Kentucky Derby 2018: Prize purses, previous winners, history of Churchill Downs

How much does the winner take home on Saturday? We've got it all right here

It is finally Kentucky Derby Day. One of the most anticipated sporting spectacles of the year has arrived and brings with it 20 new horses looking to start their run at the Triple Crown.

What is the Derby, exactly, though? And when did it start? Was it always as popular with celebrity guests? And who are the best horses and jockeys of the last few years?

Good thing you came here, because we've answered all those great questions in our 2018 Kentucky Derby guide -- a look back at the history of the "Run for the Roses."

Who wins the Kentucky Derby? And what colossal long shot hits the board? Visit SportsLine to get Jody Demling's Kentucky Derby winner, see which huge long shot contends, and get the finish positions for every single horse, all from the man who's picked 9 straight Derby-Oaks doubles!

When is the 2018 Kentucky Derby?

First thing's first: If you're here to find information about this year's race, you'll want to check out our guide on how to watch this weekend's event. The short answer is: Saturday, May 5. But again, be sure to peruse our guide for more on the time and location of the Derby, as well as how you can watch it on TV or through a stream.

What is the Kentucky Derby?

This is kind of an important one. And you don't have to be ashamed if you're wondering, because the Derby, contrary to some opinions, isn't just any old horse race, and it also isn't just a celebrity fashion show.

Horse racing was popularized as a sport all the way back in the 16th century, according to some records, and it came to America by way of the British, who held their first-ever annual race, the four-mile Kiplingcotes Derby, in March of 1519.

Since North America took up racing for itself, the Kentucky Derby has become the continent's most heavily attended Derby of the year, pitting three-year-old Thoroughbred horses against each other on a one-and-a-quarter-mile track. The race is a Grade I stakes event, meaning it's on the highest level of North American competition.

The Kentucky Derby is also the first of a three-part race series deemed the American Triple Crown, preceding the Preakness and Belmont Stakes. Even though it isn't the culminating race of the Triple Crown, it is regularly touted as the most popular and best-attended of the bunch, whether for its history of draping a blanket of roses on the winning horse or its blink-and-you'll-miss-it speed (hence the "Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports" moniker).

In simpler terms, it's like the Super Bowl, at least in terms of spotlight, for horse racing -- and it features "hot-blooded, high-spirited" horses bred specifically for racing. That's mostly why the Derby, much like the Super Bowl and other major sporting events, attracts both an unmatched betting crowd and an audience chock-full of celebrities, many of whom carry on the Derby tradition of sporting luxurious outfits and/or elaborate hats.

When did the Kentucky Derby start?

The first annual Derby started taking shape around 1872, when the grandson of William Clark (the Clark of the Lewis and Clark expedition) took inspiration from France's French Jockey Club and England's Epsom Derby, a three-year-old Thoroughbred race dating back to the 1700s, to organize the Louisville Jockey Club in his home state of Kentucky.

With land donated from John and Henry Churchill, whose names are now commemorated through the Derby's famous Churchill Downs track, Clark gathered a field of 15 horses for the first-ever race in 1875.

Has anything changed since the first Kentucky Derby?

While the location of the Derby has stayed the same, the first 21 races were actually conducted on a one-and-a-half-mile track. It wasn't until 1896 that the current distance (1.25 miles, or 2 kilometers) was implemented.

Otherwise, there hasn't been a whole lot of tinkering with the Derby format. The race is still held at Churchill Downs in Louisville on the first Saturday of every May. The blanket of roses is still draped over the winning horse. Crowds are still pouring in with fancy attire.

How much money do Kentucky Derby winners take home?

The current Derby purse is $2 million, and the winner is guaranteed 62 percent (or $1.24 million) of that. The $2-million total is split between the top five finishers this year, which marks the first time since 1996 that a race will feature more than $1 million in guaranteed total prizes, as ESPN reported in January.

Back in 1954, as DerbyCraze.com noted, the race's purse exceeded $100,000 for the first time.

Who's won the Kentucky Derby in previous years?

Here's a look at all of the previous Derby winners, their jockeys and trainers, plus their winning times:

YEAR	WINNER	JOCKEY	TRAINER	OWNER	TIME
2017	Always Dreaming	John R. Velazquez	Todd Pletcher	Brooklyn Boyz Stables	2:03.59
2016	Nyquist	Mario Gutierrez	Doug F. O'Neill	Reddam Racing LLC	2:01:31
2015	American Pharoah	Victor Espinoza	Bob Baffert	Ahmed Zayat	2:03.02
2014	California Chrome	Victor Espinoza	Art Sherman	Steve and Carolyn Coburn & Perry and Denise Martin	2:03.66
2013	Orb	Joel Rosario	Claude R. "Shug" McGaughey III	Stuart Janney III & Phipps Stable (Ogden Mills "Dinny" Phipps)	2:02.89
2012	I'll Have Another	Mario Gutierrez	Doug O'Neill	J. Paul Reddam	2:01.83
2011	Animal Kingdom	John Velazquez	H. Graham Motion	Team Valor International	2:02.04
2010	Super Saver	Calvin Borel	Todd Pletcher	WinStar Farm LLC.	2:04.45
2009	Mine That Bird	Calvin Borel	Bennie Woolley Jr.	Double Eagle Ranch & Bueno Suerte Equine	2:02.66
2008	Big Brown	Kent Desormeaux	Richard Dutrow, Jr.	IEAH Stable (Michael Iavarone) and Paul P. Pompa Jr.	2:01.82
2007	Street Sense	Calvin Borel	Carl Nafzger	James B. Tafel	2:02.17
2006	Barbaro	Edgar Prado	Michael Matz	Lael Stables (Roy & Gretchen Jackson)	2:01.36
2005	Giacomo	Mike Smith	John Shirreffs	Mr. & Mrs. Jerome S. Moss	2:02.75
2004	Smarty Jones	Stewart Elliott	John Servis	Someday Farm	2:04.06
2003	Funny Cide	José Santos	Barclay Tagg	Sackatoga Stable (Jackson Knowlton)	2:01.19
2002	War Emblem	Victor Espinoza	Bob Baffert	The Thoroughbred Corporation	2:01.13
2001	Monarchos	Jorge Chavez	John T. Ward, Jr.	John C. Oxley	1:59.97
2000	Fusaichi Pegasus	Kent Desormeaux	Neil D. Drysdale	Fusao Sekiguchi	2:01
1999	Charismatic	Chris Antley	D. Wayne Lukas	Robert B. & Beverly J. Lewis	2:03.29
1998	Real Quiet	Kent Desormeaux	Bob Baffert	Mike Pegram	2:02 1/5
1997	Silver Charm	Gary Stevens	Bob Baffert	Robert B. & Beverly J. Lewis	2:02 2/5
1996	Grindstone	Jerry Bailey	D. Wayne Lukas	Overbrook Farm	2:01
1995	Thunder Gulch	Gary Stevens	D. Wayne Lukas	Michael Tabor	2:01 1/5
1994	Go for Gin	Chris McCarron	Nick Zito	William J. Condren & Joseph M. Cornacchia	2:03 3/5
1993	Sea Hero	Jerry Bailey	MacKenzie "Mack" Miller	Rokeby Stable	2:02
1992	Lil E. Tee	Pat Day	Lynn Whiting	W. Cal Partee	2:03
1991	Strike the Gold	Chris Antley	Nick Zito	BCC Stable	2:03
1990	Unbridled	Craig Perret	Carl Nafzger	Frances A. Genter	2:02
1989	Sunday Silence	Patrick Valenzuela	Charles Edward Whittingham	H-G-W Partners	2:05
1988	Winning Colors	Gary Stevens	D. Wayne Lukas	Eugene V. Klein	2:02 1/5
1987	Alysheba	Chris McCarron	Charles "Jack" Van Berg	D. & P. Scharbauer	2:03
1986	Ferdinand	William Shoemaker	Charles Edward Whittingham	Elizabeth A. Keck	2:02 4/5
1985	Spend a Buck	Angel Cordero, Jr.	Cam Gambolati	Dennis Diaz	2:00 1/5
1984	Swale	Laffit Pincay, Jr.	Woodford C. Stephens	Claiborne Farm	2:02 2/5
1983	Sunny's Halo	Eddie Delahoussaye	David C. Cross, Jr.	D. J. Foster Stable	2:02 1/5
1982	Gato Del Sol	Eddie Delahoussaye	Edwin J. Gregson	Hancock & Peters	2:02 2/5
1981	Pleasant Colony	Jorge Velasquez	John P. Campo	Buckland Farm	2:02
1980	Genuine Risk	Jacinto Vasquez	LeRoy Jolley	Diana M. Firestone	2:02
1979	Spectacular Bid	Ronnie Franklin	Grover Delp	Hawksworth Farm	2:02 2/5
1978	Affirmed	Steve Cauthen	Lazaro Barrera	Harbor View Farm	2:01 1/5
1977	Seattle Slew	Jean Cruguet	Wm. H. Turner, Jr.	Karen L. Taylor	2:02 1/5
1976	Bold Forbes	Angel Cordero, Jr.	Lazaro Barrera	E. Rodriguez Tizol	2:01 3/5
1975	Foolish Pleasure	Jacinto Vasquez	LeRoy Jolley	John L. Greer	2:02
1974	Cannonade	Angel Cordero, Jr.	Woodford C. Stephens	John M. Olin	2:04
1973	Secretariat	Ron Turcotte	Lucien Laurin	Meadow Stable	1:59 2/5
1972	Riva Ridge	Ron Turcotte	Lucien Laurin	Meadow Stud	2:01 4/5
1971	Canonero II	Gustavo Avila	Juan Arias	Edgar Caibett	2:03 1/5
1970	Dust Commander	Mike Manganello	Don Combs	Robert E. Lehmann	2:03 2/5
1969	Majestic Prince	William Hartack	John Longden	Frank M. McMahon	2:01 4/5
1968	Forward Pass	Ismael Valenzuela	Henry Forrest	Calumet Farm	2:02 1/5
1967	Proud Clarion	Robert Ussery	Loyd Gentry, Jr.	Darby Dan Farm	2:00 3/5
1966	Kauai King	Don Brumfield	Henry Forrest	Ford Stable	2:02
1965	Lucky Debonair	William Shoemaker	Frank Catrone	Ada L. Rice	2:01 1/5
1964	Northern Dancer	William Hartack	Horatio Luro	Windfields Farm	2:00
1963	Chateaugay	Braulio Baeza	James P. Conway	Darby Dan Farm	2:01 4/5
1962	Decidedly	William Hartack	Horatio Luro	El Peco Ranch	2:00 2/5
1961	Carry Back	John Sellers	Jack Price	Katherine Price	2:04
1960	Venetian Way	William Hartack	Victor J. Sovinski	Sunny Blue Farm	2:02 2/5
1959	Tomy Lee	William Shoemaker	Frank E. Childs	Fred & Juliette Turner	2:02 1/5
1958	Tim Tam	Ismael Valenzuela	H. A. Jones	Calumet Farm	2:05
1957	Iron Liege	William Hartack	H. A. Jones	Calumet Farm	2:01 1/5
1956	Needles	David Erb	Hugh Fontaine	D & H Stable	2:03 2/5
1955	Swaps	William Shoemaker	M. A. Tenney	Rex C. Ellsworth	2:01 4/5
1954	Determine	Raymond York	William Molter	Andrew J. Crevolin	2:03
1953	Dark Star	Henry Moreno	Eddie Hayward	Cain Hoy Stable	2:02
1952	Hill Gail	Eddie Arcaro	Ben A. Jones	Calumet Farm	2:01 3/5
1951	Count Turf	Conn McCreary	Sol Rutchick	Jack J. Amiel	2:02 3/5
1950	Middleground	William Boland	Max Hirsch	King Ranch	2:01 3/5
1949	Ponder	Steve Brooks	Ben A. Jones	Calumet Farm	2:04 1/5
1948	Citation	Eddie Arcaro	Ben A. Jones	Calumet Farm	2:05 2/5
1947	Jet Pilot	Eric Guerin	Tom Smith	Maine Chance Farm	2:06 4/5
1946	Assault	Warren Mehrtens	Max Hirsch	King Ranch	2:06 3/5
1945	Hoop Jr.	Eddie Arcaro	Ivan H. Parke	Fred W. Hooper	2:07
1944	Pensive	Conn McCreary	Ben A. Jones	Calumet Farm	2:04 1/5
1943	Count Fleet	John Longden	G. D. Cameron	Fannie Hertz	2:04
1942	Shut Out	Wayne D. Wright	John Milton Gaver, Sr.	Greentree Stable	2:04 2/5
1941	Whirlaway	Eddie Arcaro	Ben A. Jones	Calumet Farm	2:01 2/5
1940	Gallahadion	Carroll Bierman	Roy Waldron	Milky Way Farm	2:05
1939	Johnstown	James Stout	Jame Fitzsimmons	Belair Stud	2:03 2/5
1938	Lawrin	Eddie Arcaro	Ben A. Jones	Herbert M. Woolf	2:04 4/5
1937	War Admiral	Charle Kurtsinger	George Conway	Glen Riddle Farm	2:03 1/5
1936	Bold Venture	Ira Hanford	Max Hirsch	Morton L. Schwartz	2:03 3/5
1935	Omaha	William Saunders	Jame Fitzsimmons	Belair Stud	2:05
1934	Cavalcade	Mack Garner	Robert A. Smith	Brookmeade Stable	2:04
1933	Brokers Tip	Don Meade	Herbert John Thompson	Edward R. Bradley	2:06 4/5
1932	Burgoo King	Basil James	Herbert John Thompson	Edward R. Bradley	2:05 1/5
1931	Twenty Grand	Charle Kurtsinger	James Rowe, Jr.	Greentree Stable	2:01 4/5
1930	Gallant Fox	Earl Sande	Jame Fitzsimmons	Belair Stud	2:07 3/5
1929	Clyde Van Dusen	Linus McAtee	Clyde Van Dusen	Herbert P. Gardner	2:10 4/5
1928	Reigh Count	Charle Lang	Bert Michell	Fannie Hertz	2:10 2/5
1927	Whiskery	Linus McAtee	Fred Hopkins	Harry P. Whitney	2:06
1926	Bubbling Over	Albert Johnson	Herbert John Thompson	Edward R. Bradley	2:03 4/5
1925	Flying Ebony	Earl Sande	William Duke	Gifford A. Cochran	2:07 3/5
1924	Black Gold	John D. Mooney	Hanly Webb	Rosa M. Hoots	2:05 1/5
1923	Zev	Earl Sande	D. J. Leary	Rancocas Stable	2:05 2/5
1922	Morvich	Albert Johnson	Fred Burlew	Benjamin Block	2:04 3/5
1921	Behave Yourself	Charles Thompson	Herbert John Thompson	Edward R. Bradley	2:04 1/5
1920	Paul Jones	Ted Rice	William Garth	Ral Parr	2:09
1919	Sir Barton	John Loftus	H. Guy Bedwell	J. K. L. Ross	2:09 4/5
1918	Exterminator	William Knapp	Henry McDaniel	Willis Sharpe Kilmer	2:10 4/5
1917	Omar Khayyam	Charles Borel	C. T. Patterson	Billings & Johnson	2:04 3/5
1916	George Smith	John Loftus	Hollie Hughes	John Sanford	2:04
1915	Regret	Joe Notter	James Rowe, Sr.	Harry P. Whitney	2:05 2/5
1914	Old Rosebud	John McCabe	Frank D. Weir	Hamilton C. Applegate	2:03 2/5
1913	Donerail	Roscoe Goose	Thomas P. Hayes	Thomas P. Hayes	2:04 4/5
1912	Worth	Carroll Hugh Shilling	Frank M. Taylor	Henry C. Hallenbeck	2:09 2/5
1911	Meridian	George Archibald	Albert Ewing	Richard F. Carman	2:05
1910	Donau	Robert Herbert	George Ham	William Gerst	2:06 2/5
1909	Wintergreen	Vincent Powers	Charles Mack	Jerome B. Respess	2:08 1/5
1908	Stone Street	Arthur Pickens	J. W. Hall	C. E. & J. W. Hamilton	2:15 1/5
1907	Pink Star	Andy Minder	W. H. Fizer	J. Hal Woodford	2:12 3/5
1906	Sir Huon	Roscoe Troxler	Pete Coyne	Bashford Manor Stable	2:08 4/5
1905	Agile	Jack Martin	Robert Tucker	Samuel S. Brown	2:10 3/4
1904	Elwood	Frank Prior	Charle E. Durnell	Mrs. C. E. Durnell	2:08 1/2
1903	Judge Himes	Harold Booker	John P. Mayberry	Charles R. Ellison	2:09
1902	Alan-a-Dale	Jimmy Winkfield	Thomas Clay McDowell	Thomas Clay McDowell	2:08 3/4
1901	His Eminence	Jimmy Winkfield	Frank B. Van Meter	Frank B. Van Meter	2:07 3/4
1900	Lieut. Gibson	Jimmy Boland	Charles Hughes	Charles H. Smith	2:06 1/2
1899	Manuel	Fred Taral	Robert Walden	A. H. & D. H. Morris	2:12
1898	Plaudit	Willie Simms	John E. Madden	John E. Madden	2:09
1897	Typhoon II	Buttons Garner	J. C. Cahn	J. C. Cahn	2:12 1/2
1896	Ben Brush	Willie Simms	Hardy Campbell, Jr.	Mike F. Dwyer	2:07 3/4
1895	Halma	Soup Perkins	Byron McClelland	Byron McClelland	2:37 1/2
1894	Chant	Frank Goodale	H. Eugene Leigh	Leigh & Rose	2:41
1893	Lookout	Eddie Kunze	William McDaniel	Cushing & Orth	2:39 1/4
1892	Azra	Alonzo Clayton	John H. Morris	Bashford Manor Stable	2:41 1/2
1891	Kingman	Isaac Murphy	Dud Allen	Jacobin Stable	2:52 1/4
1890	Riley	Isaac Murphy	Edward Corrigan	Edward Corrigan	2:45
1889	Spokane	Thomas Kiley	John Rodegap	Noah Armstrong	2:34 1/2
1888	Macbeth II	George Covington	John Campbell	Chicago Stable	2:38 1/4
1887	Montrose	Isaac Lewis	John McGinty	Labold Brothers	2:39 1/4
1886	Ben Ali	Paul Duffy	Jim Murphy	J. B. A. Haggin	2:36 1/2
1885	Joe Cotton	Erkine Henderson	Abe Perry	James T. Williams	2:37 1/4
1884	Buchanan	Isaac Murphy	William Bird	William Cottrill	2:40 1/4
1883	Leonatus	William Donohue	Raleigh Colston	Chinn & Morgan	2:43
1882	Apollo	Babe Hurd	Green B. Morris	Morris & Patton	2:40 1/4
1881	Hindoo	James McLaughlin	James G. Rowe, Sr.	Dwyer Bros. Stable	2:40
1880	Fonso	George Garret Lewis	Tice Hutsell	J. Snell Shawhan	2:37 1/2
1879	Lord Murphy	Charlie Shauer	George Rice	Darden & Co	2:37
1878	Day Star	Jimmy Carter	Lee Paul	T. J. Nichols	2:37 1/4
1877	Baden-Baden	William Walker	Edward D. Brown	Daniel Swigert	2:38
1876	Vagrant	Bobby Swim	James Williams	William Astor, Jr.	2:38 1/4
1875	Aristides	Oliver Lewis	Ansel Williamson	Hal P. McGrath	2:37 3/4