More Kentucky Derby Trivia
Figures, Facts, Data Equal the Run For The Roses in May
History and stastistics make up Kentucky Derby lore, but there's also the personality of the horses themselves. There have been stalkers, closers, and front runners.
The Kentucky Derby, the first Saturday in May, the hats, the mint juleps, the track party suites, the competitive jockeys, the intense trainers, the happy owners -- the Thoroughbred runners, each horse with his own will, his own way, his own say -- they all are the essence of Derby day at Churchill Downs.
Facts and Stats:
In the last 37 Kentucky Derbies, only five winning horses have led the field at every marker. Match them with the years they raced in the Run for the Roses if you can.
- Riva Ridge
- Bold Forbes
- Spend a Buck
- the filly Winning Colors
- War Emblem
- 1985 --- 2002 --- 1988 --- 1972 --- 1976
In years past, the Wood Memorial was the bellwether race that many times also produced the Kentucky Derby winner. In two decades, the 1970s and the 1980s, it was Thoroughbred racing's most popular Derby prep race.
1. Since 1970, 10 Wood Memorial champions have gone on to win the Kentucky Derby. What race in this time frame has produced the most KD winners, and how many?
2. Florida Derby -- 11
1. Can you name the next most productive race that was won and also led to Derby victory?
2. Blue Grass Stakes - 9 ----- Arkansas Derby - 9
Kentucky Derby Post Positions Are Usually A Factor in a Thoroughbred's chances to win the Run for the Roses.
1. One of the post positions has not produced a KD winner since Ferdinand in 1986. Which one?
2. Position Number One
1. Since the turn of the 19th Century, however, position Number One has been very successful. It, and position Number Five have seen 12 winners apiece. Can you name the next most victorious positions?
2. Position Number Four and Position Number Ten -- 10 winners each
1. Two of the post positions have not produced a single KD winner. Name them.
2. Number 17 and Number 19
1. Two of the post positions have yielded just one win apiece. Which are they?
2. Number 18 and Number 20
Here are the rest of the winning position figures since 1900:
- Position Number Two -- 9 winners
- Number Three -- 8 winners
- Number Six -- 6
- Number Seven -- 8
- Number Eight -- 9
- Number Nine -- 4
- Number Eleven -- 3
- Number Twelve -- 3
- Number Thirteen -- 4
- Number Fourteen -- 2
- Number Fifteen -- 3
- Number Sixteen -- 3
The numbers for 35,000 foals born annually boil down to 20 three-year-old Kentucky Derby entrants each season.
