Now that the Kentucky Derby is once again on the horizon, he may well break the team. A look through the pages of Derby’s past reveals some details.
Will the first horse ever win the Kentucky Derby? Several maiden horses have won the Kentucky Derby. (There is a virgin horse that has never won a race.) Among them is Sir Barton, the first Triple Crown winner in 1919. Another it was the Brokers plan that won the controversial ‘end of battle’ in 1933. (horoughbredtimes.com)
When was the first ‘photo finish’? The first photo finish was used to determine the winner in 1947. The judges needed a photo to judge Jet Pilot Phalanx and he won flawlessly to the wire. (Bryant)
Have two father-son sons ever won the Kentucky Derby? There have been several sons-in-law of horses that have won the Kentucky Derby. But there were two of another kind of “three”, where three successive generations took all the roses. The first series involved 1928 Derby winner Earl Reigh, who sired 1943 Derby winner (and Triple Crown winner) Fleet, who again sired 1951 Derby winner Earl Turf. The second trio begins with the 1944 Derby winner Pensive, who sired the 1949 Derby winner, who sired the 1956 Derby winner Pin. (Bryant)
Have two horses ever run in the Kentucky Derby at the same time? What is more incredible about Pensive and Pensive San Juan Capistrano, which is an even longer race of 1 and ¾ miles. The second gray horse to win the Derby was a son of Decidedly in 1962, who broke Whirlaway’s season record. (Bryant, pedigreequery.com)
The Kentucky Derby is actually the first time any of these young horses will try the mile and a quarter distance. Or is it? Few people knew that Canonero II had already run and won in the Derby, or that they could have put their two bucks on him in 1971. Quinetiam ran on a high track and at an elevation of 3,000. feet, in Venice, whence he had come. His South American record is six out of ten races (and three thirds wins) when it comes to chasing roses. After winning the roses, at the Preakness in Maryland, he joined the black-eyed Suzanne. When he had attempted a mile and a half to Bellovac, he had a cold and other ailments; and yet up to a quarter. Canonero II later returned to his native Venezuela, where he died in 1981 (Bryant, pedigreequery.com)
Can a horse win the Kentucky Derby without running prep? It was also long enough that entrants should have run at least to run three courses in order to make the space suitable for running. However, Exterminator won the Kentucky Derby in his first attempt at the age of three, in 1918. He was purchased by his new owners only ten days before the race as workers for their star, Briar sun. Since Sol Briar just wasn’t sharp enough to run, they decided to enter the exterminator instead. What wonder, when the cheap works of May have all been won. (Bryant)
Who broke the two-minute mark in the Kentucky Derby? Both Secretariat and the second horse Sham broke the two-minute mark (for the Derby event?) .It was particularly notable that he had hit his face against the start of the gate , except for that other horse (Bryant, Jewel).
What do Battle Emblem and Raven’s Crossing have in common? Sir at Battle was the sire of both the 2002 Kentucky Derby winner (Belli Emblem) and the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner (Raven’s Crossing). He also sired his runner, Pioneerof the Nile, a Bob Baffert trainee who was second in the 2009 Kentucky Derby to That Bird of Mine. The owner at Bell was an Argentine gentleman who won the Santa Anita Stakes 25 years ago. Trained by Charlie Whittingham, he beat Gate Dancer, Life Magic, and Greinton (GB). He went on to post 47 stakes winners and a total payout of over $30 million. (This was back when something was worth millions.) (Thoroughbredtimes.com)
Who was the oldest driver and trainer to win the Run for the Roses? My candidate for oldest winning trainer driver is Bill Sutor and Charlie Whittingham. In 1986, they brought a horse named Ferdinand into the winner’s circle. Whittingham has only had two previous runners in the Derby, neither of which he has leased, so he is set to return only if he is viable. He was 73, and the tailor was a mere boy of 54. When the trainer was asked why he had chosen such an old tailor, he replied, “Well, he’s not that old. I’m 73!” Bill had ridden three previous winners in 24 attempts, but it was a long drought of 21 years since his trip to the Derby winner’s circle was previewed. Ah, life only gets interesting over fifty… (Bryant)
Sources:
Bryant, Beverly, Portraits of Kentucky Derby Winners, 1995, Health Communications, FL.
CBS/FOX Video Sports, 1989, New York.
Pedigree Query, pedigreequery.com, shows stakes tables in addition to family trees, 2010.
Times, (online archive), Lexington, KY.
