What's In a Kentucky Derby Nickname?

The dictionary defines a nickname as a descriptive or colorful name that serves as a substitute for a real name, one that more readily defines the subject more than the proper name itself. Every year we hear the Kentucky Derby referred to as the "Run for the Roses", or "The Greatest Two Minutes In Sports", however, in past years America's most prestigious race has earned some unusual monikers that applied to certain runnings. Although there hasn't been any pet names, officially or informally, given out since the '90's that I can recall, here's a chronological look back at a dozen Derby nicknames from years past, and how they came to garner their designations. Some of these were handed out by the media, while others were conjured up certainly in jest by the public.

1913--The Longshot Derby: Many years before Giacomo ('05) and Mine That Bird ('09) both lit up the Churchill toteboard at 50-1, DONERAIL gave this Derby it's nickname paying a record $184.90 for a $2 ticket. Heck, that was a king's ransom when you consider $3 was a day's wages for a working class citizen.

1933--The Fighting Finish Derby: Easily the most well-known finish in the history of the race. During the stretch run, jockey Don Meade aboard BROKERS TIP literally battled with and fought off jockey Herb Fisher riding HEAD PLAY. The latter rider spent the last eighth of a mile grabbing at anything he could reach, including the boot and saddlecloth of his rival, as Meade struck back in defense. The underhanded tactics by Fisher were unsuccessful, as Meade and his mount hung on to win by a nose.

1943--The Streetcar Derby: Due to the war-time ban on the use of automobiles and severe travel restrictions that virtually made commercial train travel impossible, as well as a government mandate that no out-of-town tickets to the Derby be sold, only locals were encouraged to attend the race. Approximately 65,000 of them arrived primarily by streetcar to witness COUNT FLEET win this renewal.

1947--The Blanket Finish Derby: A pair of heads separated the first three horses--JET PILOT, PHALANX and FAULTLESS, respectively - making this the closet finish in Derby history.

1955--The East-West Derby: Each year, the Kentucky Derby involves top horses from the east side of the United States pitted against those from out west. Perhaps the most famous geographical matchup saw eastern star NASHUA go against western sensation SWAPS in this edition. They ran one-two with SWAPS better by 1 1/2-lengths.

1957--The Bad Dream Derby: A few nights before the Kentucky Derby, owner Ralph Lowe dreamed that rider Bill Shoemaker would misjudge the finish line and lose the race aboard his horse GALLANT MAN. Unfortunately for Lowe, his dream came true. In the big race, Shoemaker misjudged the finish line and stood up in the irons at the sixteenth pole, and immediately, realizing his error, sat back down to resume riding. However, the blunder by Shoemaker, albeit for a fleeting moment, allowed IRON LIEGE to win by a nose.

1959--The Bumping Derby: Once again, rider Willie Shoemaker was involved. The jockey was aboard TOMY LEE and Bill Boland was the rider of SWORD DANCER. Both horses bumped repeatedly in the stretch run before TOMY LEE crossed the finish line a nose better. After the race, Boland lodged a foul against Shoemaker, but after a lengthy review of the race film, the claim of foul was disallowed by the stewards and the winner's number stayed up.

1968--The Gray Horse/Bute Derby: This running was given its first nickname because five of the 14 starters were grays, including DANCER'S IMAGE, the original winner. But that runner was stripped of his victory after a post-race test turned up the presence of a then illegal medication, butazolidin, often called "bute."After five years of litigation battles in the courts, the second place finisher, FORWARD PASS, was declared the winner.

1969--The King Derby: Just two-and-a half months before man walked on the moon, this Derby had everything fit for a king. Well, not quite, but definitely it had the makings for a prince...and a president. A record-priced yearling named MAJESTIC PRINCE, who was an unbeaten colt and Derby race favorite defeated a field that was rich in quality while carrying jockey Bill Hartack to a record-tying fifth Derby score. It drew the first 100,000 crowd in the race's history, and President Nixon, the first chief officer to witness the Kentucky Derby while in office. The race was capped off by a lengthy stretch duel between MAJESTIC PRINCE and two others horses that climaxed in a close finish that saw the trio separated by a half-length. Enough deserving reasons to give the 1969 running its nickname.

1970--The Parachute Derby: This running saw an adventurous parachutist attempt to come down inside Churchill Downs shortly before the Derby was to go off, but landed outside the track. Soon after, DUST COMMANDER wore the roses.

1974--The Rodeo Derby: This edition won by CANNONADE, was the 100th, or centennial celebration of the Kentucky Derby. It was given its nickname because it had 23 starters, the largest field in the history of the race.

1994--The Demolition Derby: Over the Churchill oval labeled sloppy for the first time since 1948, two incidents, one occurring during the clubhouse turn and the other at the three-sixteenths pole, involved horses either clipping heels, taking cockeyed paths, getting turned sideways or almost going down. With all the impediments hindering his rivals, GO FOR GIN, who was free of trouble after leaving the gate led all the way to the finish line.

As you can see by the last entry, it's been two decades since a nickname has been handed out, but it's certainly isn't for a lack of enthusiasm or excitement that recent Derbies have produced. Maybe attaching a nickname to the great race has just fallen by the wayside. It's no longer the cool thing to do. But who knows what looms this year. If CALIFORNIA CHROME replicates either of his last two prep runs, Derby 140 may very well be nicknamed: The Runaway Derby. Or, should one of the two horses that were unraced as 2 year olds manage to wear the roses, I can envision the 2014 Derby being nicknamed, The Broken Curse Derby. Yep, it's possible on May 3rd that the guys and gals in the press box, and racing fans across the country could bring back something old.