What’s in a Millionaire – Kentucky Derby 2020
Street Sense (2007), California Chrome (2014), American Pharoah (2015) and Nyquist (2016) are the only horses that entered the Kentucky Derby with at least $1 million in career earnings and won the race.
American Pharoah – Photo Courtesy of NYRA-Adam Coglianese
Overall, a total of 55 millionaires have run in the Kentucky Derby, and 17 were post-time favorites, although millionaires Timber Country and Serena’s Song were coupled in 1995. The filly Althea was the first millionaire to contest the Derby in 1984.
The record of millionaires in the Kentucky Derby is 55-4-6-5.
Some other notable horses to have contested the Kentucky Derby with millionaire status are champions Game Winner, Classic Empire, Good Magic, Lookin at Lucky, as well as Thunder Snow, Lani, Union Rags, Unbridled’s Song, Arazi, Best Pal, Easy Goer, Snow Chief and Chief’s Crown.
Miriam Lee has always been a horse racing fan thanks to trips to the tracks in her home state of Maryland with her father as kid. She owns an OTTB and is an advocate for promoting the sport among her peers. Miriam studies communication arts at Hood College and will receive her master’s degree in 2021, which she plans to use for a career in screenwriting. Her all-time favorite racehorse is Man O War.