It would have been Derby Day this coming Saturday and while we’ll certainly miss seeing all the top horses, crowds and fancy hats this year, Churchill Downs isn’t letting this weekend pass without providing physical distancing entertainment. (The ‘live’ Kentucky Derby has been re-scheduled for September 5th.)
On Saturday from 3:00-6:00pm EST NBC Sports will broadcast the 2015 Kentucky Derby, the start of American Pharoah’s Triple Crown season. This will be followed by the first-ever Churchill Down’s virtual horse race – The Kentucky Derby Triple Crown Showdown. This will be a computer-simulated version of a race featuring the 13 past Triple Crown winners using data algorithms including historical handicapping information about each horse to determine the probability of their potential finishing positions. (Check out the list of past winners below)
Starting April 30th you can go to www.KentuckyDerby.com to make your pick for the race. All those who pick the winning horse will be entered in a draw to win the ultimate Kentucky Derby VIP Experience. You can also donate to COVID-19 emergency relief efforts with Churchill Downs matching up to $1 million in donations. Help honour the annual tradition while staying “Healthy at Home!”
The same day there’s also some LIVE RACING and gambling if you are so inclined – there are just a handful of thoroughbred racetracks in operation and Oaklawn Park in Arkansas is one of them. They will host the last major Derby prep race, the Arkansas Derby, this Saturday. Because of the large number of entries this year they opted to split the race into two flights, each worth 100 Kentucky Derby qualifying points for the winner. The races will also air on NBC Sports, with post-time for the first division at 6:29 pm EST – featuring TWO Canadian-owned horses, Charlatan and Anneau d’Or; post time for the second division is 7:43 pm with one Canadian-owned horse, Saratogian.
Have a sensational Derby Day and you can try your hand at handicapping on HPIBet. Good luck!
Triple Crown Winners
1919 – Sir Barton – Jockey: Johnny Loftus; Trainer: H. Guy Bedwell
1930 – Gallant Fox – Jockey: Earl Sande; Tainer: Jim Fitzsimmons
1935 – Omaha – Jockey: Willie “Smokey” Saunders; Trainer: Jim Fitzsimmons
1937 – War Admiral – Jockey: Charles Kurtsinger; Trainer: George Conway
1941 – Whirlaway – Jockey: Eddie Arcaro; Trainer: Ben A. Jones
1943 – Count Fleet – Jockey: Johnny Longden; Trainer: Don Cameron
1946 – Assault – Jockey: Warren Mehrtens; Trainer: Max Hirsch
1948 – Citation – Jockey: Eddie Arcaro; Trainer: Horace A. “Jimmy” Jones
1973 – Secretariat – Jockey: Ron Turcotte; Trainer: Lucien Laurin
1977 – Seattle Slew – Jockey: Jean Cruguet; Trainer: William H. Turner, Jr.
1978 – Affirmed – Jockey: Steve Cauthen; Trainer: Laz Barrera
2015 – American Pharoah – Jockey: Victor Espinoza; Trainer: Bob Baffert
2018 – Justify – Jockey: Mike Smith; Trainer: Bob Baffert
More from News:
