Clocking the Kentucky Derby
Fastest Twelve Nineteenth Century Horses -- Secretariat Still Reigns
Apr 29, 2009
Between 1875, the year of its inception, and 1895, the Kentucky Derby was contested at 1-1/2 miles. Its first winner, Aristides, covered the 12 furlongs in 2:37-3/4, a walk compared to the world record time of 2:24 flat scored by Secretariat in 1-1/2 miles (in the Belmont Stakes) ninety-eight years later.
It is not reasonable to compare eras of competition. In the same mindframe, it is easy to comprehend that Secretariat probably would have run circles around Nineteenth Century competitors in 1-1/2 miles of competition. His Belmont world record still stands, as does his Kentucky Derby record time for 1-1/4 miles (1:59-2/5), the distance at which the Derby has been run since 1895.
Top Twelve Kentucky Derby Times at 1-1/4 Miles (10 furlongs)
- No. 1 --- 1973 -- Secretariat --- 1:59-2/5
- No. 2 --- 2001 -- Monarchos --- 1:59/97 (or, 4/5)
- No. 3 --- 1964 -- Northern Dancer --- 2:00
- No. 4 --- 1985 -- Spend a Buck --- 2:00-1/5
- No. 5 --- 1962 -- Decidedly --- 2:00-2/5
- No. 6 --- 1967 -- Proud Clarion --- 2:00-3/5
- No. 7 --- 1996 -- Grindstone --- 2:01.06
- No. 8 --- 2000 -- Fusaichi Pegasus --- 2:01.12
- No. 9 --- 2002 -- War Emblem --- 2:01.13
- No.10 --- 1978 -- Affirmed --- 2:01-1/5
- No.11 --- 1965 -- Lucky Debonair --- 2:01-1/5
- No.12 --- 1995 -- Thunder Gulch --- 2:01.27
Top Twelve Kentucky Derby Times at 1-1/2 Miles (12 furlongs)
- No. 1 --- 1889 -- Spokane --- 2:34-1/2
- No. 2 --- 1886 -- Ben Ali --- 2:36-1/2
- No. 3 --- 1879 -- Lord Murphy --- 2:37
- No. 4 --- 1878 -- Day Star --- 2:37-1/4
- No. 5 --- 1885 -- Joe Cotton --- 2:37-1/4
- No. 6 --- 1880 -- Fonso --- 2:37-1/2
- No. 7 --- 1895 -- Halma --- 2:37-1/2
- No. 8 --- 1875 -- Aristides --- 2:37-3/4
- No. 9 --- 1877 -- Baden-Baden --- 2:38
- No.10 ---1876 -- Vagrant --- 2:38-1/4
- No.11 --- 1888 -- Macbeth II --- 2:38-1/4
- No.12 --- 1887 -- Montrose --- 2:39-1/4
- No.13 --- 1893 -- Lookout --- 2:39-1/4
Lowering the Derby's 1-1/4 miles Speed Record
The Kentucky Derby distance changed to 1-1/4 miles in 1896, and it has been run at that distance ever since. It is the first jewel of the American Triple Crown series, a three-race competition strictly for three-year-olds which has been conquered by one individual just eleven times in the history of Thoroughbred racing.
Ben Brush was the first Thoroughbred to run the Kentucky Derby at 1-1/4 miles. He did it in a respectable 2:07-3/4, a time not matched until 1901 when His Eminence produced the same mark. The next fastest time occurred in 1910 when Donau sped the course in 2:06-2/5. The following year, Meridian floated across the track in 2:05 flat.
In 1913, Donerail blistered the course in 2:04-4/5, then Old Rosebud raised a ruckus in 1914 when he went in 2:03-2/5. That record stuck until Twenty Grand lowered it to 2:01-4/5 in 1931. Then it was the incomprehensible Whirlaway in 1941 who blasted through in 2:01-2/5.
It wasn't until 1962, when a whole second was shaved off the standard, that the record was shattered again. Decidedly gave an outstanding 2:00-2/5 performance before the great Northern Dancer went 2:00 flat in 1964. (See above charts.)
Monarchos squeezed through in 1:59.97 (or, 4/5) in 2001 to become just the second Thoroughbred all time to run the Kentucky Derby in under two minutes.
Secretariat remains the master of pure speed.
