The 150th Kentucky Derby Marks a Historic Moment, And It Makes Every Modern American Sports Tradition Look Infantile
Before airplanes and space travel, radio and television, the Great Depression, and two world wars, there lived a horse race in Louisville that's stood the test of time. Baseball may be the Derby's only elder sport in America’s young history, but I would argue the Derby tradition is an even deeper relic of the past. The first race was run in 1875, 30-plus years after Abner Doubleday created baseball, just six years after the first recorded game of Ivy Leaguers tackling each other, and more than a decade before James Naismith first hung a peach basket on a pole. The sport of horse racing itself? Timeless. One only needs to dig into Europe's history to see Roman chariots and coliseums dating back hundreds (and thousands) of years.
[ Fun Fact: Modern American sports pale in comparison to the tradition and fortitude of a 150-year event. Super Bowls (57), NBA titles (75), The Masters (88), Stanley Cups (107), Indy 500s (107), and even the World Series (119) fall short. ]
Sports history is full of trial and error. Leagues have come and gone and shifts in governance will never stop, but there’s something simple and timeless about the fastest two minutes in sports. The charm of southern-midwest vibes are laced throughout Churchill Downs' historic experience. Mint juleps, made with Kentucky Bourbon, originated in the 1700s. The wide-brimmed hats transport fans back to an era (both good and bad) of classical elegance. An era when betting on horses was not only commonplace but the main (and only?) draw in sports. A century-and-a-half later, the Derby's attraction is only growing.
Since 1875 — The 150th Anniversary
Diehard Derby lovers probably know the history, but general sports fans may not. The Kentucky Derby was first created by Col. Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr., the founder of the Louisville Jockey Club. He constructed the track on land leased from a pair of relatives, the Churchills. The first race was run on May 17, 1875. A jockey by the name of Oliver Lewis rode H.P. McGrath’s thoroughbred Aristides to victory in front of approximately 10,000 fans. The modern-day event now draws around 170,000 in-person spectators on top of an average 15 million television viewers. In the 150 years since 1875, it’s only been postponed twice (never canceled). The first for World War II (1945) and again due to COVID-19 (2020).
Riding The Ponies
One of the big reasons for the Derby’s transcendence through time is the excitement of a two-minute bet. The Kentucky Derby is the fourth-most bet-on sporting event in the world despite lasting just 120 seconds. The three atop the list won’t surprise you, but the Derby still garners more wagers than the World Series, all golf and tennis majors, the NBA and NHL playoffs, and even college football.
The Most Bet-On Sporting Events
1. FIFA World Cup
2. Super Bowl
3. March Madness
4. Kentucky Derby
Traditions, Roses & Recent Derby Upsets
We mentioned the mint juleps and fashionable hats, known as ‘fascinators’ or bowling hats, but the roses hold significance in this iconic race. All in all, there are 554 roses sewn into the garland that crowns the winning horse. But which horse has the best road to the roses? This year’s field is full of favorites, including five horses with 10-1 odds or better. But don’t count out the “dark horses” and long shots. The last two winners were surprises, including Mage (15-1) last year, and Rich Strike at 80-1 in 2022. I’ll never forget that Rich Strike call from Larry Collmus.
KY Derby Odds (Top-5 & Long Shots)
Gate 17: Fierceness (5-2)
Gate 2: Sierra Leone (3-1)
Gate 4: Catching Freedom (8-1)
Gate 8: Just a Touch (10-1)
Gate 11: Forever Young (10-1)
Dark Horses: Mystik Dan & Resilience (20-1)
*Both Horses Won 2 Recent Events
Long Shots: Epic Man & West Saratoga (50-1)
Tomorrow’s 150th call will be nothing short of historic. Grab a julep, dust off the fascinator, and sacrifice two minutes of your day for one of sport's epic traditions.
Race Start
150th Kentucky Derby (Sat. 6:57 pm ET, NBC)
Read More
NBC Sports: Previewing the 150th Kentucky Derby: Odds, Horses & Analysis
Sporting News: Who is Attending the Kentucky Derby? Full List of Celebrities From Aaron Rodgers to Jack Harlow
The Athletic: Ghosts of the Kentucky Derby: From Lewis & Clark to the Race’s Near Demise (+Paywall)