Flashback: 7 fastest Derby winners, from Secretariat to Authentic
The Kentucky Derby has been held 147 times since 1875, including 126 times over its current distance of 1 1/4 miles. But despite the Derby’s long history, only seven winners have completed the historic race in less than 2:01.
Reaching the 2:00 or 1:59 barrier has been an elusive target for the majority of Kentucky Derby winners. With this in mind, let’s take a trip down memory lane and recall history’s seven sub-2:01 Derby champions:
7. Authentic (2020): 2:00.61
The most recent Kentucky Derby winner to join the sub-2:01 club is Authentic. Possibly benefiting from a four-month Derby postponement (the race was held in September due to COVID’s effects on the racing schedule), Authentic led all the way through quick splits of 22.92, 46.41, 1:10.23 and 1:35.02 before turning back a challenge from heavy favorite Tiz the Law to win by 1 1/4 lengths in 2:00.61 seconds.
6. Proud Clarion (1967): 2:00 3/5
The 1962 Kentucky Derby was supposed to be a coronation for future Hall of Fame inductee Damascus. But as he struggled to a surprising third-place finish, 30-1 longshot Proud Clarion stole the show. Reserved in ninth place early as pacesetter Barbs Delight carved out fractions of 22 1/5, 46 3/5, 1:10 4/5 and 1:36, Proud Clarion unleashed a big finish down the homestretch to reel in Barbs Delight and score by a length in 2:00 3/5 seconds. Impressively, Proud Clarion ran the final quarter-mile in approximately 24 seconds.
5. Decidedly (1962): 2:00 2/5
A fast early pace proved most suitable for the talented California-bred Decidedly. Content to race toward the rear of the field through intense early fractions of 22 3/5, 45 4/5 and 1:10 1/5, Decidedly advanced through a swift mile in 1:35 1/5, challenged for the lead at the eighth pole, and drew off late to win by 2 1/4 lengths in 2:00 2/5 seconds. At the time, his rapid clocking ranked as a track and stakes record.
4. Spend a Buck (1985): 2:00 1/5
Leading by daylight through fractions of 23, 45 4/5, 1:09 3/5, and 1:34 4/5 would burn out most Kentucky Derby pacesetters. But Spend a Buck was not your average Derby pacesetter. The front-running colt had stamina to match his blazing speed, and he stayed on with authority down the Churchill Downs homestretch to trounce an extremely deep field by 5 3/4 lengths in 2:00 1/5 seconds.
3. Northern Dancer (1964): 2:00
The first horse to reach the elusive two-minute mark was the standout Canadian-bred colt Northern Dancer. After rating in midfield behind quick fractions of 22 2/5, 46 and 1:10 3/5, Northern Dancer pounced to the lead through a mile in 1:36, opened up a clear lead down the homestretch, and then dug deep late to win by a neck over race favorite Hill Rise in the precise time of two minutes. Northern Dancer’s obvious talent later translated to breed-shaping success as a sire.
2. Monarchos (2001): 1:59.97
Only two horses have ever shaded the two-minute mark in the Kentucky Derby, and the most recent is Monarchos. Destructively fast fractions of 22.25, 44.86, 1:09.25 and 1:35.00 opened the door for Monarchos to rally from 16 lengths behind and smash his rivals by 4 3/4 lengths, stopping the timer in 1:59.97 seconds.
1. Secretariat (1973): 1:59 2/5
The fabled Triple Crown winner Secretariat still holds the standard by which all Kentucky Derby winners are measured. Rallying from off the pace, Secretariat ran each quarter-mile faster than the previous to record the blazing time of 1:59 2/5 seconds. It is not only the current stakes record for the Kentucky Derby, but also the Churchill Downs track record.
Do you think we’ll see a sub-2:01 clocking in the 2022 Kentucky Derby?