It's time for the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 3, 2008, also known as 'the fastest two minutes in sports.' But the Kentucky Derby is far more than just a race of thoroughbreds. It is celebration and ceremony there at historic Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

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.

The Derby is frequently referred to as "The Run for the Roses," because a garland of red roses is awarded to the Kentucky Derby winner each year. The tradition is as a result of New York socialite E. Berry Wall presenting roses to ladies at a post-Derby party in 1883 that was attended by Churchill Downs president, Col. M. Lewis Clark. This gesture is believed to have eventually led Clark to the idea of making the rose the race's official flower. However, it was not until 1896 that any recorded account referred to roses being draped on the Derby winner.

The first leg of The Triple Crown, 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.

Since 1875 Kentucky has marked the passage of time with the arrival of one, if not the most esteemed Thoroughbred racing events in the world. It’s the social event of the year in Louisville, and you'll be there to take in history, tradition and “the fastest two minutes in sports” all for yourself.

The Kentucky Derby is billed as the most exciting two minutes in sports. Held every year on the first Saturday in May at the World famous Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, the most glamorous horse racing event of the year draws spectators from all over the world. First run in 1875, as part of a four race series, the Kentucky Derby began to grow in prominence after the turn of the century, shifting the epicenter of the racing world to Churchill Downs.
In its’ early years, races at Churchill Downs were set at 1 ½ miles, the same length as the races in England. In 1896 however, the race was changed to 1 ¼ miles, and has remained at that distance ever since.

2008 Kentucky Derby Winner

Big Brown, overcoming the far outside post, rolled to a five-length victory Saturday in the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. The three-year-old, unbeaten in four career starts, can now become the first Triple Crown
winner since 1978.

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.

2007 Kentucky Derby Winner Street Sense, the 9-2 favorite, rallied from 19th under jockey Calvin Borel to pass the pacesetting Hard Spun in the stretch and draw away to a 2 ¼-length victory in the 133rd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

April 2008 Kentucky Derby Prep Race Schedule

April 5
$750,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1) at Santa Anita Park, 1 1/8 miles
$750,000 Wood Memorial (G1) at Aqueduct, 1 1/8 miles
$500,000 Illinois Derby (G2) at Hawthorne Race Course, 1 1/8 miles

April 12
$750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland, 1 1/8 miles
$1M Arkansas Derby (G2) at Oaklawn Park, 1 1/8 miles
$150,000 Holy Bull Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park, 1 3/16 miles

April 19
$125,000 Federico Tesio Stakes at Pimlico, 1 1/8 miles
$325,000 Coolmore Lexington Stakes (G2) at Keeneland, 1 1/16 miles

April 26
$100,000 Derby Trial (G3) at Churchill Downs, 1 mile
$150,000 Withers Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct, 1 mile

May 2008 Triple Crown Trail

May 3
$2M Kentucky Derby 134 (G1) at Churchill Downs, 1 1/4 miles

May 17
$1M Preakness Stakes 133 (G1) at Pimlico, 1 3/16 miles

June 2008 Triple Crown Trail

June 7
$1M Belmont Stakes 140 (G1) at Belmont Park, 1 1/2 miles

Free Mobile Phone Kentucky Derby Betting Online

Mobile Cell Phone technology has developed into the market of online Horse Betting, perhaps the days of being locked in front of your computer screen at home, or having to find wireless connection with your laptop when traveling, are now a thing of the past. Kentucky Derby Gambling has now gone fully mobile with technology that allows online Sports players to place a horse bet on their favorite sports teams from their cellular phones or PDAs, allowing access to those on-the-go anywhere, anytime.

Kentucky Derby betting on the Internet is a truly exciting and with the new (WAP services announced today), we believe we can also lead the way in Mobile Phone sports betting online. Use your web-enabled cell phone to get matchup schedules and odds whenever you need it — right in the palm of your hand.

How to use Horse Betting with WAP Mobile Phone

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