The 2015 Kentucky Derby was held on May 2 at the famous Churchill Downs racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky. Due to ideal weather, a record 170,513 fans came to see the race and was the highest attendance in Derby history. As a result, this year’s race also saw the highest wagering ever. The total bets made over the course of the day were $194.3 million. Organizers were pleased with the turnout and the ideal racing conditions.
The Churchill Downs racetrack covers one and one fourth miles and is considered a fast track. The feature race originally had 20 horses slated to run, but two were scratched before the race. The race itself was very exciting with four horses neck and neck near the finish line. American Pharoah broke away from the middle of the pack during the last stretch of the race and passed his competitors in the final stretch. Victor Espinoza was the winning jockey, and it was his third Kentucky Derby win. The horse was trained by Bob Baffert who trained four other horses to victory here as well. American Pharoah was considered a 5-2 favorite. Anyone who bet $2 on this horse received $7.80 after he won. Firing Line came in second and Dortmund came in third. Both of these horses led at certain points in the race, but eventually American Pharoah won by a full length. The victory was worth $1,418,800.
The Kentucky Derby, also known as the Running of the Roses, is the first race in Triple Crown. These are the three most prestigious races in Thoroughbred racing. The second race is the Preakness Stakes which is held at Pimlico in Baltimore, Maryland. The third and final race of the Triple Crown is the Belmont Stakes and is held in Queens, New York. Since 1919, only eleven horses have been able to win all three races. The Preakness was on May 16 and American Pharoah was once again the victor. If he wins the next race, he will receive the first Triple Crown since 1978.