The ABCs of the Kentucky Derby: Which letters win it most?
How good do you know the alphabet -- that is, when it comes to Kentucky Derby winners?
There's been 143 editions of America's famous race totaling 1,884 starters, with names beginning with every letter of the alphabet except the letter "X."
Do you know which letter has won the most times? There haven't been many Derby horses beginning with letters "Q" or "Y" -- just 10 combined -- so it's not surprising that horse's names starting with those two letters have yet to emerge as winners.
The answer to the above question is: Horses with names beginning with the letter "S" have been victorious on 19 occasions
Below is a list of the Derby winners, followed by number of starters for each alphabet letter and the most recent horse to win with that letter.
Letter Wins Starters Last Winner Year
A 11 96 Always Dreaming 2017
B 13 188 Big Brown 2008
C 12 145 California Chrome 2014
D 7 109 Dust Commander 1970
E 2 49 Exterminator 1918
F 7 89 Funny Cide 2003
G 8 84 Giacomo 2005
H 5 83 Hill Gail 1952
I 2 39 I'll Have Another 2012
J 4 46 Jet Pilot 1947
K 2 34 Kauai King 1966
L 7 79 Lil E. Tee 1992
M 9 112 Mine That Bird 2009
N 3 39 Nyquist 2016
O 4 45 Orb 2013
P 7 112 Pleasant Colony 1981
Q 0 7
R 5 93 Real Quiet 1998
S 19 201 Super Saver 2010
T 5 107 Thunder Gulch 1995
U 1 16 Unbridled 1990
V 2 34 Venetian Way 1960
W 7 67 War Emblem 2002
X - -
Y 0 3
Z 1 7 Zev 1923
Folks, the Kentucky Derby is four months away. But if you had to wager today on which letter of the alphabet will win, what would it be?