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Kentucky Derby (Coady Photography)

Kentucky Derby race length and distance: how long is the race?

Sun Apr 20 2025Ashley Anderson

To beat out a field of up to 20 three-year-olds vying for the Kentucky Derby crown and the customary garland of roses, it takes a combination of strength, stamina, and tactical speed to breeze through a 1 1/4-mile race in nearly 120 seconds.

Kentucky Derby

Orb winning the 2013 Kentucky Derby. (Photo by Horsephotos.com)

How has the winning time of the Kentucky Derby changed over time?

Sun Apr 20 2025Ashley Anderson

Below we explore how the average winning Kentucky Derby time has transformed over history.

Kentucky Derby

2016 Kentucky Derby (Coady Photography).

Top 10 Biggest Horse Races In The World

Mon Apr 14 2025Ashley Anderson

Let's look at the 10 biggest horse races in the world, from the “race that stops a nation” to the “fastest two minutes in sports.”

Kentucky Derby

Shuttlestock

Top 10 Fastest Horse Breeds in the World

Mon Apr 14 2025Ashley Anderson

From the noble Arabian poised for battle to the esteemed equines who run in the Kentucky Derby, let's explore the 10 fastest horse breeds in the world.

Education

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas (Photo by Coady Media)

Top 10 Most Successful Trainers in Kentucky Derby History

Wed Apr 02 2025Ashley Anderson

Based on overall number of victories, as well as second- and third-place finishes, here are the 10 most successful trainers in Kentucky Derby history.

Kentucky Derby

Secretariat wins the 1973 Kentucky Derby (Courtesy of the Kentucky Derby/Churchill Downs)

Triple Crown records

Tue Apr 01 2025Ashley Anderson

The facts, figures, and record-setting performances of the 13 Triple Crown winners in Thoroughbred racing history.

Racing

Ferocious (Photo by Coglianese Photos)

Grade 3 Holy Bull trends and field analysis

Fri Jan 31 2025Ashley Anderson

Gulfstream Park will host the 36th running of the Holy Bull S. (G3) on Saturday, a Kentucky Derby (G1) prep race worth points on a 20-10-6-4-2 sliding scale to the top five finishers.

Kentucky Derby

Admiral Dennis breaking his maiden at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Media)

Gun Runner Stakes trends and field analysis

Sat Dec 21 2024Ashley Anderson

The final Road to the Kentucky Derby (G1) prep of 2024 will offer 10 points to the winner of Saturday's Gun Runner S. at Fair Grounds. The fourth running of the 1 1/16-mile event for two-year-olds attracted a small but stacked field of five, headlined by recent maiden romper Admiral Dennis.

Analysis

Two Sharp wins at Keeneland. (Photo by Coady Media / Credit to Kurtis Coady)

Grade 3 Chilukki trends and field analysis

Thu Nov 21 2024Ashley Anderson

The $300,000 Chilukki (G3) is one of two graded stakes on Churchill Downs' 11-race card on Saturday.

Analysis

Goliad wins with Cash Equity close behind in the Mint Millions at Kentucky Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)

Grade 3 River City trends and field analysis

Fri Nov 08 2024Ashley Anderson

The $300,000 River City S. (G3) is one of just three graded stakes scheduled in the U.S. on Saturday following a busy weekend of racing in Del Mar for the Breeders' Cup World Championships.

Analysis

Golden Pal with Irad Ortiz riding wins the Breeders Cup Turf Sprint (G1) at Del Mar. (Photo by Horsephotos.com)

2024 Breeders’ Cup trainer and jockey trends

Thu Oct 24 2024Ashley Anderson

Below TwinSpires dives deeper into the numbers with the top trainer and jockey trends ahead of 2024.

Breeders Cup

Emery wins the Leslie's Lady Overnight S. at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media / Credit to Kurtis Coady)

Grade 2 Raven Run trends and field analysis

Fri Oct 18 2024Ashley Anderson

The highlight of Keeneland’s 10-race card on Saturday, the 26th running of the Raven Run (G2) will pit Stonestreet Stables filly Emery against a tough group of nine rivals in the seven-furlong sprint.

Analysis

She Feels Pretty (Photo by Maryland Jockey Club/Jerry Dzierwinski)

Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup trends and field analysis

Tue Oct 08 2024Ashley Anderson

First held in 1984 in honor of Britain’s late monarch, the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) will return Saturday for the 41st edition at Keeneland, where the famed sovereign attended the races and presented a trophy for the inaugural running.

Analysis

Ferocious (Photo by Coglianese Photos)

Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity trends and field analysis

Sat Oct 05 2024Ashley Anderson

The 2025 Road to the Kentucky Derby (G1) will make a stop at Keeneland for the opening weekend of the fall meet when 11 juveniles compete in the $600,000 Breeders’ Futurity (G1) on Saturday.

Analysis

Saudi Crown winning the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) at Parx Racing (Photo by Equi-Photo)

Saudi Crown wins Pennsylvania Derby (Photo by Equi-Photo)

Grade 3 Ack Ack trends and field analysis

Fri Sep 27 2024Ashley Anderson

Churchill Downs’ final Downs After Dark of the 2024 calendar year will offer a Breeders’ Cup berth to the winner of the $400,000 Ack Ack (G3) on Saturday.

Wagering

Thorpedo Anna wins the Kentucky Oaks (Photo by Rickelle Nelson/Horsephotos.com)

Grade 1 Cotillion trends and field analysis

Wed Sep 18 2024Ashley Anderson

The top three-year-old female in the country, Thorpedo Anna, will take on seven sophomore fillies on Saturday at Parx in the $1 million Cotillion (G1), which will serve as her final prep ahead of the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1).

Analysis

Sandman (Photo by Coglianese Photography / Credit to Chelsea Durand)

Grade 3 Iroquois trends and field analysis

Fri Sep 13 2024Ashley Anderson

The Grade 3 Iroquois for juveniles will kick off the Road to the 151st Kentucky Derby (G1) on Saturday at Churchill Downs and will award points on a sliding scale of 10-5-3-2-1 to the top five finishers.

Kentucky Derby

Deterministic (Photo by Coglianese Photography)

Grade 3 Virginia Derby trends and field analysis

Fri Sep 06 2024Ashley Anderson

The annual $500,000 New Kent County Virginia Derby (G3) is the highlight of closing day at Colonial Downs on Saturday, Sept. 7.

Analysis

Del Mar Scenic (Photo by Horsephotos.com)

Grade 1 Pacific Classic trends and field analysis

Thu Aug 29 2024Ashley Anderson

Del Mar's marquee event of the summer meet, the $1 million Pacific Classic (G1) could produce a historic outcome.

Analysis

Thorpedo Anna wins the Fantasy (G2) at Oaklawn Park (Photo by Coady Media/Renee Torbit)

Grade 1 Travers Stakes trends and field analysis

Fri Aug 23 2024Ashley Anderson

One of the oldest stakes races for sophomores in the U.S., the 155th running of the Travers Stakes will play a large part in determining the champion of a wide-open three-year-old division in 2024.

Wagering

Power Squeeze (Photo by Coglianese Photography / Credit to Lauren King)

Grade 1 Alabama trends and field analysis

Thu Aug 15 2024Ashley Anderson

One of the oldest races for female Thoroughbreds in the U.S., the 144th running of the Grade 1 Alabama will feature eight three-year-old fillies at Saratoga on Saturday, Aug. 17.

Analysis

Nations Pride winning the Jockey Club Derby (G3) at Aqueduct (Photo by Coglianese Photos)

Grade 1 Arlington Million trends and field analysis

Fri Aug 09 2024Ashley Anderson

The prestigious Grade 1 Arlington Million will run at Colonial Downs on Sunday, Aug. 11, as part of a 12-race card that features the Beverly D. S. (G2), a Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In challenge series event for the Filly & Mare Turf (G1) in November.

Analysis

Pin Up Betty wins the Regret (G3) at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Media)

Grade 3 Pucker Up S. trends and field analysis

Fri Aug 02 2024Ashley Anderson

The Grade 3 Pucker Up S. will offer up the richest purse among the 20 races slated for Kentucky Downs Preview Weekend at Ellis Park on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 3 and 4.

Wagering

Thousand Words wins the Shared Belief S. at Del Mar. (Photo by Horsephotos)

Thousand Words states his claim as a top freshman stallion

Fri Jul 26 2024Ashley Anderson

A picture may be worth 1,000 words, but first-crop sire Thousands Words is worth a whole lot more to Spendthrift Farm, where he retired to stud in 2021 following a successful nine-race career.

Pedigree

Sierra Leone workout at Saratoga ahead of the Belmont S. (G1) (Photo by Coglianese Photos)

Grade 2 Jim Dandy S. trends and field analysis

Wed Jul 24 2024Ashley Anderson

Local Travers S. (G1) prep, the Grade 2 Jim Dandy, will present a rematch of Kentucky Derby (G1) favorite Fierceness and runner-up Sierra Leone on Saturday, July 27, at Saratoga.

Wagering

Dornoch wins the Belmont S. (G1) during Belmont at Saratoga (Photo by Coglianese Photography / Credit to Susie Raisher)

Grade 1 Haskell S. trends and field analysis

Thu Jul 18 2024Ashley Anderson

Monmouth Park will host the 57th running of the Haskell S. (G1) on Saturday, July 20, at the famed New Jersey racetrack, where eight three-year-olds will test their speed and stamina over 1 1/8 miles.

Analysis

Yo Yo Candy wins the 2023 Sanford (G3) at Saratoga (Photo by Coglianese Photos)

Grade 3 Sanford S. trends and field analysis

Thu Jul 11 2024Ashley Anderson

A field of eight two-year-olds will contest the 108th running of the Sanford S. (G3) on Saturday, July 13, during opening weekend of Saratoga’s summer meet.

Wagering

Royal Majesty (Photo by Coglianese Photos)

Grade 1 Belmont Derby trends and field analysis

Thu Jul 04 2024Ashley Anderson

The 75th running of the Belmont Derby (G1) will descend upon Belmont at the Big A on Saturday, July 6. The annual fixture of Belmont Park will temporarily relocate while the Elmont, New York track undergoes renovations and will return to Aqueduct, which previously held the event in 1960, 1975-77, 1979-81, and 1987.

Analysis

First Mission winning the Lexington (G3) at Keeneland (Photo by Coady Photography)

Grade 1 Stephen Foster Stakes trends and field analysis

Wed Jun 26 2024Ashley Anderson

Closing weekend of Churchill Downs’ 2024 spring meet will present the $1 million Stephen Foster S. (G1), a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” challenge series race that will grant the winner free, automatic entry into the Nov. 2 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar.

Wagering

Society winning the Cotillion (G1) at Parx Racing (Photo By Nikki Sherman/EQUI-PHOTO)

Grade 3 Chicago Stakes trends and field analysis

Thu Jun 20 2024Ashley Anderson

The 34th running of the Chicago S. (G3) will be held at Churchill Downs on Saturday, June 22, with Grade 1 winners Vahva and Society the class of the five-horse field.

Wagering