Top 10 Kentucky Derby Victories of All Time

by Patricia Woo | Apr 26 2010

Bodog runs down the top 10 Kentucky Derby wins of all time. Will 2010 see a new name added to this list?

10. Affirmed (1978)

In a year that horse racing boasted two incredible 3-year-old talents - Affirmed and Alydar - the Kentucky Derby would set the stage for an unforgettable showdown. Sent off as the second choice behind Alydar, Affirmed raced just off the pace. He made his bid for the lead on the far turn and held off a late challenge from Alydar to win the first leg of the Triple Crown Series; he would go on to win the Triple Crown and become the most recent horse to do so.

9. Assault (1946)

The eventual Triple Crown champion began his incredible journey to horse racing glory in the 1946 Kentucky Derby. Teamed with jockey Warren Mehrtens, Assault left all rivals behind in a stunning 8-length victory, a record that still stands today.

8. Mine That Bird (2009)

In the 2009 Derby as a 50-1 longshot, Mine That Bird had a poor start that nearly put him out of contention. But a ground-saving trip and a powerful finishing kick saw him surge past the leaders and win by an incredible 6 ¾ length margin.

7. Winning Colors (1988)

Winning Colors put her front-running style to good use in the 1988 Kentucky Derby; she managed to shake free of the pack early and then fended off a late charger to become only the third filly to win the Run for the Roses.

6. Barbaro (2006)

Before he captured the hearts of the horse racing world in his brave battle against laminitis, Barbaro was considered one of the top contenders for the Kentucky Derby. He won the race by an impressive 6 ½ lengths - the second widest in the history of the race.

5. Big Brown (2008)

Big Brown was undefeated as a 3-year-old going into the Kentucky Derby. He was the favorite, but had history against him when he drew the extreme outside post 20. His 4 ¾ length victory marked the first time since 1929 that a horse had won the Derby from post 20.

4. Seattle Slew (1977)

Winner of the Wood Memorial prior to entering the Kentucky Derby, Seattle Slew had the misfortune of a poor break during the Kentucky Derby. But he managed to launch an amazing comeback, gaining the lead at the top of the stretch and then drawing away for the win.

3. Monarchos (2001)

Monarchos came from well off the pace - 13th at one point - to take advantage of a blistering early pace in the 2001 Kentucky Derby. He passed the fading leaders at the far turn and managed to reel in his final rival before stopping the clock at 1:59.97 - the second fastest in Kentucky Derby history.

2.  Genuine Risk (1980)

Sent off as a 13-1 shot, filly Genuine Risk raced just off the pace before making a wide move entering  the turn. She overtook the leaders exiting the turn and then held off two hard-charging rivals through the stretch, giving her the distinction of becoming only second filly to win the Kentucky Derby.

1. Secretariat (1973)

Breaking last in the 1973 Kentucky Derby, Secretariat made up ground quickly. He bypassed the field in the backstretch and then collared his final rival in the stretch. Incredibly, he ran each quarter-mile segment faster than the last, and his winning time was a record-setting 1:59 2/5, a mark that still stands to this day.

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