Legends of Kentucky Derby betting

With the Run for the Roses taking place tomorrow, Al Dannity looks over some of the greatest moments in the Kentucky Derby’s history.

The Kentucky Derby has long been a pioneering event in sport. Long before Jackie Robinson broke the colour barrier in Baseball, African Americans dominated the race winning 15 of 28 derbies between 1875 and 1902. The first ever woman to own a starter, Laska Durnell, succeeded at the first attempt when Elwood took the win in 1904. Even the horses have been pioneers with Regret, in 1915, becoming the first filly to win the race. While the meritocracy of the race is long established, it’s the individual moments that make it stand out.

Sir Barton in 1919 set the standard for greatness in modern horse-racing, taking the honours at Churchill Downs as the first leg what would become the first ever triple-crown won by a horse. This benchmark would be only matched by the greatest of horses and their names would live through generations. Giants like War Admiral in 1937, Citation in 1948, and then, after a 25 year wait for another, Secretariat in 1973. This is the place where legends are made.

The wait for another triple-crown winner wouldn’t be long. In 1977 Seattle Slew managed to win the Kentucky Derby and add the Preakness and Belmont Stakes. A year later Affirmed matched its feat. Then came the silence. Since 1978 no horse has managed to go all the way. There have been close calls but, despite only winning in Churchill Downs, none more famous than Barbaro.

Tragedy can move us in all sorts of ways. The story of Barbaro is of what might have been. Having won a famous Run for the Roses in 2006, the three-year-old shattered its leg two weeks later at the Preakness. The following January Barbaro died and horse racing betting fans mourned the loss of such wonderful potential.

Churchill Downs doesn’t just create great stories out of tragedy. The rise to prominence of I’ll Have another was again a case of what could have been but its story didn’t end in heartbreak. The winner of the Kentucky Derby last year, at 15-1 odds, added the Preakness Stakes two weeks later but it didn’t have another race. Pulled due to injury before the Belmont Stakes, the wait for triple-crown champion would continue. Spare a thought however for young Mario Gutierrez. The jockey that rode I’ll Have Another to such success will be in Churchill Downs tomorrow but he won’t be in the big one. Without a mount for the Kentucky Derby, Gutierrez will have to watch from the stands for the greatest two minutes in sport.