Kentucky Derby

Race Name	Grade	Track
Kentucky Derby	1	Churchill Downs

Kentucky Derby

The Kentucky Derby is run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. It is without a doubt the greatest horse race. The race is also referred to as the ?Run for the Roses? because of the blanket of roses draped over the winner.

The race is contested over 1 and 1/4 miles (10 furlongs) on a dirt track. The race is open to 3 year-olds only and there is a guaranteed purse of $2 million. The field is restricted to a maximum of 20 horses and in the event that more horses are entered qualification is determined by highest earnings in stakes races. This is the first leg of the Triple Crown in the USA, and the race is always run on the first Saturday in May. Kentucky Derby betting for 2007 was $118,317,714, a dip of only 0.1 percent from the record year in 2006 when all "official" wagers on the race came to a total of $118,426,874. The biggest crowd to attend the Kentucky Derby was in 1974 for the 100th running of the race, which was won by Cannonade. The last two years have seen a marked increase in crowd attendance and with it an increase in the amount wagered on the race.

Kentucky Derby Racetrack	Churchill Downs
The Kentucky Derby is run at Churchill Downs. Churchill Downs is a typical American race track - left-handed turns and oval in shape. Major races held at the track besides the Kentucky Derby include the Kentucky Oaks ($500,000), the Turf Classic Stakes ($500,000), and the Stephen Foster Handicap ($750,000).
Churchill Downs betting is known for the guaranteed Pick 4 on the last four races of every card.

Kentucky Derby - Past Winners

2003 Funny Cide
2004 Smarty Jones
2005 Giacomo
2006 Barbaro
2007 Street Sense

The last horse to win the Kentucky Derby and go on to win the Triple Crown was Affirmed in 1978. The last filly to win the race was Winning Colors in 1988. Other famous winners of the race include War Admiral (1937), Northern Dancer (1964), and Secretariat (1973).

Kentucky Derby - Betting

Bookmaker.com Review	5Dimes.com Review