139th running of the Kentucky Derby


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(Reuters) - Factbox on the Kentucky Derby, to be run at Churchill Downs on Saturday.

* The Kentucky Derby is a race for three year olds over one and a quarter miles, held annually on the first Saturday of May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

* The race was first run in 1875 and this year's edition will be the 139th.

* The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of U.S. racing's Triple Crown and is followed by the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes.

* Only 11 horses have won all three legs of the Triple Crown: Sir Barton (1919), Gallant Fox (1930), Omaha (1935), War Admiral (1937), Whirlaway (1941), Count Fleet (1943), Assault (1946), Citation (1948), Secretariat (1973), Seattle Slew (1977) and Affirmed (1978)

* The prize money for this year's race is nearly $2.2 million. The winning connections get just over $1.4 million, a 14-carat gold trophy and a garland of 564 red roses sewn into a satin blanket.

* The Kentucky Derby is one of North America's most popular sporting events. A record crowd of just over 165,000 people attended last year's race and $187 million was wagered on the race.

* The most successful trainer is Ben Jones, with six winners between 1938 and 1952.

* The most successful jockeys are Eddie Arcaro and Bill Hartack with five wins each.

* The race record of one minute 59.40 seconds was set by Secretariat in 1973.

* Recent winners of the Kentucky Derby 2012 - I'll Have Another 2011 - Animal Kingdom 2010 - Super Saver 2009 - Mine That Bird 2008 - Big Brown 2007 - Street Sense 2006 - Barbaro 2005 - Giacomo 2004 - Smarty Jones 2003 - Funny Cide 2002 - War Emblem 2001 - Monarchos 2000 - Fusaichi Pegasus

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