This is the race of all races, the most popular horse race in America and the first part of the three part Triple Crown. Similar to the Epsom Classic, the Kentucky Derby is made up of only the best of the 3-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. Any other similarities of these two races end at the age restrictions and the America Classic takes place on dirt compared to turf.
This race is so special to so many people that they have given it nick-names to describe how they view the race. The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports is one and the other being The Run for the Roses.
This race takes place at the end of the Kentucky Derby Festival that runs for two week prior. In the history of this race, it has been known to attract over 100,000 spectators with the winner of this race claiming the title of world class thoroughbred and thus awarded a blanket of roses. This Derby was created by Co. Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr. who had attended the Epsom Derby when he visited England. But before he returned from England, he played a part in the creation of the French version, called the Grand Prix de Paris.