Sham, Secretariat's fiercest rival, finished the Derby with a time of 1:59.90 -- faster than that of most winners over the years.

Johnny Longden won in 1943 as the jockey on Count Fleet and again as a trainer with Majestic Prince in 1969.

On May 17, 1875, in front of an estimated crowd of 10,000 people, a field of 15 three-year-old horses contested the first Derby.

Although it was originally run at 1 1/2 miles (12 furlongs), the distance was changed in 1896 to its current 1 1/4 miles (10 furlongs).

Eight Belles finished second to winner Big Brown in the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby but collapsed just after the Derby's conclusion, having suffered compound fractures of both front ankles. A race has been renamed in her honor and is run on the Derby Day undercard as the Eight Belles Stakes.

One of four Kentucky Derby winners trained by the legendary D. Wayne Lukas, Grindstone was retired soon after the race due to injury.

The 2004 Derby marked the first time that jockeys--as a result of a court order--were allowed to wear corporate advertising logos on their clothing.

The winner received a purse of $2,850. The second-place finisher received $200.

It is the first leg of the American Triple Crown and is followed by the Preakness Stakes, then the Belmont Stakes.

Dancer's Image was plagued by sore ankles during his career. On the Sunday prior to the 1968 Kentucky Derby, his handlers had a veterinarian give him a dose of phenylbutazone, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug commonly used to relieve inflammation of the joints. Dancer's Image's handlers believed the medication would clear his system in time for the Derby, but it was discovered in the mandatory post-race urinalysis.