Kentucky Derby Trivia Questions About the Famous Horse Race, the First Leg of the Triple Crown

Kentucky Derby Trivia Questions

 

What is the Kentucky Derby?
A: The Kentucky Derby is a horse race held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States.

When is the Kentucky Derby held?
A: On the first Saturday in May.

How long is the Kentucky Derby Festival which takes place immediately before the derby?
A: Two weeks.

The race is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds at what distance?
A: One and a quarter miles (2 km) at Churchill Downs.

The race is known in the United States as what?
A:"The Most Exciting Two Minutes In Sports" or "The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports".

It is also called "The Run for the Roses" after what?
A: The blanket of roses draped over the winner.

It is the first leg of the what?
A: The American Triple Crown.

The Derby is followed by what race?
A: The Preakness Stakes.

What is the third leg of the Triple Crown?
A: The Belmont Stakes.

The Preakness and Belmont Stakes, took hiatuses in 1891–1893 and 1911–1912, respectively, but the Kentucky Derby has been run every consecutive year since when?
A: 1875.

A horse must win all three races to win what?
A: The Triple Crown.

In the 2015 listing of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), the Kentucky Derby tied with the Whitney Handicap as the what?
A: Top Grade 1 race in the United States outside of the Breeders' Cup races.

Where does the attendance at the Kentucky Derby rank in North America?
A: First.

The Kentucky Derby usually surpasses the attendance of all other stakes races including what three races?
A: The Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes, and the Breeders' Cup.

The 142nd running of the Kentucky Derby was Saturday, May 7, 2016 with how big of a guaranteed purse?
A: $2 million.

In 1872, Col. Meriwether Lewis Clark, Jr., grandson traveled to England, visiting what?
A: The Derby, a famous race that had been running annually since 1780.

Clark went on to Paris where in 1863, a group of racing enthusiasts had formed what?
A: The French Jockey Club and had organized the Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp.

At the time, the Grand Prix de Paris was what?
A: The greatest race in France.

After getting home to Kentucky, what did Clark organize>
A: The Louisville Jockey Club.

What was the purpose of the Jockey Club?
A: To raise money to build quality racing facilities just outside the city.

The track would soon become known as what?
A: Churchill Downs, named for John and Henry Churchill, who provided the land for the racetrack.

Officially, the racetrack was incorporated as Churchill Downs in what year?
A: 1937.