Changing into an expert jockey is an extremely troublesome mission. Guiding a racehorse weighing over half a ton round an oval whereas sustaining a weight of about 120 kilos and making split-second selections at speeds of about 35 miles per hour isn’t a career for the faint of coronary heart.
Jockeys are nice athletes, and the game’s pinnacle is the Kentucky Derby, hosted by Woodford Reserve, held every spring on the primary Saturday in Could underneath the Twin Spires at Churchill Downs. Listed below are 12 fascinating information concerning the jockey who’s the primary jewel within the Triple Crown of American Thoroughbred Horse Racing.
1. Just one jockey has ever gained the Kentucky Derby as each jockey and coach: Corridor of Famer johnny longden. Longdon was the jockey for 1943 Triple Crown winner Rely Fleet and educated 1969 Kentucky Derby winner Majestic Prince.
2. Equally, just one Corridor of Fame jockey has ever gained each the Kentucky Derby and the Epsom Derby. steve cosen. Affirmed and Cosen swept the Triple Crown in 1978 and went on to have nice success in Europe, successful the Epsom Derby in 1985 aboard Slip Anchor and the Reference Level in 1987.
3. Talking of doubles, 2024 brian hernandez jr. He guided Soaped Anna to a 4 3/4 size victory within the Longines Kentucky Oaks on Could third, and Mystic Dan to a nostril victory within the Kentucky Derby on Could 4th, changing into the eighth jockey in historical past to win the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby for a 3-year-old filly in the identical 12 months. It has been 15 years since Calvin Borrell gained the Oaks and Derby with Rachel Alexandra and Mine That Chicken in 2009.
4. Eddie Arcaro and invoice hartuck They every have 5 Kentucky Derby wins, making them the winningest jockeys within the race’s historical past. Arcaro gained with Rollin (1938), Wallaway (1941), Hoop Junior (1945), Quotation (1948) and Hill Gale (1952). Hartuck’s Derby victories got here with Iron Lige (1957), Venetian Approach (1960), Decidery (1962), Northern Dancer (1964) and Majestic Prince (1969). Invoice Shoemaker ranks third with 4 Kentucky Derby wins, adopted by eight different jockeys with three Derby wins, together with lively jockeys John Velasquez, Victor Espinoza, Calvin Borrell and Kent Desormeaux.
5. Present Corridor of Fame Rider mike smith He’s the all-time chief within the Kentucky Derby with 28 wins, successful in 2005 with Giacomo and in 2018 with Triple Crown winner Justify. John Velasquez, one other lively Corridor of Fame jockey, ranks second with 27 Derby begins. Velazquez has gained three Kentucky Derby races: Animal Kingdom (2011), At all times Dreaming (2017) and Genuine (2020).
6. Who’s the oldest jockey to win the Kentucky Derby? invoice shoemakerIn 1986, on the age of 54, he led Ferdinand to victory. Mike Smith gained in 2018 driving Justify at age 52, John Velasquez gained in 2020 driving Genuine at age 48, Javier Castellano gained in 2023 driving Mage at age 45, and Calvin Borel led Tremendous Saber to victory within the Derby in 2010. 43 years previous.
7. The youngest jockey to win the Kentucky Derby was 15 years previous when he gained the race. Alonzo Clayton In 1892 he launched into the Azura, James “Soup” Perkins On the Halma in 1895.
8. Solely two apprentice jockeys have ever gained the Kentucky Derby. Ira Hanford The Daring Enterprise (1936) invoice boland With Center Floor (1950).
9. Black jockeys dominated the early Kentucky Derby races, successful 15 instances from 1875 to 1902. Eleven totally different black jockeys have gained the Kentucky Derby. Oliver Lewis Within the first version of 1875, the others have been William “Billy” Walker, george garrett lewis, babe onerous, Isaac Murphy (3 wins), Erskine “Babe” Henderson, Isaac Lewis, Alonzo “Ronnie” Clayton, James “Soup” Perkins, willie sims (2 wins), jimmy winkfield (2 wins).
10. Six totally different ladies rode within the Kentucky Derby. Diane Crump The primary ship was Fathom in 1970. Patricia “PJ” Cooksey, Andrea Seefeld, julie krone, rosemary homestar juniorand Rosie Napravnik He additionally competed within the first jewel of the Triple Crown. Napravnik completed fifth aboard Mailute in his second of three Derby begins, the very best end of his group.
11. Twenty-eight jockeys have gained the Kentucky Derby of their first begin, together with three for the reason that flip of the twentieth century. stewart elliott (2004, Smarty Jones), Mario Gutierrez (2012, “Another factor”), and sony leon (2022, Wealthy Strike).
12. Six jockeys have gained the Kentucky Derby in consecutive years. Isaac Murphy Riley in 1890 and Kingman in 1891 have been the primary to perform this feat. jimmy winkfield (1901-’02), Ron Turcotte (1972-’73), eddie derousay (1982-’83), Calvin Borel (2009-’10), and Victor Espinoza (2014-’15) additionally gained back-to-back Kentucky Derby.
