The Kentucky Derby 2026 made many headlines. It isn’t a secret that this series of races began more than one hundred years ago, with the first race taking place in 1875, but only in 2026, this tournament was won by a woman, Cherie DeVaux, who has become the first female trainer to join the list of Derby winners. Naturally, it isn’t the only interesting fact about this year’s top race, so get a glimpse at the most memorable moments and events in this piece.
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What Is The Kentucky Derby?
Known also as the 152nd Running of the Kentucky Derby is one of the world’s most prestigious events in horse riding, which has recently finished. It took place on May 2, 2026, at Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky.
Only 20 horses can become eligible to enter the field of the Derby, so there was a preliminary road that included a series of races to qualify for the tournament. There were 3 main paths horse racers could follow to be allowed to participate in the Derby:
- The Main Road with the races to take place in North America.
- The Japan Road with 4 races in Japan.
- The Euro and MidEast Road with 10 races held in England, Ireland, the UAE, and France.
The top 5 winners in each specified race collected the majority of points and added them to the points for preparatory races held in March and April. It means that only the best riders have been selected for the race, which has become an inspiration for many software development companies.
Short History of the Kentucky Derby
Did you know that the Kentucky Derby is the longest sporting event that has been held continuously in the USA since 1875? The first tournament took place on May 17 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, and this venue continues to attract the best horse racers nowadays, too.
The event has been created by Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr., and it welcomes only up to 3-year-old Thoroughbreds. It has also become the first leg of the American Triple Crown in horse racing. The history of the Derby is quite long, so here you can look through several major points to get a grasp of it.
- Only 15 horses could join the first Derby, and the first winner of it was Aristides, ridden by Oliver Lewis and trained by Ansel Williamson.
- The track became shorter in 1896, and its distance has remained the same since then.
- In 1904, the Derby acquired an official flower – the red rose, and the winning horse was draped in a blanket of more than 500 red roses.
- The event has an official song of “My Old Kentucky Home” and a flamboyant fashion with exclusive hats and a signature drink of the mint julep.
- In 1973, the record of 1:59.40 was set by a horse called Secretarian, and it is still the fastest victory in history.
- The biggest number of victories is shared between Jockeys Eddie Arcaro and Bill Hartack, who have won the Derby for 5 times each. The last victory has become memorable, too, due to the first female trainer to win it.
- The race has never stopped, but it was postponed twice in history: in 1945 due to WWII travel restrictions and in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Kentucky Derby 2026: All You Need To Know
The Kentucky Derby 2026 has become a signature event due to a number of aspects. First, it was the 152nd tournament with 18 participating horses because of two late scratches, including The Puma and Great White.
The Kentucky Derby offered some large payouts thanks to a couple of long-odds horses participating there. For example, the winner of the competition paid out $48.24 for a win, $19.14 to place, and $11.90 to show. When it comes to the odds, they were at 23-1!
The prizes for the winners are also impressive. The total prize pool was $5 million, and Golden Tempo – the winner of the tournament – collected $3.1 million. The second place was taken by Renegade, which won $1 million. The next three places have been won by Ocelli, Chief Wallabee, and Danon Bourbon, who received $500,000, $250,000, and $100,000 each, respectively. Such impressive rewards can be received only by champions or lucky casino players who claim bonuses on Casinos Analyzer.
It is important to mention that several horses had similar odds at the Kentucky Derby, and it was Happy to be considered the favourite before the race and had 5-1 odds. It was followed by Renegade, Commandment, and Further Ado.
The start of the race was postponed since Great White reared, fell to the track, and got scratched, so the rest of the horses had more time to warm up. In total, five horses have been scratched during this Derby, which has led to changes in odds and potential winners.
DeVaux Made Headlines With Kentucky Derby Victory
Cherie DeVaux has become the first woman-trainer who has won the Kentucky Derby. Her horse, Golden Tempo, has surged from the last places to become a triumph of this tournament. The horse is ridden by Joe Ortiz, who managed to become a winner at the 11th attempt only. He admitted his great desire to win the Derby, but it was difficult to believe that this dream came true.
The trainer couldn’t imagine that she would celebrate a victory at the Kentucky Derby as well. She began her career 22 years ago, and she couldn’t even think that she would achieve that level of success. Golden Tempo managed to win in a time of two minutes and 27 seconds, passing next to Renegade and making the jockey a millionaire. It is important to say that Joe Ortiz has received one more victory in the Kentucky Oaks and became the 9th jockey to win both races within one year.
This amazing finish has become a history-making time for DeVaux since she is the only female trainer to win a Triple Crown race. She shared her happiness and career success with journalists, since it has become a discovery for many people that she has saddled 298 winners in 1,802 career starts. She also shared her life story, that in 2017, she was at a crossroads in life. It was her husband who had faith in her and encouraged her to give it one more try, so this attempt has led to unbelievable success.
