1875 Kentucky Derby

First running of the Kentucky Derby

1st Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
Grade I stakes race
Location	Churchill Downs
Date	May 17, 1875
Winning horse	Aristides
Jockey	Oliver Lewis
Trainer	Ansel Williamson
Owner	H. Price McGrath
Surface	Dirt
1876 →

The 1875 Kentucky Derby was the first running of the Kentucky Derby. The race took place on May 17, 1875.^[1]^[2] The first Kentucky Derby was a 1.5-mile race, and the traditional distance of 1.25 miles was not established until the 1896 Derby.^[3] Thirteen of the fifteen jockeys in the race, including winner Oliver Lewis, were African-American.^[4] Attendance was estimated at 10,000.^[5]

The winner was Aristides, by two lengths. His jockey was Oliver Lewis, his trainer was Ansel Williamson, and his owner was H. Price McGrath. Aristides' half-brother and stablemate Chesapeake also ran in the race. Both Aristides' jockey and trainer were black. Aristides's time of 2 minutes and 37.75 seconds was at the time a world record for the distance.

Full results

Finished	Post	Horse	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Time / behind
1st	1	Aristides	Oliver Lewis	Ansel Williamson	H. Price McGrath	2:37.75
2nd		Volcano	H. Williams		George H. Rice
3rd		Verdigris	W. Chambers		C. A. Lewis
4th		Bob Woolley	William Walker		Robinson, Morgan & Co.
5th		Ten Broeck	M. Kelso	Harry Colston	Frank B. Harper
6th		Grenoble	J. Carter		Allen Bashford
7th		Bill Bruce	M. Jones		S. J. Salyer
8th		Chesapeake	W. Henry		H. Price McGrath
9th		Searcher	Raleigh Colston Sr.		J. B. Rodes
10th		Ascension	William Lakeland		William Cottrill
11th		Enlister	Cyrus Holloway		Stringfield & Clay
12th		McCreery	D. Jones		Gen. Abe Buford
13th		Warsaw	Masterson		Stringfield & Clay
14th		Vagabond	J. Houston		A.B. Lewis & Co.
15th		Gold Mine	Stradford		James A. Grinstead

Payout

The winner received a purse of $2,850. The second-place finisher received $200.^[6]

References

^ Renau, Lynn S. (2001). "Kentucky Derby". In Kleber, John E. (ed.). The Encyclopedia of Louisville. Lexington, Kentucky: University Press of Kentucky. pp. 467–470. ISBN 0-8131-2100-0. OCLC 247857447. Archived from the original on March 13, 2023. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
^ O'Connor, John L. (1921). "First Derby 1875". History of the Kentucky Derby, 1875-1921. New York: Rider Press. pp. 134–137. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
^ Elliot, Jessica. "Kentucky Derby Facts and History". About.com. Archived from the original on April 14, 2013. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
^ "The First Kentucky Derby, May 17, 1875". America's Library. Archived from the original on December 5, 2022. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
^ "What Happened from 1870 to 1879". The People History. Archived from the original on December 10, 2023. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
^ "1875 Kentucky Derby Results Tables" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 23, 2011. Retrieved July 8, 2010.