1968 Kentucky Derby

94th Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
Grade I stakes race
LocationChurchill Downs
DateMay 4, 1968
Winning horseForward Pass[note 1]
JockeyIsmael Valenzuela
TrainerHenry Forrest
OwnerCalumet Farm
SurfaceDirt
← 1967
1969 →

The 1968 Kentucky Derby was the 94th running of the Kentucky Derby. The race took place on May 4, 1968.[1]

The race was the first Kentucky Derby in which the winning horse was subsequently disqualified. Dancer's Image won the race, but was disqualified to last after traces of phenylbutazone were discovered in the mandatory post-race urinalysis.[2] Second-place finisher Forward Pass was declared the winner. The controversy filled the sporting news of media outlets in North America and was a cover story for Sports Illustrated,[3] which referred to it as "the year's major sports story."[4]


Cite error: There are <ref group=note> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=note}} template (see the help page).

  1. ^ "1968". Kentuckyderby.com. Retrieved 2016-06-05.
  2. ^ "THE 1968 KENTUCKY DERBY : THE VICTORY THAT WASN'T : Dancer's Image, Who Finished First, Was Disqualified After Positive Test for Illegal Medication". Los Angeles Times. 1988-05-01. Retrieved 2016-06-05.
  3. ^ "May 20, 1968 Issue". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 5, 2019.
  4. ^ Tower, Whitney (May 20, 1968). "It Was a Bitter Pill". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 5, 2019 – via si.com/vault.