what horses are racing in the kentucky derby

Thoroughbred horses participate in the renowned Kentucky Derby, an iconic horse race held annually in Louisville, Kentucky. These equine athletes are specifically bred for racing and possess exceptional speed, endurance, and athleticism. Through rigorous training and meticulous care, they are conditioned to perform at their peak on the historic racetrack. The Kentucky Derby showcases the extraordinary abilities of Thoroughbred horses, attracting spectators worldwide to witness their thrilling race for victory.

Breed Requirements

To qualify for the Kentucky Derby, horses must meet specific breed requirements. Thoroughbreds are the only breed allowed to compete in the race. Thoroughbreds are a specific breed of horse that is known for its speed and athleticism. They are descended from three foundation sires: the Byerley Turk, the Darley Arabian, and the Godolphin Arabian.

Thoroughbreds are typically bay, brown, or black in color. They have a long, lean body with a deep chest and powerful hindquarters. They are known for their intelligence and trainability, which makes them ideal for racing.

In addition to being a Thoroughbred, horses must also meet the following requirements to qualify for the Kentucky Derby:

  • Be at least three years old
  • Be nominated to the Triple Crown series
  • Have earned enough points in qualifying races

The Kentucky Derby is one of the most prestigious races in the world, and it is a dream of many horse owners and trainers to win it. The race is a true test of a horse’s speed, stamina, and athleticism.

Breed Color Height Weight
Thoroughbred Bay, brown, or black 15.2-17 hands 900-1,200 pounds

Notable Bloodlines

The Kentucky Derby is one of the most prestigious horse races in the world, and it attracts some of the best thoroughbreds in the country. Many of these horses come from notable bloodlines, which can give them a significant advantage in the race.

Some of the most common bloodlines in the Kentucky Derby include:

  • Northern Dancer

  • Mr. Prospector

  • Seattle Slew

  • Secretariat

    These bloodlines have produced some of the most successful horses in the history of the Kentucky Derby, including:

    Horse Year Bloodline
    Secretariat 1973 Northern Dancer
    Seattle Slew 1977 Northern Dancer
    Smarty Jones 2004 Mr. Prospector
    American Pharoah 2015 Mr. Prospector Horses from these bloodlines are often highly prized by trainers and owners, and they can be expected to perform well in the Kentucky Derby. ## The Road to the Kentucky Derby The Kentucky Derby is one of the most prestigious horse races in the world, and it’s only open to the best three-year-old thoroughbreds. To qualify for the Derby, horses must earn points in a series of prep races known as the “Road to the Kentucky Derby.” The top 20 point earners get to run in the Derby. - Horses earn points by finishing in the top four in designated prep races. - The more prestigious the prep race, the more points are awarded. - Horses can only earn points in one prep race per week. The prep races are held all over the country, and they start in the early spring. The most important prep races are the Kentucky Derby Trial, the Santa Anita Derby, and the Wood Memorial Stakes. The Kentucky Derby is a 1 1/4-mile race, and it’s run on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. It’s a challenging race, but it’s also one of the most exciting in the world. ## Points System for the Top 5 Kentucky Derby Races Race1st2nd3rd4thKentucky Derby Trial100402010Santa Anita Derby100402010Wood Memorial Stakes100402010Blue Grass Stakes5020105Louisiana Derby5020105 ## What are Age and Gender Considerations in the Kentucky Derby The Kentucky Derby is one of the most prestigious horse races in the world. It is run annually at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, and is open to three-year-old thoroughbred horses. There are no gender restrictions for horses entered in the Kentucky Derby, but there are some age considerations. ### Age Considerations - Horses must be three years old to enter the Kentucky Derby. - There is no upper age limit for horses entered in the Kentucky Derby. - However, older horses are less likely to win the race. ### Gender Considerations There are no gender restrictions for horses entered in the Kentucky Derby. However, colts (male horses) have won the race more often than fillies (female horses). In fact, only four fillies have ever won the Kentucky Derby. YearHorseGender1875AristidesColt1884ModestyFillly1896Ben BrushColt1902TartanColt1908Stone StreetColt1915RegretFillly1917Omar KhayyamColt1921Behave YourselfColt1928Reigh CountColt1930Gallant FoxColt1935OmahaColt1937War AdmiralColt1940WhirlawayColt1943Count FleetColt1946AssaultColt1948CitationColt1950MiddlegroundColt1952Hill GailColt1954DetermineColt1955SwapsColt1956NeedlesColt1957Iron LiegeColt1958Tim TamColt1959Silver CharmColt1960Venetian WayColt1961Carry BackColt1962DecidedlyColt1963ChateaugayColt1964Northern DancerColt1965Lucky DebonairColt1966Kauai KingColt1967Proud ClarionColt1968Forward PassColt1969Vaguely NobleColt1970Dust CommanderColt1971Canonero IIColt1972Riva RidgeColt1973SecretariatColt1974CannonadeColt1975Foolish PleasureColt1976Bold ForbesColt1977Seattle SlewColt1978AffirmedColt1979Spectacular BidColt1980Genuine RiskFillly1981Pleasant ColonyColt1982Gate DancerColt1983Sunny’s HaloColt1984SwaleColt1985Spend A BuckColt1986FernandezColt1987AlyshebaColt1988Winning ColorsFillly1989Sunday SilenceColt1990UnbridledColt1991Strike the GoldColt1992Go for GinColt1993Sea HeroColt1994Go for GinColt1995Thunder GulchColt1996CharismaticColt1997Silver CharmColt1998Real QuietColt1999CharismaticColt2000Fusaichi PegasusColt2001MonarchosColt2002War EmblemColt2003Funny CideColt2004Smarty JonesColt2005GiacomoColt2006Barbar Well folks, there you have it. The contenders are all set for the big race at Churchill Downs. We’ll have to wait until Saturday to see who emerges victorious, but one thing is for sure – it’s going to be an exciting race. Thanks for reading, and be sure to come back soon for all the latest coverage of the Kentucky Derby!

You Might Also Like