2021 Kentucky Derby

147th Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
Grade I stakes race
"The Run for the Roses"
LocationChurchill Downs
Louisville, Kentucky, United States
DateMay 1, 2021 (2021-05-01)
Distance1+1⁄4 mi (10 furlongs; 2,012 m)
Winning horseMandaloun
Winning time2:01.36
Final odds12–1
JockeyFlorent Geroux
TrainerBrad Cox
OwnerJuddmonte Farms
ConditionsFast
SurfaceDirt
Attendance51,838[1]
← 2020
2022 →

The 2021 Kentucky Derby (officially, the 2021 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve)[2] was the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby. It took place on May 1, 2021, in Louisville, Kentucky. The field was open to 20 horses,[3] who qualified for the race by earning points on the 2021 Road to the Kentucky Derby. The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds at a distance of 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) and has been run at Churchill Downs racetrack since its inception in 1875. The purse for 2021 was US$3 million.

After the 2020 Derby had been postponed to September because of the COVID-19 pandemic and held behind closed doors, the 2021 edition returned to its traditional May schedule and allowed spectators, although in reduced numbers and with social distancing measures in place.

Medina Spirit crossed the finish line first, which appeared to have given his trainer Bob Baffert a record seventh win in the race and jockey John Velazquez his fourth Derby win.[4] However, the horse tested positive for betamethasone after the race. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission made the final decision to disqualify the horse on February 21, 2022.[5] Because Medina Spirit was disqualified, Mandaloun was named the winner.[6][7]

The race was broadcast by NBC, with coverage by NBCSN of undercard races beginning at 12:30 pm EDT and main network coverage of pre-race activities starting at 2:30 pm EDT. It was also livestreamed on NBCSports.com. The post time was 7:01 pm.[8]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Paulick-Derby was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Frank Angst (October 25, 2017). "Woodford Reserve is New Kentucky Derby Sponsor". BloodHorse.com. Archived from the original on April 15, 2018. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  3. ^ "2021 Kentucky Derby horses: All 20 entries ranked - nj.com". www.nj.com. Archived from the original on May 4, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  4. ^ Freiman, Jordan. "Medina Spirit wins 147th Kentucky Derby". cbsnews. Archived from the original on May 4, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  5. ^ Suckow, Alex (February 21, 2022). "Medina Spirit disqualified from 2021 Kentucky Derby, Bob Baffert fined". WLKY. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  6. ^ Bonesteel, Matt (June 2, 2021). "Churchill Downs suspends Bob Baffert, the embattled trainer of Medina Spirit, for two years". Washington Post. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  7. ^ Drape, Joe (February 21, 2022). "Medina Spirit Stripped of 2021 Kentucky Derby Win". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference CJ-WhatDate was invoked but never defined (see the help page).