2008 Kentucky Derby Kentucky Derby Churchill Downs Louisville, KY May 3, 2008 Saturday 11:00 am The 134th running of the Kentucky Derby will take place on May 3, 2008, while the 134th Kentucky Oaks will be held on May 2, 2008. Like clockwork, every year on the first Saturday in May, Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky proudly opens its gates to thousands of horse-racing fans and a select field of the nation’s top 3-year-old Thoroughbreds. Churchill Downs, the world’s most legendary racetrack, has conducted Thoroughbred racing and presented America’s greatest race, the Kentucky Derby, continuously since 1875. Located in Louisville, the flagship racetrack of Churchill Downs. The Kentucky Derby is a stakes race for three-year-old thoroughbred horses, staged yearly in Louisville, Kentucky on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race currently covers one and one-quarter miles (2.012 km) at Churchill Downs, colts and geldings carry 126 pounds (57 kg), fillies 121 pounds (55 kg). The race, known as "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports" for its approximate time length, is the first leg of the Triple Crown. The Kentucky Derby is one of the crown jewels of the elusive Triple Crown which includes the Belmont Stakes and the Preakness Stakes.

The Kentucky Derby has seen the likes of horses such as War Admiral in 1937, to Secretariat in 1973, Seattle Slew in 1977, and Affirmed in 1978. In 2004, Smarty Jones won both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, only to fall short in the Belmont stakes, losing to Birdstone. In all, the Kentucky Derby has hosted 11 Triple Crown Winners in its’ 134 year history. Kentucky derby Winners

In addition to the race itself, a number of traditions have played a large role in the Derby atmosphere. The Mint Julep, an iced drink consisting of bourbon, mint and sugar, is the traditional beverage of the race. Burgoo, typically a thick stew of lamb and vegetables is served from iron pots sometimes 10 feet in diameter. Legal gambling on the race is done through parimutuel betting at the track. The Infield, a spectator area inside the track, offers low general admission prices but little chance of seeing much of the race. Instead, revelers show up in the infield to party. By contrast, "Millionaire's Row" refers to the expensive box seats that attract the rich and famous. Elegant women appear in long dresses, big hats, and carrying fancy umbrellas. As the horses are paraded before the grandstands, "My Old Kentucky Home" is played by the University of Louisville marching band while the crowd stands and sings along. Kentucky derby Betting History

2008 Kentucky Derby Winner

Big Brown, the 2-1 favorite in the 20 horse field, becomes the first winner of the Run for the Roses to start from the 20-post since the starting gate has been used. It also is the third Kentucky Derby win for jockey Kent Desormeaux who previously captured the race in 1998 with Real Quiet and with Fusaichi Pegasus two years later.

Big Brown was coming into the Run for the Roses off a wire-to-wire victory in the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. The Kentucky Derby triumph was worth $1.4 million to bring Big Brown's lifetime earnings to more than $2 million.

The colt is expected to start in the Preakness Stakes on May 17 at Pimlico, where he should be a prohibitive favorite. The third leg in racing's Triple Crown is the Belmont Stakes which will be conducted on June 7 at Belmont Park.

Big Brown returned $6.80, $5.00 and $4.80. Eight Belles paid $10.60 and 6.40, and Denis of Cork paid $11.60 to show.

Affirmed is the last three-year-old to sweep the Triple Crown races when he and Alydar put on their monumental duels 30 years ago.

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