Horse Racing The Land of Legends: Kentucky Derby Winners in Horse Country February 23, 2026 While the Kentucky Derby might be held in Louisville, Lexington is the home of Kentucky Derby winners. From their foaling and early development to stallion careers, the journey of many Kentucky Derby champions runs through Horse Country. The Kentucky Derby was first run in May of 1875 and is the longest continually held sporting event in America. Over the years, the distance, field size and date of the race may have changed, but the prestige has remained the same. The Kentucky Derby is run each year on the First Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Today, the Kentucky Derby is run at a distance of 1 1/14 miles, with a maximum field size of 20 horses. This year’s edition, to be run on May 2nd, will be the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby. Before we dive into this year’s field, let’s look back at the victories of the Kentucky Derby winners who now call Horse Country home. Churchill Downs has been home of the Kentucky Derby since the inaugural running in 1875. Check out their website and buy tickets to this year’s Kentucky Derby. 2024- Mystik Dan Mystik Dan won the highly anticipated 150th run for the roses. His odds were 18-1 after a breakout season, after winning the Southwest Stakes (Gr. 3), and was third in the Arkansas Derby (Gr. 1). He slipped through on the rail and won the Kentucky Derby with a historic three-horse nose finish. The closest finish since 1947 on the wire. This dramatic finish was declared by a nose, making the 150th a memorable one. Mystik Dan was born and raised at his trainer’s farm, Kenny McPeek’s, at Magdalena Farm. McPeek also trained 2024 Kentucky Oaks winner Thorpedo Anna. Making a historic feat by winning both the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks in the same year. Mystik Dan is now standing at Airdrie Stud in Midway, KY. You can also visit two other runners that raced against Mystik Dan here in Horse Country. See the second-place finisher, Sierra Leone, at Coolmore at Ashford Stud and contender Dornoch at Spendthrift Farm. You can also visit Magdalena Farm through Horse Country. 2023 – Mage Though Mage came into the Kentucky Derby off of a second place finish in the G1 Florida Derby. With odds going off at odds of 15-1, he was considered an underdog of the race. His running style as a closer paid off well after a hot pace was set by the early leaders, and Mage closed from 16th place to win by a length over Two Phil’s. This victory was the first Kentucky Derby win for his jockey Javier Castellano. As well as his trainer Gustavo Delgado and owners CMNWLTH, Ogma Investments, LLC, Sterling Racing LLC and Ramiro Restrepo. Mage was born and raised at Runnymede Farm in Paris, Kentucky, who consigned the colt. He sold as a yearling at the Keeneland September Sale. He now stands as a stallion at Airdrie Stud in Midway, Kentucky. You can visit Airdrie Stud through tours offered by Horse Country! 2020 – Authentic The Kentucky Derby has only been postponed twice in its history. This includes 1945 due to World War II and 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2020 Kentucky Derby was held on the first Saturday in September, rather than the first Saturday in May, in front of a very limited crowd of horsemen and women. Authentic was the third betting choice in the race. He won the G1 Haskell Stakes along with a handful of other graded stakes races prior to the Derby. He broke strong and led throughout every step of the race, winning by 1 1/4 lengths. Authentic went on to win the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland before retiring to Spendthrift Farm. Where he stands alongside his sire Into Mischief. Spendthrift Farm is the only farm in the world where you could see a Kentucky Derby winner and his sire! 2019 – Country House Country House’s journey to wear the iconic blanket of roses was a bit different than most Derby winners. In 2019, a unique situation took place in which the horse that crossed the finish line first was disqualified. This was due to crossing paths with other contenders in the race. Country House closed from mid-pack to a strong second place finish. He was elevated to the victory after an extensive inquiry process. His victory in the race provided jockey Flavien Prat and trainer Bill Mott. As well as his ownership group with their first win in the Kentucky Derby. Country House now stands as a stallion at historic Darby Dan Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, which offers private tours through Horse Country. 2018 – Justify Just a few years off of the Triple Crown triumph of American Pharaoh, the undefeated Justify followed in his hoofprints. He joined his future stablemate in becoming the 13th Triple Crown winner. The first step in his journey to that historic accomplishment came in the 2018 Kentucky Derby, where he sat at the front of the pack throughout the race before driving away in the stretch to win by 2 1/2 lengths. Justify was purchased as a yearling at the Keeneland September Sale by Horse Country member WinStar Farm in partnership with China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners LLC and Starlight Racing. Justify now stands stud at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud in Versailles, Kentucky. He had early success as a sire with his first crop of progeny being grade one winners including Spendthrift Farm stallion Arabian Lion. 2016 – Nyquist Nyquist was a precocious racehorse, with three grade one victories as a two-year-old, including the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland. His dominance continued through the Derby prep races and onto the first Saturday in May, so much so that he was the heavy favorite in the race. His favoritism was well deserved as he was among the early leaders in the race, eventually drawing away to win by 1 1/4 lengths. Check out our Champion Connections feature on Nyquist for more information about his career. Nyquist is one of only two horses to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and the Kentucky Derby, both of whom stand at Darley’s Jonabell Farm! 2015 – American Pharoah American Pharaoh entered the Kentucky Derby carrying a four-race winning streak. He rewarded his supporters with a one-length victory on the first Saturday in May. Over the next five weeks, “Pharoah” captured the Preakness and Belmont Stakes, ending a 37-year Triple Crown drought. The champion currently stands stud at Shizunai Stallion Station in Japan. He will return to Coolmore’s Ashford Stud in July 2026 to rejoin his stablemate and fellow Triple Crown winner, Justify. In 2025, American Pharaoh sired over 30 graded stakes winners and two Kentucky Derby contenders, Publisher and Luxor Cafe 2007 – Street Sense After finishing second in the G1 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, Street Sense entered the Kentucky Derby. The colt held the status of post-time favorite, though he spent most of the race at the back of the pack under jockey Calvin Borel. On the far turn, Street Sense began passing horses; he then overtook the pace-setting Hard Spun in the stretch to win by 2 ¼ lengths. With this victory, trainer Carl Nafzger celebrated his second Kentucky Derby win, while owner and breeder Jim Tafel secured his first and only winner of the “Run for the Roses.” Street Sense remains one of only two horses to win both the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and the Kentucky Derby. Today, he and fellow winner Nyquist stand at Darley’s Jonabell Farm. Street Sense continues his legacy as a top sire in Kentucky and still produces top contenders.
