The Kentucky Derby: IXS

The popular Kentucky Derby is source of greatman who established the Louisville Jockey Club for
entertaining enjoyment for its exciting spectators.generating money to build a high quality racing facilities
Actually, It is a Grade I stakes race with three-year-oldjust outside of the city. He was lucky enough that the
thoroughbred horses which is being held annually intrack was later known as Churchill Downs, named for
Louisville, Kentucky always on the first Saturday inMeriwether Lewis Clark Jr.'s relatives, John and Henry
May, covering the two-week-long Kentucky DerbyChurchill, who had supplied the land for the racetrack.
Festival. The distance of of the race is one andFormally in 1937, the racetrack was incorporated as
one-quarter miles (2.012 km) at Churchill Downs. TheChurchill Downs.
colts as well as geldings of the race weigh about 126The First race of The Kentucky Derby was run at 1.5
pounds (57 kg), fillies 121 pounds (55 kg). The Race ismiles (2.4 km), similar distance as the Epsom Derby
popularly known as "The Most Exciting Two Minutes inand the Grand Prix de Paris. Later, this distance was
as well as "The Run for the Roses" . The reason ofaltered to its present 1.25 miles (2.01 km) in 1896. On
the first given name is "its estimated time length" andMay 17, 1875, the race loving crowd of 10,000 people
for the second name is "the blanket of roses awardedwitnessed a field of in total 15 three-year-old horses
to the winner". Its popularity can be judged by thecontested the first Derby.
jubilation and excitement of its 155,000 fans.From 1875 to 1902, African-American jockeys won 15
The Horse breeding and racing has been one ofout of 28 runnings of the Kentucky Derby. On May 11,
Kentucky's specialty tradition since the late 1700s.1892, African-American jockey Alonzo "Lonnie"
Kentucky thrives on the Ordovician fields of theClayton, age 15 became the youngest rider to win the
Bluegrass region that produces higher amounts ofDerby on 11th May, 1892. Elwood won the race, the
calcium which results in the production of superior racefirst Derby starter plus winner to be owned by a
horses. Col. Meriwether Lewis Clark, Jr., grandson ofwoman, Laska Durnell in 1904. Regret was the first filly
William Clark were the greatest lover of the horseto win the Kentucky Derbyin 1915 whereas and in 1917,
racing.They used to travel ( ) to Paris, France andthe English bred colt "Omar Khayyam" was the first
enjoyed watching thrilling horse racings organised byforeign-bred horse to win the race.
the the French Jockey Club. Clark was that leading