The Road To The Kentucky Derby - Part II

Although through the years there have been some changes to the race itself, Churchill Downs has been the racetrack for all of the 140 years. Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr. grandson of William Clark of the Lewis & Clark Expedition had traveled to England and visited the “Derby”. The Derby has been one of the most prestigious horse race in Britain since 1780. He then went on to London in 1863 and viewed the Grand Prix de Paris. Upon his return to the United States he organized the Louisville Jockey Club, an organization with the sole design of raising money to build quality horse racing facilities. The first of which was built just outside the city on land donated by John and Henry Churchill. On May 17, 1875 with an estimated crowd of 10,000 people a field of fifteen three year old thoroughbred horses ran one and half mile and the birth of the Kentucky Derby had begun. A colt named Astrides, with jockey Oliver Lewis, and trainer Ansel Williams (future Hall of Famer), were the first winners. From 1894 through 1902 Churchill Downs was experiencing financial difficulties. Col. Matt Winn put together a group of investors and took over control of the track from the Louisville Jockey Club. Under Winn the Kentucky Derby then became the prominent stakes for three year old thoroughbreds.

In 2013 the qualifications for entry into the Kentucky Derby were simplified and broken down into two phases. The previous system had about 185 graded stakes races throughout the world, with different points earned for different finishes. The changes set up a total of 34 races on dirt or synthetic surfaces covering a distance of at least one mile. Phase one known as The Kentucky Derby Prep Season consists of 18 races that are typically run between September and February, following the two year old starters into their sophomore year of racing. Points are awarded to the top 4 finishers on a 10-4-2-1 scale.

Phase two known as The Kentucky Derby Championship Series is also broken down into two legs and a wild card race. The first leg consists of 8 races from late February through March. The top 4 finishers are awarded points 50-20-10-5 scale. The earnings a horse made in a graded stakes race around the world was the old qualifying system. Often horses traveled to the United States for the first time to run in the Kentucky Derby. With the specific selected 34 races, all of which are held in North America, the design is to increase the familiarity of each derby participant.

The second leg of phase two is the core preparation for the Kentucky Derby. Just like any Olympic athletic the training is focused around peaking at the right time. However with the Triple Crown you are beginning with the Kentucky Derby. The next seven races are run from the last weekend in March until the middle of April. Although there are seven races they only occur on three different days. This also has the only non-North American race. The top 4 finishers are awarded 100-40-20-10 scale. At the end of leg 2 of phase II is a wild card race. The final Lexington race returns back to the original 10-4-2-1 scale.

Through the above process the top 20 horses with the most points and 4 alternates have won a possible entry into the Kentucky Derby. The process is the same for a filly, gelding, or colt, however there is a weight allowance giving to the fillies. If there is a tie on the point scale the top earner in non-restricted stakes races will then be placed. A nomination entry fee is required to be paid for eligibility. For 2014, horses born in 2011 were eligible and the fee was $600 to be paid by the end of Jan 2014. However, a late entry fee of 6000.00 could have been paid by March 2014 to gain eligibility for nomination. In addition, owners were required to pay 25,000 to enter the Derby by May 2014 and an additional 25,000 to start. If there were less than 24 nominees entered, a horse could be supplemented for 200,000. The purse for the Kentucky Derby is two million dollars with the winner getting 1,425,000.00, and a chance at the Triple Crown bonus.