2021 Kentucky Derby
The 2021 Kentucky Derby (officially, the 2021 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve) was the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby. It took place on May 1, 2021, in Louisville, Kentucky. The field was open to 20 horses, who qualified for the race by earning points on the 2021 Road to the Kentucky Derby. The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds at a distance of 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) and has been run at Churchill Downs racetrack since its inception in 1875. The purse for 2021 was US$3 million.
| Kentucky Derby | |
| Grade I stakes race | |
"The Run for the Roses" | |
| Location | Churchill Downs Louisville, Kentucky, United States |
|---|---|
| Date | May 1, 2021 |
| Distance | 1+1⁄4 mi (10 furlongs; 2,012 m) |
| Winning horse | Mandaloun |
| Winning time | 2:01.36 |
| Final odds | 12–1 |
| Jockey | Florent Geroux |
| Trainer | Brad Cox |
| Owner | Juddmonte Farms |
| Conditions | Fast |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Attendance | 51,838 |
After the 2020 Derby had been postponed to September because of the COVID-19 pandemic and held behind closed doors, the 2021 edition returned to its traditional May schedule and allowed spectators, although in reduced numbers and with social distancing measures in place.
Medina Spirit crossed the finish line first, which appeared to have given his trainer Bob Baffert a record seventh win in the race and jockey John Velazquez his fourth Derby win. However, the horse tested positive for betamethasone after the race. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission made the final decision to disqualify the horse on February 21, 2022. Because Medina Spirit was disqualified, Mandaloun was named the winner.
The race was broadcast by NBC, with coverage by NBCSN of undercard races beginning at 12:30 pm EDT and main network coverage of pre-race activities starting at 2:30 pm EDT. It was also livestreamed on NBCSports.com. The post time was 7:01 pm.