Derby History
The location in which the Kentucky Derby is held.
What is Louisville, Kentucky at Churchill Downs.
The name of the horse that became the fastest horse in Kentucky Derby history.
Who is Secretariat?
The legal betting age to place a wager on the Kentucky Derby.
What is 18?
This is the traditional drink of the Kentucky Derby.
What is the Mint Julep?
The name of the first jockey to win the first ever Kentucky Derby.
Who is Oliver Lewis?
Bonus fact: “Black jockeys were a crucial part of horse racing…The sport was one of the few ways for Black Americans, especially enslaved ones, to earn a good living and enjoy freedoms so often denied due to racism and slavery” (NYT) Including Lewis, 13 of the 15 jockeys in the race were African American.
The number of times the Derby has been cancelled or postponed.
What is twice?
Bonus Fact: First in 1945 due to WWII and 2020 due to COVID-19. It has never been cancelled or postponed due to inclement weather.
The number of horses that compete in the Kentucky Derby.
What is 20 horses?
The amount of money today's Kentucky Derby winners get to take home.
What is $3.1 Million Dollars? (Will also take 3Million)
This popular accessory is worn by most spectators of the race.
What is a hat?
In 1968, this woman sued the Maryland Racing Commission for denying her a racing license.
Who is Kathy Kusner?
Bonus Fact: She won and opened the door for other women jockeys to participate. Since then, 6 women have competed in the Kentucky Derby in their 149-year history.
Started by Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr. and modeled after England's Epsom Derby, the first Kentucky Derby was held on this date.
What is May 17, 1875.
In 1919, this horse became the first to win all three Triple Crown races.
Who is Sir Barton?
The entry fee for the Kentucky Derby.
What is $25,000 Dollars?
The present day "theme" of the Kentucky Derby (Hats, food, attire, etc.) started in this year.
Bonus Fact: Matt Winn along with a group of investors promoted the Derby as a celebration of pre-Civil War antebellum culture. Antebellum South was an especially male-dominated society.
The three races in which a horse must win to be deemed a Triple Crown Winner.
What is the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes?
The age of Alonzo "Lonnie" Clayton and James "Soup" Perkins, the youngest jockey winners of the Kentucky Derby.
What is 15 years old?
The name of this horse that overcame 15-1 odds and won the 2023 Kentucky Derby.
Who is Mage?
Sports betting became legal in North Carolina on this date, becoming the 30th state to offer mobile sports betting.
What is March 11th 2024?
(Will also accept March)
Created by the Kern Family in 1950, this chocolate-bourbon nut dessert is a staple in Kentucky kitchens.
What is Derby Pie?
Diane Crump became the first woman to compete in a professional race and ride in the Kentucky Derby in this year.
What is 1970?
Bonus Fact: She needed a police escort to get to the track due to the angry crowds of shouting people.
The winner of the Derby is awarded this as an award and is also why the Derby is referred to as the "Run of the Roses".
What is a garland or a blanket of roses?
Bonus: The garland is sewn with 400 roses and weighs about 40lbs.
The Kentucky Derby has certain conditions of eligibility, one of which only allows horses who are this age, to compete.
What is three years old?
This phrase is often used to describe the behavior to continue to gamble after experiencing a loss in an effort to recoup prior losses. This is widely regarded as a defining feature of problem gambling.
What is Chasing Losses?
The amount of food consumed at the Kentucky Derby is pretty astounding. On average, spectators will eat 142,000 of this food at the Derby.
(Hint: Ball Park, Oscar Mayer, Nathan's, Sahlen's)
What are hot dogs?
The name of the first jockey to win back-to-back Kentucky Derby's.
Who is Isaac Murphy?
Bonus Fact: Murphy was a Black man born into enslavement and won in 1890 and 1891. He became a three-time Kentucky Derby winner between 1884-1891.