Question 1

True or false: The fastest Kentucky Derby time was set by Secretariat in 1973.

Accepted Answer

True. Secretariat won the 1973 Kentucky Derby in 1:59.4, the fastest time ever recorded in the race.

Question 2

True or false: The Kentucky Derby is the oldest continuously held horse race in the United States.

Accepted Answer

True. First run in 1875, it has been held every year since, making it the oldest continuously run major horse race in the U.S.

Question 3

True or false: Mint juleps are the official drink of the Kentucky Derby, sold only in souvenir glasses.

Accepted Answer

False. Mint juleps are the official drink, but they are not exclusively sold in souvenir glasses; they are also available in regular cups.

Question 4

True or false: The Kentucky Derby is always run on the first Saturday of May.

Accepted Answer

False. The Kentucky Derby is not always run on the first Saturday of May. Since 1932, it has typically been held then, but exceptions occurred during wartime years (1915, 1945) and in 2020 due to COVID-19.

Question 5

True or false: The Derby's trophy is made of solid gold and weighs over 50 pounds.

Accepted Answer

False. The Kentucky Derby trophy is solid 14-karat gold, but it weighs only about 3.5 pounds (56 ounces), not over 50 pounds.

Question 6

True or false: No horse has ever won the Kentucky Derby after starting from the far outside post position.

Accepted Answer

False. In 2022, Rich Strike won from post 20, the outside post. Other winners have also come from high numbers, debunking this myth.

Question 7

True or false: All Kentucky Derby horses must be exactly three years old on race day.

Accepted Answer

False. They must be three-year-olds, but not exactly on race day—the age is determined by the horse's official birthday (January 1 for all Thoroughbreds).

Question 8

True or false: The winning horse is draped in a blanket of red roses after the race.

Accepted Answer

True. The Kentucky Derby winner traditionally receives a garland of over 500 red roses, earning the race its nickname 'Run for the Roses.'

Kentucky Derby Trivia Questions