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2020 Kentucky Derby Trivia Questions and Answers

by Chris Vasile - 8/24/2020

Jockey Garrett Gomez.

We are just two weeks away from the running of the 146th Kentucky Derby, and it feels extremely weird writing that with the calendar on my computer showing August. But here we are. The Covid pandemic forced the Derby to move its date from May 2 to September 5, which keeps its longstanding record of never missing a year since 1875 intact. This year’s Derby figures to be one of the more wide-open races given the fact that nobody knows what to expect with limited fans and horses who have been run more heavily than they would have been had this gone off in May.

Here at Doc’s, we will have extensive Kentucky Derby content leading up to the big race, but first we’ll start with everyone’s favorite party game – trivia questions. Let’s get you in and out of the starting gate with ease on the first question. Answers are at the bottom of this page

1…Which racetrack is the Kentucky Derby held at?

(A) Churchill Downs (B)Pimlico
(C) Belmont Park (D) Arlington

2…How old are the horses that compete in the Kentucky Derby?

(A)Four Years Old (B) Five Years Old
(C) Six Years Old (D) Three Years Old

3…What is the approximate annual attendance at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby day?
(A) 25,000 (B) 50,000

(C) 150,000 (D) 200,000

4…What is the longest odds winner in Kentucky Derby history?

(A) 100-1 B) 84-1

(C) 91-1 (D) 47-1

5… What is the official drink of the Kentucky Derby?

(A) Rum and Coke (B) Mint Julep

(C) B52 (D) Sex on the Beach

6… The fastest Derby of all time was 1:59.40. That's really fast for a mile and a quarter. It was set by a Triple Crown winner - one of the last five ones. Which one?

(A) Justify (B) American Pharoah

(C) Secretariat (E) Affirmed

7…Who was the first Derby winning horse to be disqualified for a foul on the track?
(A) Maximum Security (B) Smarty Jones
(C) Tapit (D) Wando

8… What is the distance of the Kentucky Derby?

(A)1 ¾ miles (B) 1 Mile

(C) 1 ½ Miles (D) 1 ¼ Miles

9. Bob Baffert leads the field with five Kentucky Derby wins in his career. Todd Pletcher is next with just two. With another win this year, Baffert would move into a tie for the most all-time. Who would he be tied with?
(A). Ben A. Jones (B) Lucien Laurin

(C) Herbert J. Thompson (D) D. Wayne Lukas

10… How much was the first Kentucky Derby purse worth?

(A) $1,000 (B) $10,000

(C)$2,850 (D) $4,300

11…Who was the first female jockey to ride in the Kentucky Derby?

(A) Shelley Riley (B) Diane Crump

(C) Megan Lacroix (D) Andrea McDuffy

12… What was the first New York bred horse to win the Derby?
(A)Proud Clarion (B) Secretariat
(C) Funny Cide (D) Northern Dancer

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Answers

1…Churchill Downs – Best known for hosting the Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs officially opened in 1875 and was named after Samuel Churchill, who was part of a prominent family.

2… The Kentucky Derby is one of the most prestigious races for three-year-old thoroughbred horses in North America.

3…The record Kentucky Derby attendance is 170,513, but the yearly average works out to about 150,000 people.

4… In 1913, a horse by the name of Donerail lit up the tote board with his win at odds of 91-1.

5…The Mint Julep is the official drink of the Kentucky Derby. Each year, Churchill Downs requires more than 10,000 bottles of Old Forester Mint Julep ready-to-serve cocktails.

6… Secretariat in one of just three colts to run the Derby in under two minutes. Remarkably, one of the other two is Sham, who was a soundly beaten second to Secretariat in that 1973 Derby. The other is Monarchos, who benefitted from a freakishly fast track and a race that set up perfectly for him in 2001.

7…In the 2019 Kentucky Derby, Maximum Security crossed the wire first but was disqualified for interference down the stretch. That prompted Country House to be declared the winner after finishing second.

8… The Kentucky Derby is 1 ¼ mile in length and has been that way since 1896. Prior to that, it was run at 1 ½ miles.

9… Jones won six and went on to win the Triple Crown with two of those winners - as Baffert has. Five of the six were for Calumet Farm, which has won a record eight Derby crowns, but none since 1968.

10…Remember, the Kentucky Derby was first run in 1875. The winning horse received $2,850, while the second-place finisher made a cool $200.

11…Diane Crump became the first female jockey to ride in the Kentucky Derby in 1970. She finished 15th in a 17-horse field.

12…Funny Cide is the answer. He was also the first Gelding to win since 1929. He went on to win the Preakness but finished third in the Belmont Stakes.

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