claimed the Triple Crown after coming so close previously with Silver Charm, Real Quiet and War Emblem. American Pharoah later became the first horse ever to complete the Grand Slam, winning the Triple Crown and the Breeders' Cup.
2014: California Chrome
California Chrome won both the Derby and Preakness before finishing fourth place at Belmont.
2013: Orb
Orb won the 2013 Kentucky Derby with a time of 2:02:89.
2012: I'll Have Another
I'll Have Another won both the Derby and Preakness before being scratched the day before Belmont.
2011: Animal Kingdom
Animal Kingdom won the 2011 Kentucky Derby and finished in second place at the Preakness.
2010: Super Saver
Jockey Calvin Borel won back-to-back Derbies and his third in four years with Super Saver.
2009: Mine That Bird
Jockey Calvin Borel won his second Derby in three years, this time with Mine That Bird. The horse finished second at the Preakness Stakes.
2008: Big Brown
Big Brown won the Derby and Preakness before failing to finish at Belmont.
2007: Street Sense
Street Sense won the Kentucky Derby in 2007 before finishing in second place at the Preakness Stakes.
2006: Barbaro
Barbaro won the Kentucky Derby before breaking his right hind leg at the Preakness Stakes.
2005: Giacomo
Giacomo was an unlikely winner of the 2005 Kentucky Derby at 50-1.
2004: Smarty Jones
Smarty Jones finished first at the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes but could not complete the Triple Crown, finishing in second place at the Belmont Stakes.
2003: Funny Cide
Funny Cide won the Derby and Preakness before finishing third at the Belmont Stakes.
2002: War Emblem
War Emblem was trainer Bob Baffert's third win at the Kentucky Derby. The horse also won the Preakness before finishing second at Belmont.
2001: Monarchos
Monarchos' time at the 2001 Derby was the second fastest ever.
2000: Fusaichi Pegasus
Fusaichi Pegasus came into the Derby as the favorite and won before finishing second at the Preakness Stakes.
1999: Charismatic
Charismatic won the Kentucky Derby as a long shot at 31-1.
1998: Real Quiet
Real Quiet made it back-to-back wins for trainer Bob Baffert. He also won the Preakness before finishing second at Belmont by only four inches.
1997: Silver Charm
Jockey Gary Stevens won his third Derby, this year with Silver Charm. The horse was trainer Bob Baffert's first Derby winner. Silver Charm also won the Preakness and finished second at Belmont by half a length.
1996: Grindstone
Trainer D. Wayne Lukas claimed victory at the Derby for the second straight year, this time with Grindstone, the son of 1990 winner Unbridled.
1995: Thunder Gulch
Jockey Gary Stevens won his second Derby, with Thunder Gulch, and he also won at Belmont.
1994: Go for Gin
Go for Gin finished first in the Derby before finishing second in both the Preakness and Belmont.
1993: Sea Hero
Sea Hero won the Kentucky Derby with odds of nearly 13-1.
1992: Lil E. Tee
Lil E. Tee won the Kentucky Derby in 1992 with odds of 17-1.
1991: Strike the Gold
Strike the Gold won the Kentucky Derby in 1991 and finished second at Belmont.
1990: Unbridled
Unbridled won the Derby in 1990 and created a legendary stud record after his racing days were finished.
1989: Sunday Silence
Trainer Charlie Whittingham won his second Derby in four years in 1989 with Sunday Silence.
1988: Winning Colors
Legendary trainer D. Wayne Lukas claimed his first Kentucky Derby win in 1988 with Winning Colors.
1987: Alysheba
Alysheba won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness before finishing fourth at Belmont.
1986: Ferdinand
Ferdinand won the Kentucky Derby in 1986 and the Breeders' Cup Classic in 1987.
1985: Spend A Buck
Spend A Buck won the Kentucky Derby by 5-and-3/4 lengths in 1985.
1984: Swale
The son of Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew, Swale won the Kentucky Derby in 1984.
1983: Sunny's Halo
Jockey Eddie Delahoussaye won his second consecutive Kentucky Derby in 1983 with Sunny's Halo.
1982: Gato Del Sol
Gato Del Sol won the Kentucky Derby in 1982 with odds of 21-1.
1981: Pleasant Colony
Pleasant Colony won the 1981 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes before finishing third in the Belmont Stakes.
1980: Genuine Risk
Genuine Risk was only the second filly to win the Kentucky Derby and the first filly to finish in the money in all three Triple Crown races.
1979: Spectacular Bid
Spectacular Bid won the Kentucky Derby in 1979 with a time of 2:02:40.
1978: Affirmed
Affirmed made it back-to-back Triple Crown winners in 1978. He won the Derby with a time of 2:01:20.
1977: Seattle Slew
Seattle Slew won the first leg of his eventual Triple Crown with a time of 2:02:20.
1976: Bold Forbes
Bold Forbes won the Derby in 1976, giving jockey Angel Cordero Jr. his second win in three years.
1975: Foolish Pleasure
Foolish Pleasure won the Derby in 1975 with a time of 2:02:00.
1974: Cannonade
Cannonade won the Derby in 1974 with a time of 2:04:00
1973: Secretariat
Considered the greatest racehorse ever, Secretariat set a record time of 1:59:40 in the first leg of his Triple Crown. The record time still stands today.
1972: Riva Ridge
Famed jockey Ron Turcotte won his first Kentucky Derby, with Riva Ridge in 1972.
1971: Canonero II
Canonero II won in 1971 with a time of 2:03:20.
1970: Dust Commander
Dust Commander claimed victory in 1970 with a time of 2:03:40.
1969: Majestic Prince
Majestic Prince won the Derby in 1969 with a time of 2:01:80.
1968: Forward Pass
Dancer's Image finished first in 1968 but was disqualified after testing positive for a banned drug. Forward Pass was ruled the winner.
1967: Proud Clarion
Proud Clarion had a fast time of 2:00:60 in 1967.
1966: Kauai King
Kauai King won in 1966 with a time of 2:02:00.
1965: Lucky Debonair
Jockey Bill Shoemaker won his first Derby since 1955, with Lucky Debonair.
1964: Northern Dancer
Northern Dancer set a Kentucky Derby record with a time of 2:00:00 even.
1963: Chateaugay
Chateaugay won in 1963 with a time of 2:01:80.
1962: Decidedly
Decidedly set a record time of 2:00:40 in 1962. The record would only stand for two years.
1961: Carry Back
Carry Back won the Kentucky Derby in 1961.
1960: Venetian Way
Venetian Way won the Derby in 1960 with a time of 2:02:40.
1959: Tomy Lee
Tomy Lee won in 1959 with a fast time of 2:02:20.
1958: Tim Tam
Trainer Jimmy Jones claimed back-to-back Derby victories when his horse, Tim Tam, won the Derby in 1958.
1957: Iron Liege
Iron Liege won the Derby in 1957 with a time of 2:02:20.
1956: Needles
Needles won the Derby in 1956 with a time of 2:03:40.
1955: Swaps
Swaps won the 1955 Derby with a fast time of 02:01:80.
1954: Determine
Determine won in 1954 with a time of 2:03:00.
1953: Dark Star
Dark Star won with a time of 2:02:00 in 1953.
1952: Hill Gail
Trainer Ben A. Jones had his third Derby winner in five years with Hill Gail in 1952.
1951: Count Turf
Count Turf won the Derby with a time of 2:02:60 in 1951.
1950: Middleground
Middleground won the Derby in 1950 with a fast time of 2:01:60.
1949: Ponder
Ponder had the same trainer and owner as 1948 Triple Crown winner, Citation, winning the Derby in 1949.
1948: Citation
Citation was the second Triple Crown winner in three years in 1948.
1947: Jet Pilot
Jet Pilot won the Kentucky Derby in 1947 with a time of 2:06:80.
1946: Assault
Assault won the first leg of his eventual Triple Crown in 1946. He won the Derby the eight lengths.
1945: Hoop Jr.
Hoop Jr. won the Kentucky Derby in 1945 with a time of 2:07:00.
1935-1944
1935: Omaha (pictured); 1936: Bold Venture; 1937: War Admiral; 1938: Lawrin; 1939: Johnstown; 1940: Gallahadion; 1941: Whirlaway; 1942: Shut Out; 1943: Count Fleet; 1944: Pensive
1925-1934
1925: Flying Ebony; 1926: Bubbling Over; 1927: Whiskery; 1928: Reigh Count; 1929: Clyde Van Dusen; 1930: Gallant Fox; 1931: Twenty Grand; 1932: Burgoo King; 1933: Brokers Tip (pictured); 1934: Cavalcade
1915-1924
1915: Regret; 1916: George Smith; 1917: Omar Khayyam; 1918: Exterminator; 1919: Sir Barton (pictured); 1920: Paul Jones; 1921: Behave Yourself; 1922: Morvich; 1923: Zev; 1924: Black Gold
1905-1914
1905: Agile; 1906: Sir Huon; 1907: Pink Star; 1908: Stone Street; 1909: Wintergreen; 1910: Donau; 1911: Meridian; 1912: Worth; 1913: Donerail; 1914: Old Rosebud
1895-1904
1895: Halma; 1896: Ben Brush; 1897: Typhoon II; 1898: Plaudit; 1899: Manuel; 1900: Lieut. Gibson; 1901: His Eminence (pictured); 1902: Alan-a-Dale; 1903: Judge Himes; 1904: Elwood
1885-1894
1885: Joe Cotton (pictured); 1886: Ben Ali; 1887: Montrose; 1888: Macbeth II; 1889: Spokane; 1890: Riley; 1891: Kingman; 1892: Azra ;1893: Lookout; 1894: Chant
1875-1884
1875: Aristides (statue pictured); 1876: Vagrant; 1877: Baden-Baden; 1878: Day Star; 1879: Lord Murphy; 1880: Fonso; 1881: Hindoo; 1882: Apollo; 1883: Leonatus; 1884: Buchanan
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