The Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade I Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race for 3-year-olds and older run at a distance of 1 + 1 ⁄ 4 miles (2,000 m) on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships in late October or early November. All of the races to date have been held in the United States except for the 1996 edition held at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto , Canada.
73-579: The Classic is considered by many to be the premier thoroughbred horse race of the year in the U.S., although the Kentucky Derby is more widely known among casual racing fans. Once the richest race in the world, in more recent years, only the Saudi Cup , Dubai World Cup , The Everest and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe have had consistently higher purses. Often, the winner of the Classic goes on to win U.S. Horse of
146-714: A filly . † Designates a horse that won American Horse of the Year in the same year they won the Derby. ‡ Designates a horse that was inducted in subsequent years into the National Racing Hall of Fame . Winners of the Kentucky Derby can be connected to each other due to the practice of arranging horse breeding based on their previous success. All of the horses can be traced back to the three foundational sires, with Godolphin Arabian
219-494: A $ 2 wager remains a Breeders' Cup record. The Classic is now regarded as the fourth leg of horse racing's Grand Slam of Thoroughbred racing — the traditional Triple Crown ( Kentucky Derby , Preakness Stakes , and Belmont Stakes ) plus the Breeders' Cup Classic. After American Pharoah 's Triple Crown win earlier in 2015, the term became popular; the colt became the first horse to ever accomplish this feat. The first running of
292-667: A broodmare sire include: Tiznow's sire Cee's Tizzy, who was raced by Cecilia Straub-Rubens, was one of California's most successful sires. At the time of his death in October 2015, he had sired 39 stakes winners and numerous California champions. His progeny earnings were more than $ 37 million. Tiznow's dam, Cee's Song, was also raced by Straub-Rubens. Cee’s Song produced nine foals by Cee's Tizzy, including Tiznow and stakes winners Budroyale, Tizbud, and Tizdubai, plus two Grade-I-stakes producing daughters: Tizso (dam of Paynter ) and Tizamazing (dam of Oxbow ). After Straub-Rubens death, Cee’s Song
365-567: A challenge down the stretch from Captain Steve to win by 1 ⁄ 2 a length. Tiznow's final start of 2000 was in the Breeders' Cup Classic , held that year at Churchill Downs. Tiznow had to be supplemented to the field at a cost of $ 360,000 as he was not nominated as a foal. The field included Irish champion Giant's Causeway , Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus , Belmont Stakes winner Lemon Drop Kid , and Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Albert
438-666: A corporate sponsorship deal to call the race "The Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands." In 2018, Woodford Reserve replaced Yum! Brands as the presenting sponsor. In addition to the race itself, several traditions play a significant role in the Derby atmosphere. The mint julep —an iced drink consisting of bourbon , mint , and sugar syrup—is the traditional beverage of the race. The historic beverage comes served in an ice-frosted silver julep cup. However, most Churchill Downs patrons sip theirs from souvenir glasses (first offered in 1939 and available in revised form each year since) printed with all previous Derby winners. Also, burgoo ,
511-493: A crowd of 158,070 watched Always Dreaming win the Derby, making it the seventh biggest attendance in the history of the racetrack. The track reported a wagering total of $ 209.2 million from all the sources on all the races on the Kentucky Derby Day program. It was a 9 percent increase compared to the total of $ 192.6 million in 2016 and an increase of 8 percent over the previous record set in 2015 of $ 194.3 million. TwinSpires,
584-665: A group of racing enthusiasts had formed the French Jockey Club in 1863. They had organized the Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp , which at the time was the greatest race in France. Returning home to Kentucky, Clark organized the Louisville Jockey Club to raise money for building quality racing facilities just outside the city. The track would soon become known as Churchill Downs , named for John and Henry Churchill, who provided
657-532: A large area, flying in hundreds of private aircraft to Louisville International Airport . The Derby is frequently referred to as " The Run for the Roses ", because a lush blanket of 554 red roses is awarded to the Kentucky Derby winner each year. New York sports columnist and future Churchill Downs president Bill Corum in 1925 began describing the race thusly, but the tradition originated in 1883 when New York City socialite E. Berry Wall presented roses to ladies at
730-618: A leg fracture. At three years old, it took Tiznow three tries to break his maiden, finally winning for the first time on May 31 by 8 + 1 ⁄ 2 lengths. In his next start, the Affirmed Handicap on July 1, he defeated grade 1 winner Dixie Union by a neck. In his next start, the Swaps Stakes on July 23, Tiznow finished second behind Captain Steve after a troubled trip. In the Pacific Classic, Tiznow faced older horses for
803-405: A length behind. After a 10-minute stewards' inquiry, Wild Again was left in first place but Gate Dancer was disqualified to third. The 1987 renewal featured the face-off between two Kentucky Derby winners, Ferdinand and Alysheba . Ferdinand, who won the Derby in 1986, reached the lead in mid-stretch, then struggled to hold off the late charge of Alysheba. In a photo finish, Ferdinand prevailed by
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#1732870070541876-541: A mile before drawing away to win by 5 lengths. Tiznow then missed a good portion of the year due to back problems and came into the Classic off defeats in the Woodward Stakes and the Goodwood Handicap. The 2001 Breeders' Cup was held in October at Belmont Park , twelve miles away from Ground Zero and under heavy security. It was six weeks and four days after the terrorist attacks that took place just miles to
949-470: A nose and would later be named Horse of the Year. Alysheba came back in 1988 to win the Classic, becoming the then-leading money earner in history. In the 1989 renewal, Sunday Silence and Easy Goer faced off for the last time in one of racing's most famous rivalries. Sunday Silence had beaten Easy Goer in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes but Easy Goer turned the tables in the Belmont. Easy Goer then won
1022-503: A platform for betting online and a partner of the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders' Cup, recorded $ 32.8 million in handle on the Churchill Down races for the Kentucky Derby Day program. This record was a 22 percent increase over the preceding year. On the Kentucky Derby race alone, the handle of TwinSpires was $ 20.1 million, which is a 22 percent rise compared to the prior year. The race often draws celebrities. HM Queen Elizabeth II , on
1095-460: A post-Derby party. The Churchill Downs founder and president, Col. Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr., attended that event. This gesture is believed to have led Clark to the idea of making the rose the race's official flower. However, it was not until 1896 that any recorded account referred to draping roses on the Derby winner. The Governor of Kentucky and the Chairman of Churchill Downs Incorporated present
1168-419: A protracted legal battle by the owners of Dancer's Image (which they lost). Forward Pass thus became the eighth winner for Calumet Farm . Unexpectedly, the regulations at Kentucky thoroughbred race tracks were changed some years later, allowing horses to run on phenylbutazone . In 1970, Diane Crump became the first female jockey to ride in the Derby, finishing 15th aboard Fathom. The fastest time ever run in
1241-475: A share of the purse; previously only the first four finishers did so. The Kentucky Derby began offering $ 3 million in purse money in 2019. Churchill Downs officials have cited the success of historical race wagering terminals at their Derby City Gaming facility in Louisville as a factor behind the purse increase. The Derby first offered a $ 1 million purse in 1996; it was doubled to $ 2 million in 2005. In 2020,
1314-433: A thick stew of beef, chicken, pork, and vegetables, is a popular Kentucky dish served at the Derby. The infield —a spectator area inside the track—offers general admission prices but little chance of seeing much of the race, particularly before the jumbotron installation in 2014. Instead, revelers show up in the infield to party with abandon. By contrast, "Millionaire's Row" refers to the expensive box seats that attract
1387-588: A visit to the United States, joined the racegoers at Churchill Downs in 2007. The 2004 Kentucky Derby marked the first time that jockeys—as a result of a court order —were allowed to wear corporate advertising logos on their clothing. Norman Adams has been the designer of the Kentucky Derby Logo since 2002. On February 1, 2006, the Louisville-based fast-food company Yum! Brands, Inc. announced
1460-473: Is 8 lengths, a feat tied by four different horses: Old Rosebud in 1914, Johnstown in 1939, Whirlaway in 1941, and Assault in 1946. The highest odds of a winning horse were 91 to 1 for Donerail in 1913. The second-highest odds occurred in 2022, when Rich Strike went off at 80 to 1 and won the race. Three horses have won the Kentucky Derby without competing as a two-year-old: Apollo (1882), Justify (2018), and Mage (2023). 107 jockeys have won
1533-484: Is rather angular but his conformation is generally correct. Tiznow is known as a quirky horse. Especially towards the end of his career, he was sometimes reluctant to work in the mornings, including one occasion before the 2001 Breeders' Cup where he spent 40 minutes resisting jockey Chris McCarron 's urging to break into a gallop. In the WinStar stallion barn, Tiznow learned how to unlatch his door to let himself out into
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#17328700705411606-515: Is unusual for a great horse; he is one of the few modern Thoroughbreds whose sire line does not end at the Darley Arabian . Tiznow is instead a direct male line descendant of Man o' War whose sire line traces back to the Godolphin Arabian . He is considered the best hope for the survival of this sire line into the 21st century. He made a promising start to his career as a stallion, leading
1679-419: The 2008 Classic . The field also included Mine That Bird (Kentucky Derby), Summer Bird (Belmont and Travers) and Einstein (Santa Anita Handicap), but Quality Road (Florida Derby) was scratched when he refused to load in the starting gate. When the race finally got underway, Zenyatta broke poorly and on the wrong lead. As was her custom, she dropped far back in the early running then started her move around
1752-607: The Herod (1758) line) are: The Godolphin Arabian (1724c) sire line produced 7 winners (6 colts, 1 gelding). The main branches of this sire (all branched through the West Australian (1850) line) are: Legend – ₩ = Triple Crown winners, ♥ = Filly Tiznow Tiznow (foaled March 12, 1997 in California ) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for his wins in the Breeders' Cup Classic in 2000 and 2001, becoming
1825-588: The Jockey Club Gold Cup . Tiznow was the fourth betting choice in a field of thirteen. Tiznow tracked the leaders down the backstretch and made his move on the turn where he swung five wide. He dueled with Albert the Great but could not get by, and then both were overtaken mid-stretch by Sakhee. McCarron hit Tiznow once left-handed, and the horse responded with a final lunge to win by a nose as track announcer Tom Durkin called, "Tiznow wins it for America!" The race
1898-702: The Preakness Stakes at the Pimlico Race Course , in Baltimore , and the Belmont Stakes in Elmont, New York . The three races offered large purses, and in 1919 , Sir Barton became the first horse to win all three races. However, the term " Triple Crown " did not come into use for another eleven years. In 1930 , when Gallant Fox became the second horse to win all three races, sportswriter Charles Hatton brought
1971-481: The Whitney , Travers , Woodward and Jockey Club Gold Cup , making him the 1–2 favorite in the Classic. Sunday Silence raced five lengths behind the early leaders, with Easy Goer six lengths further behind. Easy Goer made a move down the backstretch and got next to Sunday Silence, who then made his own move as they rounded the final turn. Sunday Silence opened up a three-length lead, but Easy Goer again started closing down
2044-422: The Breeders' Cup Classic in 1984 produced an exciting finish between 30–1 longshot Wild Again on the inside, Gate Dancer on the outside and favorite Slew o' Gold in between. The three battled down the stretch with Wild Again shifting his path away from the rail and Gate Dancer "lugging in" towards the rail, squeezing out Slew O' Gold. Wild Again finished a neck in front of Gate Dancer with Slew o' Gold less than
2117-471: The Breeders' Cup for a variety of reasons such as injury or travel considerations. In the Classic division, runners are limited to 14 and there are up to eight automatic berths. The 2022 "Win and You're In" races were: Most wins: Stakes record: Largest winning margins: Most wins by a jockey : Most wins by a trainer : Most wins by an owner: †Race no longer part of Breeders' Cup · §Race no longer run. Note: All horses were bred in
2190-633: The Breeders' Cup with a perfect record of 13 wins from 13 starts. Rather than trying to defend her title in the Ladies Classic (now known as the Distaff), her connections decided to enter her in the Classic against male horses. The race was run on Santa Anita's Polytrack synthetic dirt surface , which attracted several turf competitors including Gio Ponti (Man o' War, Arlington Million), Twice Over (Champion Stakes) and Rip Van Winkle (Sussex, Queen Elizabeth II), who hoped to repeat Raven's Pass upset victory in
2263-405: The Classic having won seven straight Grade I races and was made the 3–5 favorite. On a muddy track, he scored a 2 + 1 ⁄ 2 length victory in the excellent time of 1:59 2 ⁄ 5 , then the fastest Classic ever run. When calling the race, track announcer Tom Durkin referred to him as the "unconquerable, invincible, unbeatable" Cigar – a phrase that would be associated with the horse for
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2336-435: The Derby in back-to-back years: Herbert J. Thompson (1932–33), Ben Jones (1948–49), Jimmy Jones (1957–58), Lucien Laurin (1972–73), D. Wayne Lukas (1995–96), and Bob Baffert (1997–98). Seventeen owners have won the Kentucky Derby multiple times with horses they fully or partially owned. * Partnered with other entities in an ownership group for one or more winning horses. Jockeys, trainers, and owners competing in
2409-456: The Derby was in 1973 at 1:59.4 minutes, when Secretariat broke the record set by Northern Dancer in 1964 . Also during that race, Secretariat did something unique in Triple Crown races: for each successive quarter run, his times were faster. Although the races do not record times for non-winners, in 1973 Sham finished second, two and a half lengths behind Secretariat in the same race. Using
2482-462: The Derby was postponed from May 2 to September 5 due to the COVID-19 pandemic . This was the second time in history the race had been postponed, the other being in 1945 . Churchill Downs used a new singular 20-stall starting gate for the 2020 Kentucky Derby , replacing the previous arrangement that used a standard 14-stall gate and an auxiliary six-stall gate. The old setup contributed to congestion at
2555-472: The Great. Tiznow and Albert the Great went to the early lead while being stalked by Giant's Causeway. As they entered the stretch, Albert the Great started to give way, but Giant's Causeway was closing fast on the outside. Giant's Causeway almost got even, but Tiznow rallied to win by a neck. The race was voted the NTRA Moment of the Year . Days after the Breeders' Cup, Straub-Reubens died, leaving her share of
2628-561: The Kentucky Derby and its sibling race, the Kentucky Oaks , have been run every year since inception. They were twice rescheduled within the same year, the first time due to World War II in 1945 , and the second time due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 . The Derby and the Oaks are the oldest major sporting events in the US held annually since their beginning. Among thoroughbred stakes races, they are
2701-418: The Kentucky Derby often will compete in the Kentucky Oaks , a race for fillies held the day before the Derby. Winning both these races in the same year is referred to as an "Oaks/Derby Double;" 7 jockeys, 3 trainers, and 4 owners have accomplished this feat: *Until the 1950s, the Oaks was held several days or weeks after the Derby. Triple Crown winners are in bold and highlighted with gold. # Designates
2774-606: The Kentucky Derby, and the Preakness Stakes last. On May 16, 1925, the first live radio broadcast of the Kentucky Derby aired on WHAS as well as on WGN in Chicago. On May 7, 1949, the first television coverage of the Kentucky Derby took place, produced by WAVE-TV , the NBC affiliate in Louisville. This coverage was aired live in the Louisville market and sent to NBC as a kinescope newsreel recording for national broadcast. On May 3, 1952,
2847-513: The Kentucky Derby, with 27 doing so multiple times. Isaac Murphy (1890–91), Jimmy Winkfield (1901–02), Ron Turcotte (1972–73), Eddie Delahoussaye (1982–83), Calvin Borel (2009–10), and Victor Espinoza (2014–15) are the only jockeys to win the Derby in back-to-back years. Borel is the only jockey with three wins in a four-year span (2007, '09, '10). 116 trainers have won the Kentucky Derby, with 19 doing so multiple times. Six trainers have won
2920-551: The United States unless noted Legend – ₩ = Triple Crown winner; ♥ = Filly or mare Kentucky Derby The Kentucky Derby ( / ˈ d ɜːr b i / ) is an American Grade I stakes race run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky . The race is run by three-year-old Thoroughbreds at a distance of 1 + 1 ⁄ 4 miles (10 furlongs; 2,012 metres). Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds (57 kilograms) and fillies 121 pounds (55 kilograms). Held annually on
2993-417: The Year honors, including the four winners of the race between 2004 and 2007—respectively Ghostzapper , Saint Liam , Invasor , and Curlin . Due to the extremely high quality of horses in the event, the race is notoriously hard to predict. One notable example of an underdog winning the Classic is the victory of Arcangues in 1993. This was the biggest upset in Breeders' Cup history and his $ 269.20 payoff for
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3066-580: The ancestor of 7 winners, Byerley Turk the ancestor of 11 winners, and Darley Arabian the ancestor of 132 winners, including all winners since 1938. The Darley Arabian (1700c) sire line (all branched through the Eclipse (1764) line) produced 132 Derby winners (124 colts, 5 geldings, 3 fillies), including all winners from 1938 to present. The main branches of this sire line are: The Byerley Turk (1680c) sire line produced 11 winners (8 colts, 3 geldings). The main branches of this sire (all branched through
3139-462: The far turn. Jockey Mike Smith guided her between horses near the rail, then swung the mare wide as they entered the stretch. Zenyatta quickly regained stride and closed on the early leaders, winning by a length over Gio Ponti. Mike Smith believed she would have won by more if she had not slowed when the crowd started to react. "She started pricking her ears and looking at the crowd", he said. "And she still went, believe it or not, well within herself. She
3212-458: The first Derby. Under jockey Oliver Lewis , a colt named Aristides , who was trained by future Hall of Famer Ansel Williamson , won the inaugural Derby. Later that year, Lewis rode Aristides to a second-place finish in the Belmont Stakes . Initially a successful venue, the track ran into financial difficulties due to a protracted, gambling-related horseman boycott removing it from the upper echelons of racing that would last until just after
3285-706: The first Saturday in May, the Derby is the first leg of the Triple Crown . It is preceded by the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival . The race is known as "The Run for the Roses", as the winning horse is draped in a blanket of roses. Lasting approximately two minutes, the Derby has been alternately called "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports", "The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports", or "The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports", coined by Churchill Downs president Matt Winn . At least two of these descriptions are thought to be derived from
3358-412: The first national television coverage of the Kentucky Derby took place, aired from then- CBS affiliate WHAS-TV . In 1954, the purse exceeded US$ 100,000 for the first time. In 1968, Dancer's Image became the first horse to win the race and then face disqualification. A urine test revealed traces of phenylbutazone (an anti-inflammatory painkiller drug) inside Dancer's Image. Forward Pass won after
3431-418: The first time and finished second when Skimming got an early lead and kicked clear of the field. This was the first time he was ridden by jockey Chris McCarron, who quickly learned that Tiznow disliked the whip and adjusted tactics accordingly. "From that point on, that’s the way I rode him. I didn’t hit him a whole lot. I just tried to encourage him to run by chirping to him and moving my hands, and if I felt it
3504-535: The freshman sire list in 2005. That first crop included 2005 Eclipse Award champion juvenile filly Folklore , who won the 2005 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies . He was third on the American general sire list in 2008 and fourth in 2009. His progeny have typically needed some time to mature and most are best at a mile or more. Tiznow has established himself as an important sire, particularly of classic distance types like 2008 Belmont Stakes winner Da'Tara , Well Armed ,
3577-526: The garland and the Kentucky Derby Trophy to the winner. Pop vocalist Dan Fogelberg composed the song " Run for the Roses ", released in time for the 1980 running of the race. "Riders Up!" is the traditional command from the Paddock Judge for jockeys to mount their horses in advance of the upcoming race. Since 2012, the grand marshal recites this phrase. Grand marshals In the weeks preceding
3650-635: The horse to her children. In January 2001, Tiznow received Eclipse Awards for 2000 Horse of the Year and Champion Three-Year-Old . He was the first California-bred to receive these honors since Swaps in 1956. Tiznow started his 4-year-old campaign by winning the San Fernando Breeders' Cup Stakes , then finishing second to Wooden Phone in the Strub Stakes . At high weight in the Santa Anita Handicap , Tiznow dueled with Wooden Phone for
3723-464: The land for the racetrack. The naming went official in 1937. The Kentucky Derby was first run at 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 miles (12 furlongs ; 2.4 km) the same distance as the Epsom Derby , before changing lengths in 1896 to its current 1 + 1 ⁄ 4 miles (10 furlongs; 2 km). On May 17, 1875, in front of an estimated crowd of 10,000 people, a field of 15 three-year-old horses contested
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#17328700705413796-421: The main hall. He does not like the feel of concrete on his feet and will adjust his steps so he doesn’t have to walk over it. Tiznow also does not like cold weather and is usually kept inside if the temperature goes below freezing. "He's a California horse all the way," said Amy Nave, a bloodstock assistant at WinStar. "I think in a way it shows how intelligent he is." Tiznow missed his two-year-old season due to
3869-583: The oldest that have been held annually on the same track every year. The Derby is the most-watched and most-attended horse race in the United States. The 2024 Kentucky Derby marked the 150th running of the race. In 1872, Col. Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr. , grandson of William Clark of the Lewis and Clark expedition , traveled to England, visiting Epsom in Surrey where The Derby had been running annually since 1780. From there, Clark went on to Paris, France , where
3942-620: The only horse to win this race twice. He was the 2000 American Horse of the Year and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2009. Tiznow is a bay horse with a white tornado-shaped blaze and four white socks . A California bred, he was sired by Cee's Tizzy out of the Seattle Song mare Cee's Song. A full brother, Budroyale, finished second in the 1999 Breeders' Cup Classic. Tiznow's unraced full sister Tizamazing produced 2013 Preakness Stakes winner Oxbow , by
4015-524: The order of Triple Crown races has been the Kentucky Derby first, followed by the Preakness Stakes and then the Belmont Stakes. Before 1931, eleven times the Preakness was run before the Derby. On May 12, 1917, and again on May 13, 1922, the Preakness and the Derby took place on the same day. On eleven occasions the Belmont Stakes was run before the Preakness Stakes, and in 2020, the Belmont was run first, then
4088-407: The phrase into American usage. Fueled by the media, public interest in the possibility of a "superhorse" that could win the Triple Crown began in the weeks leading up to the Derby. Two years after the term went in use, the race (until that time ran in mid-May since inception) changed the date to the first Saturday in May. This change allows for a specific schedule for the Triple Crown races. Since 1931,
4161-508: The race, numerous activities took place for the Kentucky Derby Festival . Thunder Over Louisville —an airshow and fireworks display—generally begins the festivities in earnest two weeks before the Derby. Secretariat set the record for speed in 1973 with a time of 1:59.4. During its first two decades when the Derby was run at 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 miles, the record was 2:34.5, set by Spokane in 1889. The largest margin of victory
4234-507: The rest of his life. Although Tiznow won the Breeders' Cup Classic and Horse of the Year honors in 2000, he is best known for his effort in the 2001 renewal. Tiznow experienced a variety of physical problems throughout the year and came into the Classic with only two wins in five starts. Facing him was an exceptionally strong European contingent that included Galileo and Sakhee . The 2001 Breeders' Cup took place at Belmont Park in New York and
4307-581: The rich, the famous and the well-connected. Women appear in elegant outfits lavishly accessorized with large, elaborate hats. Following the Call to the Post played on bugle by Steve Buttleman, as the horses start to parade before the grandstands, the University of Louisville Cardinal Marching Band plays Stephen Foster 's " My Old Kentucky Home ". This song is a tradition which began in 1921. The event attracts spectators from
4380-414: The stallion Awesome Again. Tiznow was trained by Jay Robbins and ridden by Chris McCarron in his major races. He was originally owned by his breeder, Cecilia Straub-Rubens, and Michael L. Cooper. When Straub-Rubens died shortly after the 2000 Breeders' Cup Classic, Tiznow's ownership was changed to Cee's Stable. At maturity, he reached 16.3 hands (67 inches, 170 cm) high. His frame
4453-443: The start of the race, especially in the gap between the two gates. Rich Strike , a reserve who only made it into the final field after a late scratching, won the race in 2022 at final odds of 80:1 and parimutuel betting payouts were even larger. In January 2024, the purse for the Kentucky Derby was increased to $ 5 million. Millions of people from around the world bet at various live tracks and online sportsbooks. In 2017,
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#17328700705414526-436: The stretch, only to be caught near the wire. Arcangues' jockey Jerry Bailey had timed the run perfectly, even though he had never ridden the horse before. "I couldn't understand the instructions the trainer ( André Fabre ) gave me in the paddock", he said. "I don't even know how to pronounce the horse's name. But sometimes a horse runs best when he is ridden by someone who has never been on him before." In 1995, Cigar came into
4599-476: The stretch. At the wire, Sunday Silence prevailed by a neck, earning him Horse of the Year honors. The 1993 renewal saw the biggest upset in Breeders' Cup history when the French-based Arcangues won at odds of 133–1. California-based horses had dominated at Santa Anita in the preceding races, and Bertrando was expected to continue the trend. He set the early pace and had a comfortable lead coming down
4672-434: The thoroughbred racing convention of one length equaling one-fifth of a second to calculate Sham 's time, he also finished in under two minutes. Another sub-two-minute finish, only the third, was set in 2001 by Monarchos at 1:59.97, the first year the race used hundredths of seconds instead of fifths in timing. In 2005, the purse distribution for the Derby changed, so that horses finishing fifth would henceforth receive
4745-661: The turn of the 20th century. In 1894 the New Louisville Jockey Club was incorporated with the new capitalization and improved facilities. Despite this, the business floundered until 1902, when a syndicate led by Col. Matt Winn of Louisville acquired the facility. Under Winn, Churchill Downs prospered, and the Kentucky Derby then became the preeminent stakes race for three-year-old thoroughbred horses in North America. Thoroughbred owners began sending their successful Derby horses to compete in two other races. These two are
4818-486: The west in Lower Manhattan, but the 2001 Breeders' Cup went ahead as planned, with armed marksmen lining the rooftop at Belmont Park. The field for the Classic included European superstars Galileo ( Epsom Derby and Irish Derby winner), and Sakhee ( Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner), who were both racing on dirt for the first time. The American runners were led by Aptitude, winner of three straight races including
4891-467: The winner of the 2009 Dubai World Cup , Colonel John , winner of the 2008 Travers Stakes and Gemologist, winner of the 2012 Wood Memorial Stakes . Tiznow is also a developing sire of sires, having at least 13 sons at stud in the U.S. On October 21, 2020, WinStar Farm announced that Tiznow had been retired from stud duty. Notable offspring of Tiznow include: Tiznow is also a top broodmare sire, known for transmitting stamina. Notable descendants as
4964-582: The words of sportswriter Grantland Rice , when in 1935 he said "Those two minutes and a second or so of derby running carry more emotional thrills, per second, than anything sport can show." The race was first run in 1875. Unlike the other, older races of the Triple Crown—the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes —along with the Travers Stakes (the oldest comparable stakes race in the US),
5037-454: Was again voted the NTRA Moment of the Year. Sakhee was a close second, and Albert the Great was two lengths back in third. Tiznow is the only racehorse to win the Breeders' Cup Classic twice. He was inducted into racing's Hall of Fame in 2009. Retired to stud at WinStar Farm , Tiznow was considered an uncertain stallion prospect due to his relatively modest California breeding. His pedigree
5110-471: Was necessary, to show him the stick and tap," McCarron said. For his next race, Tiznow shipped to Louisiana for the $ 500,000 Super Derby , then a Grade One race. He won in gate to wire fashion by six lengths under a hand ride, breaking the track record for 1 + 1 ⁄ 8 miles. Returning to California for the Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap , Tiznow grabbed the early lead and then withstood
5183-555: Was pricking her ears and galloped out. She didn't even take a breath after the race was over. It's just incredible." Zenyatta became the first and still the only female horse to win the Classic. Beginning in 2007, the Breeders' Cup developed the Breeders' Cup Challenge , a series of races in each division that allotted automatic qualifying bids to winners of defined races. Each of the fourteen divisions has multiple qualifying races. Note though that one horse may win multiple challenge races, while other challenge winners will not be entered in
5256-431: Was purchased carrying Tizamazing for $ 2.6 million at the 2001 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. Relocated to Kentucky, Cee’s Song produced four more offspring including stakes-placed C’Mon Tiger, by Storm Cat, and his winning full sister You’re Beautiful. Cee's Song died in 2011 from the infirmities of old age. * Tiznow is inbred 4S × 4D to the stallion Northern Dancer , meaning that he appears fourth generation on
5329-430: Was the first major sporting event since 9–11 , so security was exceptionally heavy. Europeans won many of the early races on the card and looked set to take the Classic when Sakhee hit the lead in mid-stretch. Tiznow fought back and won the race by a nose, with Tom Durkin calling, "Tiznow wins it for America!" Tiznow became the first and to-date only two-time winner of the Classic. In the 2009 Classic , Zenyatta came into
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