By US Racing Team
The excitement of the Kentucky Derby is never restricted to just the two minutes or so in which the races run. In the weeks leading up to the annual event, contenders jump onto and off the probables lists daily and the hype builds steadily up until and through the time the gates swing open. But nothing is as exciting, likely, then the last few seconds of the race as the winner cruises down the lane to the win by daylight, or especially when he (or she) just gets up in time. The Derby outcome has been decided by less than a length on 42 occasions, but has been won by four lengths or more 23 times.
Largest Winning Margins:
Old Rosebud: 1914, 8 lengths
Johnstown: 1939, 8 lengths
Whirlaway: 1941, 8 lengths
Assault: 1946, 8 lengths
Mine That Bird: 2009, 6 ¾ lengths
Barbaro: 2006, 6 ½ lengths
Chant: 1894, 6 lengths
Hoop Jr.: 1945, 6 lengths
Spend a Buck: 1985, 5 ¼ lengths
Halma: 1895, 5 lengths
Sir Barton: 191,9 5 lengths
Bubbling Over: 1926, 5 lengths
Burgoo King: 1932, 5 lengths
Dust Commander: 1970, 5 lengths
Monarchos: 2001, 4 ¾ lengths
Big Brown: 2008, 4 ¾ lengths
Pensive: 1944, 4 ½ lengths
Hindoo: 1881, 4 lengths
Lookout: 1893, 4 lengths
Wintergreen: 1909, 4 lengths
Twenty Grand: 1931, 4 lengths
Count Turf: 1951, 4 lengths
War Emblem: 2002, 4 lengths
Smallest Winning Margins:
Spokane: 1889, nose
Azra: 1892, nose
Ben Brush: 1896, nose
Plaudit: 1898, nose
Alan-a-Dale: 1902, nose
Brokers Tip: 1933, nose
Iron Liege: 1957 nose
Tomy Lee: 1959, nose
Grindstone: 1996, nose
Paul Jones: 1920, head
Behave Yourself: 1921, head
Whiskery: 1927, head
Bold Venture: 1936, head
Jet Pilot: 1947, head
Dark Star: 1953, head
Silver Charm: 1997, head
Joe Cotton: 1885, neck
ZTyphoon II: 1897, neck
Worth: 1912, neck
George Smith: 1916, neck
Northern Dancer: 1964, neck
Lucky Debonair: 1965, neck
Majestic Prince: 1969, neck
Winning Colors: 1988, neck
Charismatic: 1999, neck
Apollo: 1882, ½ length
Ben Ali: 1886, ½ length
Kingman: 1891, ½ length
Elwood: 1904, ½ length
Donau: 1910, ½ length
Donerail: 1913, ½ length
Black Gold: 1924, ½ length
Tim Tam: 1958, ½ length
Kauai King: 1966, ½ length
Real Quiet: 1998, ½ length
Giacomo: 2005, ½ length
Judge Himes: 1903, ¾ length
Meridian: 1911, ¾ length
Needles: 1956 ¾ length
Carry Back: 1961, ¾ length
Pleasant Colony: 1981, ¾ length
Alysheba: 1987, ¾ length
Rich Strike: 2022, ¾ length
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hit Show | Franco | Brad H. Cox | West, Gary and Mary | 30-1 |
| 2 | Verifying | Gaffalione | Brad H. Cox | Poulin, Jonathan, Westerberg, Magnier, Mrs. John, Smith, Derrick and Tabor, Michael B. | 15-1 |
| 3 | Two Phil’s | Loveberry | Larry Rivelli | Patricia’s Hope LLC and Sagan, Phillip | 12-1 |
| 4 | Conficence Game | Graham | J. Keith Desormeaux | Don’t Tell My Wife Stables | 20-1 |
| 5 | Tapit Trice | Saez | Todd A. Pletcher | Whisper Hill Farm, LLC and Gainesway Stable (Antony Beck) | 5-1 |
| 6 | Kingbarns | J. Ortiz | Todd A. Pletcher | Spendthrift Farm LLC | 12-1 |
| 7 | Reincarnate | Velazquez | Tim Yakteen | SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Masterson, Robert E., Stonestreet Stables LLC, Schoenfarber, Jay A., Waves Edge Capital LLC and Donovan, Catherine | 50-1 |
| 8 | Mage | Castellano | Gustavo Delgado | OGMA Investments, LLC, Restrepo, Ramiro, Sterling Racing LLC and CMNWLTH | 15-1 |
| SCR | Skinner | Hernandez | John A. Shirreffs | C R K Stable | 20-1 |
| SCR | Practical Move | Vazquez | Tim Yakteen | Amestoy, Jr., Pierre Jean, Amestoy, Leslie A. and Beasley, Roger K. | SCR |
| 9 | Disarm | Rosario | Steven M. Asmussen | Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC | 30/1 |
| 10 | Jace’s Road | Geroux | Brad H. Cox | West Point Thoroughbreds and Albaugh Family Stables LLC | 15-1 |
| 11 | Sun Thunder | Hernandez Jr | Kenneth G. McPeek | R.T Racing Stable and Cypress Creek Equine | 30-1 |
| 12 | Angel Of Empire | Prat | Brad H. Cox | Albaugh Family Stables LLC | 8-1 |
| SCR | Forte | I. Ortiz JR. | Todd A. Pletcher | Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable | 3-1 |
| 13 | Raise Can | Corrales | Ben Colebrook | Warren, Andrew and Warren, Rania | 15-1 |
| 14 | Derma Sotogake | Lemaire | Hidetaka Otonashi | Hiroyuki Asanuma | 10-1 |
| 15 | Rocket Can | Alvarado | William I. Mott | Frank Fletcher Racing Operations, Inc. | 15-1 |
| SCR | Lord Miles | Lopez | Todd A. Pletcher | Vegso Racing Stable | 30-1 |
| SCR | Continuar | Sakai | Yoshito Yahagi | Lion Race Horse Co. Ltd. | 50-1 |
| 16 | Cyclone Mischief | J. Rosario | D. Romans | Albaugh Family Stables LLC and Castleton Lyons. | 30-1 |
| 17 | Mandarin Hero | Kazushi Kimura | Terunobu Fujita | Hiroaki Arai. | 20-1 |
| 18 | King Russell | Rafael Bejarano | Ron Moquett | Jones, Brereton C. and Naber Racing, LLC | 50-1 |
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
