Kiichiro Sato/AP
Sierra Leone (second place), ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, Forever Young, ridden by Ryusei Sakai, and Mystic Dan, ridden by junior Brian Hernandez, crossed the finish line at Churchill Downs.
CNN
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Mystic Dan won his 150th Kentucky Derby in a rare photo finish Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville.
Mystic Dan defeated Sierra Leone and Forever Young in a three-horse race that broadcasters called one of the closest in the first leg of the Triple Crown race.
The next race in the prestigious Triple Crown race will be the Preakness Stakes on May 18th at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland.
Only 13 horses have ever won all three races in a year, with Justify, trained by Bob Baffert, being the last to accomplish this feat in 2018.
Since the race was first held in 1875, it has become the longest continuously running sporting event in the United States, and perhaps one of the most beloved.
Over the years, the Kentucky Derby has been the center of drama and controversy in the sport, and has crowned some of the greatest racehorses of all time.
A crowd of 10,000 people watched the first Kentucky Derby as the 3-year-old chestnut colt Aristides, ridden by jockey Oliver Lewis, won at Churchill Downs.
Since then, the Derby has continued to be held at the same venue, even during the World Wars and the Great Depression of the 1930s.
This year, more than 150,000 people were expected to flock to the famous racetrack to watch the races and enjoy the celebrations.
AP
This race, pictured in 1978, has been held at Churchill Downs every year since its inception.
Great horses have won the Derby, including Secretariat, American Pharoah, Citation, and most recently Justify.
The Kentucky Derby is also the first of the prestigious Triple Crown races, consisting of the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes, and only 13 horses have won all three races in one year.
Although the races and venues remain largely unchanged, efforts are underway to improve horse safety at racetracks.
Last year, Churchill Downs announced new safety initiatives as part of an ongoing investigation into a series of horse deaths at the track.
The 150th Kentucky Derby was run without Bob Baffert, perhaps the most famous name in the derby world.
Charlie Riedel/Associated Press
Trainer Bob Baffert watches training at Churchill Downs in 2016.
The 71-year-old, who has trained six Derby winners, was initially declared the winner in 2021 before being banned from running in the race after his horse Medina Spirit tested positive for a banned substance. Ta.
The suspension was originally for two years, but was extended for this year's race by the race's organizer and owner of the famous racetrack, Churchill Downs (CDI).
CDI's statement from last year explained the decision, saying Baffert “continues to spread false narratives regarding Medina Spirit's drug test failures.”
The trainer's request for an emergency hearing was denied last month by a Kentucky Court of Appeals judge, meaning Moose, one of the best horses in the country trained by Baffert, will not be allowed to run.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
