This is the 150th year of the Kentucky Derby. Like most great things, it only comes around once a year. The first weekend in May, people across the United States of America gather around their TV sets or travel to Louisville, Kentucky, to witness history.
This year provided even more history as Churchill Downs marked the 150th Anniversary of the Derby, which goes all the way back to May of 1875. Only 13 horses that have raced at the legendary Churchill Downs Racetrack have gone on to win all three races that encompass the triple crown of horse racing. What awaited horse racing fans this year at the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby?
The 150th Kentucky Derby
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When you think you’ve seen as close a finish as ever, the Kentucky Derby finds a way to challenge your thoughts. The Run for the Roses capped off with an astonishing photo finish that took minutes to verify Win, Place, and Show (1st place, 2nd place, and 3rd place for non-horse racing bettors and fans). A nose length is all it took for Mystik Dan to emerge victorious in the historic 150th Kentucky Derby.
Mystik Dan Emerges Victorious
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The horse in the middle of the pack pulled out probably one of the most astonishing photo finishes in horse racing history on Saturday. Most horse racing fans know that any race can produce an epic photo finish, while some victories come with numerous furlongs between Win and Show. For example, most horse racing fans can tell you exactly how significant the distance was between Secretariat’s Derby win and the Show (2nd place) horse.
However, that was not the case on Saturday, May 4, 2024. This was probably the closest photo finish ever, just barely squeaking it out with the use of his snout. Mystik Dan is a horse that showed grace, pose, and even pageantry after his amazing come from the middle-of-the-pack win. We await to see what is next for our newest Kentucky Derby winner. Next, he runs in the Preakness Stakes on May 18, 2024, in a quest to become the next Triple Crown winner.
Fun Fact about Mystik Dan: He happened to be the stablemate to Thorpedo Anna, the winner of this year’s Kentucky Oaks race, which ran the day before the Derby. Both horses are also jockeyed by the same person, Brian Hernandez, Jr. This produced a sweep of both the Oaks and Derby this year by a jockey.
Track Phantom
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What happened with Track Phantom? Surely, he could’ve won the Kentucky Derby. While the answer to that statement is yes, he could have. Many believe that having had such a strong start right out of the gate, Track Phantom did not have enough gas left in the tank to continue carrying him onward to victory. Track Phantom had gone back and forth with a few of the horses in his quest for the Garland of Roses, and he had held his own for a large part of the race. Now we wait to see what is or could be next for Track Phantom.
While the race is only a mile and a quarter long and often referred to as the “greatest two minutes in all of sports, ” it most likely feels like an eternity for the horses, the jockeys, the trainers, and the owners. Everyone waits with bated breath to see what horse will emerge victorious and be crowned the next Kentucky Derby winner. This race usually has a very clear-cut winner in the end. But what is horse racing without a little bit of anticipation and longing to see who wins? After all, we all want to be winners in the end.
While victory is best served with a Garland of Roses, seeing another horse draped with the Roses can be viewed as a crushing defeat to the other nineteen horses in the Run for the Roses and for their quest to be named the winner of the Kentucky Derby.
The 150th Kentucky Derby showed us all that even the most favored horse isn’t always going to be the horse that will have the roses draped across them at the end of the race. Every horse trainer, jockey, and owner wants to be the one to etch their name in horse racing history with a win at the Kentucky Derby. It is one of the most coveted races in the world.
150th Kentucky Derby: A Beautifully Epic Photo Finish
Check out this astonishing photo finish from the Derby!
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Stay tuned for more horse racing in the quest for the Triple Crown by watching the 149th running of the Preakness Stakes on May 18, 2024. the Triple Crown culminates with the 154th running of the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga on June 8, 2024.
For more on the Kentucky Derby, straight from the horse’s mouth, click here
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About the Author
Amanda Bentle is a mother with many talents under her belt. She is also a wife, co-worker, friend, daughter and sister. Writing is something that has always come naturally to her. Amanda is able to share her love of many hobbies as she is not a one hobby kind of gal, with her husband and son.
Not only is Amanda a master of many talents and hobbies but one of the many things she loves as much as her little family are the cats and dogs that she has rescued and welcomed into her little family over the last seven to ten years.
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