The history and spectacle of the Kentucky Derby

Every twelvemonth nan Kentucky Derby is 1 of America's awesome pageants, arsenic a horse-loving, hat-wearing, julep-swilling crowd of 150,000-plus breaks retired its Sunday champion connected nan first Saturday of May, successful nan protector of those iconic achromatic spires astatine Louisville's Churchill Downs. 

"First Saturday successful May intends thing to millions of people," said Mike Anderson, president of Churchill Downs. "It's Derby Day!"

But this isn't "every year" – it's moreover much special. This Saturday nan longest continuously-held sporting arena successful America will observe its 150th birthday. "We person tally a Kentucky Derby each azygous twelvemonth since 1875," said Chris Goodlett, curator of nan Kentucky Derby Museum. "We've had 2 world wars, a depression, pandemics. We've ever tally a Kentucky Derby."

The paddock astatine Churchill Downs successful Louisville, which opened successful 1875, and precocious underwent a half-billion-dollar renovation.  CBS News

Jockey Mike Smith has had nan astir mounts successful Kentucky Derby history – 28.  He's won it twice, successful 2005 connected Giacomo, and successful 2018 riding Justify. With much than 5,700 profession races won, Smith was asked if his 2 Derby wins are different. "Without a doubt," he replied. "I've often tried to picture what nan feeling, what it feels like. I can't find words!"

Much of nan Derby's history is simply a root of pridefulness successful Kentucky. Much, but not all.  Thirteen of nan 15 jockeys successful nan first Derby were Black men, including nan winner, Oliver Lewis, riding Aristides. Black jockeys won 15 of nan first 28 Derbies. But then, location were nary Black jockeys for an uncomfortable magnitude of time, from 1920 to 2000 – agelong past Jim Crow. "It's an unfortunate clip successful our history wherever definite laws prohibited African American jockeys from participating," said Anderson. "Certainly we've travel a agelong measurement since then. And we're trying to guarantee that we're adjacent and there's adjacent opportunities for anyone to participate successful our athletics today."

Black jockeys won 15 of nan first 28 Kentucky Derbies.  CBS News

Recent history has besides created challenges to nan Derby's image. Last twelvemonth a twelve horses went down during training successful nan weeks surrounding nan race. An independent investigation cleared Churchill Downs of immoderate responsibility successful nan deaths. But questions linger.

"Churchill Downs takes information of our participants very seriously," said Anderson. "We don't ever deliberation it's suitable aliases tolerable erstwhile there's an equine death."

WEB EXTRA: Churchill Downs president connected steps taken to amended information of horses, riders

For each nan pageantry we will spot unfold astatine Churchill Downs, it is, aft all, nan horses that are astatine nan halfway of everything. Which is why, during nan past decade, nan way has spent half a cardinal dollars renovating and modernizing. The centerpiece is simply a $200 cardinal paddock to showcase nan magnificent creatures who are nan stars of nan show. 

American Pharoah won nan Kentucky Derby, and past nan Triple Crown, successful 2015. He's now surviving nan life: retired to stud astatine Coolmore Farm successful Kentucky equine country, nether nan watch of Dermot Ryan.

American Pharoah will mildly return a carrot retired of your hand, but don't beryllium fooled: "Once he sewage onto nan track, he was focused," Ryan said. "And he conscionable ran. I mean, they couldn't extremity him. And that's what made him truthful good. He had nan will and nan bosom to win."

Triple Crown-winner American Pharoah enjoying status astatine Coolmore Farm successful Kentucky. (With analogous Jim Axelrod and workplace head Dermot Ryan.) CBS News

This coming Saturday, for nan 150th clip different three-year aged will person conscionable a touch much bosom than nan remainder of nan field, and extremity nan time draped pinch a garland of roses.

Smith said, "I get affectional conscionable reasoning astir it. It's beautiful neat. It's powerful, man. It's a feeling. I wish I could vessel that emotion up, man, and conscionable fto personification return a sip of it, man, 'cause, I mean, it's amazing!"

And it will beryllium for illustration each different first Saturday successful May, erstwhile they tally nan "fastest 2 minutes successful sports" astatine Churchill Downs, only better.

"Every Kentucky Derby is typical and unique," said Anderson, "but there's thing a small spot more typical astir our 150th."

Mage, ridden by jockey Javier Castellano, crosses nan decorativeness statement to triumph nan 149th moving of nan Kentucky Derby astatine Churchill Downs, May 6, 2023, successful Louisville, Kentucky. Michael Reaves/Getty Images

     
For much info:

• The 150th moving of nan Kentucky Derby astatine Churchill Downs, Louisville, May 4
• Kentucky Derby Museum, Louisville
• Coolmore Farm, Versailles, Ky.
• Jockey Mike Smith
• Second Stride, Moserwood Farms, Prospect, Ky.

       
Story produced by Jon Carras. Editor: Mike Levine.

      
From nan archives: 

• From 1992: Ode to Secretariat ("Sunday Morning")
• From 1994: A status location for horses ("Sunday Morning")
• From 1990: Rescuing horses for adoption ("Sunday Morning")

In:
• Horse Racing
• Kentucky Derby
• Churchill Downs