Kentucky derby how many horses run

The first Kentucky Derby in featured 15 horses, and in , a record 23 competed in the th edition of the Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs. The last time anything this wild took place on horseback the riders all had fur hats on them and went around riding down peasants.

Earlie Fires, whose Sharp Gary finished 13th in that Derby, sounded like a jockey straight out of the 21st century. Maximum Security owner: Churchill Downs 'greedy' for allowing 20 horses in Derby.

War of Will trainer sounds off: Maximum Security's Derby ride was like 'a drunk driver'. Maximum Security was disqualified from first place to 17th place after race stewards ruled he interfered other horses on the second turn, the first time a Derby winner had been taken down for interference.

Traffic issues are a given in a horse field and have become as much a part of the Derby experience as mint juleps and jacked-up hotel rates. But why does Churchill Downs subject itself to such criticism when the standard limit for every other major race in the United States — including the Preakness and Belmont — is 14 horses? Kentucky Derby Point Standings Rank. Rattle N Roll. Jack Christopher. Major General. Double Thunder. Tough to Tame.

Classic Causeway. Oviatt Class. Red Knobs. American Sanctuary. My Prankster. Bourbon Heist. See Details. Recent Kentucky Derby Winners Year. Medina Spirit. Country House. Always Dreaming. American Pharoah. California Chrome. I'll Have Another. Animal Kingdom. Super Saver. Q: How do horses earn qualifying points? Q: How many horses can start in the race? Q: Have any fillies won the Kentucky Derby?

Q: Who has won the most? Email Address We need just a few pieces of information and you'll begin receiving our newsletter, right to your inbox! First name:.

Last name:. Cancel Subscribe. For now, we'll start with the basics. Here's everything you want to know about the Kentucky Derby. The Kentucky Derby has been held every year since and has been staged on the first Saturday in May every year since , with two exceptions. Changes this year: From celebrities to a packed infield, here are 5 things we'll miss at Kentucky Derby Photo gallery: Bright colors and florals the top Kentucky Derby fashion trends.

Churchill Downs has a regular capacity of ,, including general admission tickets. About 55, to 60, tickets are reserved seats. Churchill Downs, located on Central Avenue in Louisville, opened in and held the first Kentucky Derby the same year. The history of the Kentucky Derby originates in , when the aforementioned Meriwether Lewis Clark traveled to Europe and attended the Epsom Derby in England, a race run since , and met members of the French Jockey Club.

Inspired by his trip and experience in Europe, he set out to create a similar racing event in the U. Gifted the land to develop a racetrack and, after formally organizing the Louisville Jockey Club, Clark and his new club raised the funding to build Churchill Downs in Louisville. On May 17, , the track opened its gates for the first time and the Louisville Jockey Club sponsored the inaugural Kentucky Derby. In the years since that first running, the Kentucky Derby has evolved and become the most important event on the racing calendar as well as the main focus of horse racing fans every spring, a time when 3-year-old racehorses frequently mature mentally and develop physically into elite athletes.

The pandemic in pushed the Kentucky Derby back to September, however, in it returns to its regular place on the calendar and will be held May 1. The estimated post time when the race is scheduled to be run for the Kentucky Derby is p. Churchill Downs plans to allow fans attendance in a limited capacity with tickets available here as well as health, safety, and ticket information here.

If you are planning to attend, Churchill Downs has a comprehensive guide outlining what to expect from the Derby day experience at Churchill Downs , including what you can and cannot bring in, where to park, and how to make the most of the trip.

Now that you know the nuts and bolts, you need to pick a horse to root for in the Kentucky Derby, but how do you decide? A flashy racehorse might catch your eye or maybe a plain horse with humble beginnings is more your type.

For now, please check out our Triple Crown page that features the leading contenders and links to their profiles or the official Kentucky Derby contenders page for more information.

There obviously are also financial reasons to root for a Kentucky Derby runner. One thing that often sparks the curiosity of newcomers to horse racing is how racehorses get their names. The short answer is that owners get to choose the name of their racehorse, but it must be approved by The Jockey Club, which serves as the official registry for North American Thoroughbred racehorses and has a set of rules for naming horses.

Click image to purchase shirt. But there is so much more to naming racehorses. Sometimes they are inspired by pop culture themes like Star Wars or Star Trek , sometimes a sport or a team is the inspiration, and patriotism is often a central theme for racing stables. Often, stables name racehorses after children or after a dearly departed family member.

Many racehorse sires fathers spark a wave of names.