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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
California Chrome won both the Derby and Preakness before finishing fourth place at Belmont.
Orb won the 2013 Kentucky Derby with a time of 2:02:89.
I'll Have Another won both the Derby and Preakness before being scratched the day before Belmont.
Animal Kingdom won the 2011 Kentucky Derby and finished in second place at the Preakness.
Jockey Calvin Borel won back-to-back Derbies and his third in four years with Super Saver.
Jockey Calvin Borel won his second Derby in three years, this time with Mine That Bird. The horse finished second at the Preakness Stakes.
Big Brown won the Derby and Preakness before failing to finish at Belmont.
Street Sense won the Kentucky Derby in 2007 before finishing in second place at the Preakness Stakes.
Barbaro won the Kentucky Derby before breaking his right hind leg at the Preakness Stakes.
Giacomo was an unlikely winner of the 2005 Kentucky Derby at 50-1.
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.
Funny Cide won the Derby and Preakness before finishing third at the Belmont Stakes.
War Emblem was trainer Bob Baffert's third win at the Kentucky Derby. The horse also won the Preakness before finishing second at Belmont.
Monarchos' time at the 2001 Derby was the second fastest ever.
Fusaichi Pegasus came into the Derby as the favorite and won before finishing second at the Preakness Stakes.
Charismatic won the Kentucky Derby as a long shot at 31-1.
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.
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.
Trainer D. Wayne Lukas claimed victory at the Derby for the second straight year, this time with Grindstone, the son of 1990 winner Unbridled.
Jockey Gary Stevens won his second Derby, with Thunder Gulch, and he also won at Belmont.
Go for Gin finished first in the Derby before finishing second in both the Preakness and Belmont.
Sea Hero won the Kentucky Derby with odds of nearly 13-1.
Lil E. Tee won the Kentucky Derby in 1992 with odds of 17-1.
Strike the Gold won the Kentucky Derby in 1991 and finished second at Belmont.
Unbridled won the Derby in 1990 and created a legendary stud record after his racing days were finished.
Trainer Charlie Whittingham won his second Derby in four years in 1989 with Sunday Silence.
Legendary trainer D. Wayne Lukas claimed his first Kentucky Derby win in 1988 with Winning Colors.
Alysheba won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness before finishing fourth at Belmont.
Ferdinand won the Kentucky Derby in 1986 and the Breeders' Cup Classic in 1987.
Spend A Buck won the Kentucky Derby by 5-and-3/4 lengths in 1985.
The son of Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew, Swale won the Kentucky Derby in 1984.
Jockey Eddie Delahoussaye won his second consecutive Kentucky Derby in 1983 with Sunny's Halo.
Gato Del Sol won the Kentucky Derby in 1982 with odds of 21-1.
Pleasant Colony won the 1981 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes before finishing third in the Belmont Stakes.
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.
Spectacular Bid won the Kentucky Derby in 1979 with a time of 2:02:40.
Affirmed made it back-to-back Triple Crown winners in 1978. He won the Derby with a time of 2:01:20.
Seattle Slew won the first leg of his eventual Triple Crown with a time of 2:02:20.
Bold Forbes won the Derby in 1976, giving jockey Angel Cordero Jr. his second win in three years.
Foolish Pleasure won the Derby in 1975 with a time of 2:02:00.
Cannonade won the Derby in 1974 with a time of 2:04:00
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.
Famed jockey Ron Turcotte won his first Kentucky Derby, with Riva Ridge in 1972.
Canonero II won in 1971 with a time of 2:03:20.
Dust Commander claimed victory in 1970 with a time of 2:03:40.
Majestic Prince won the Derby in 1969 with a time of 2:01:80.
Dancer's Image finished first in 1968 but was disqualified after testing positive for a banned drug. Forward Pass was ruled the winner.
Proud Clarion had a fast time of 2:00:60 in 1967.
Jockey Bill Shoemaker won his first Derby since 1955, with Lucky Debonair.
Northern Dancer set a Kentucky Derby record with a time of 2:00:00 even.
Decidedly set a record time of 2:00:40 in 1962. The record would only stand for two years.
Venetian Way won the Derby in 1960 with a time of 2:02:40.
Trainer Jimmy Jones claimed back-to-back Derby victories when his horse, Tim Tam, won the Derby in 1958.
Iron Liege won the Derby in 1957 with a time of 2:02:20.
Needles won the Derby in 1956 with a time of 2:03:40.
Determine won in 1954 with a time of 2:03:00.
Dark Star won with a time of 2:02:00 in 1953.
Trainer Ben A. Jones had his third Derby winner in five years with Hill Gail in 1952.
Count Turf won the Derby with a time of 2:02:60 in 1951.
Middleground won the Derby in 1950 with a fast time of 2:01:60.
Ponder had the same trainer and owner as 1948 Triple Crown winner, Citation, winning the Derby in 1949.
Citation was the second Triple Crown winner in three years in 1948.
Jet Pilot won the Kentucky Derby in 1947 with a time of 2:06:80.
Assault won the first leg of his eventual Triple Crown in 1946. He won the Derby the eight lengths.
Hoop Jr. won the Kentucky Derby in 1945 with a time of 2:07:00.
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: 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: 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: Agile; 1906: Sir Huon; 1907: Pink Star; 1908: Stone Street; 1909: Wintergreen; 1910: Donau; 1911: Meridian; 1912: Worth; 1913: Donerail; 1914: Old Rosebud
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
Seth Trachtman is a sportswriter, digital marketer, and fantasy sports expert based in St. Louis, Missouri. He’s a two-time winner of the Tout Wars Fantasy Baseball Expert’s League, and his work has appeared in hundreds of fantasy baseball and fantasy football newsstand and online publications
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