Kentucky Derby Winners List: 2025 Results & Race Day Updates

The Kentucky Derby is the biggest horse race in the U.S., also called “The Run for the Roses.” It takes place every year at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. This race has been a huge part of horse racing since 1875.

The 151st Kentucky Derby is set for May 3, 2025. The best three-year-old Thoroughbreds will compete for a record prize and a shot at the Triple Crown. This guide covers the 2025 Kentucky Derby winner, full race results, and finishing times. We’ll also look at the 2025 results, past winners, and the history of Triple Crown champions.

Kentucky Derby 2025 Winner

Sovereignty won the 2025 Kentucky Derby. The horse was trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Junior Alvarado. Sovereignty finished the race in 2:02.31.

Coming in at 7-1 odds, Sovereignty beat the favorite, Journalism, who took second place. This victory was Bill Mott’s second Derby win. For Alvarado, it was an emotional moment. He called it “more than a dream come true” after bouncing back from injury.

Race Highlights

The crowd of over 147,000 fans stood in the rain at Churchill Downs to watch. The track was muddy, but that didn’t stop Sovereignty from pulling ahead in the final stretch. Journalism made a late push but couldn’t catch up. Baeza finished third. Final Gambit came fourth.

There were 19 horses in the race after Rodriguez and Grande were scratched earlier that week.

Prize Money

The purse for the Derby was $5 million. Here’s what the top finishers earned:

Position	Horse	Prize Money
1st	Sovereignty	$3.1 million
2nd	Journalism	$1 million
3rd	Baeza	$500,000
4th	Final Gambit	$250,000
5th	Stellar Sky	$150,000

This win was a big moment for Godolphin, Sovereignty’s owner. It completed their collection of wins in all three Triple Crown races.

The Complete Kentucky Derby Winners List

Kentucky Derby Winners list, including Jockey, Trainer, Owner and time:

YEAR	WINNER	JOCKEY	TRAINER	OWNER	TIME
2025	Sovereignty	Junior Alvarado	Bill Mott	Godolphin	2:02.31
2024	Mystik Dan	Brian Hernandez Jr.	Kenny McPeek	Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing LLC & Daniel Hamby III	2:03.34
2023	Mage	Javier Castellano Gustavo	Gustavo Delgado	OGMA investments, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing and CMNWLTH	2:01.57
2022	Rich Strike	Sonny Leon	Eric R. Reed	RED TR-Racing, LLC	2:02.61
2021	Mandaloun	Florent Geroux	Brad H. Cox	Juddmonte Farms (Khalid Abdullah)	2:01.02
2020	Authentic	John R. Velazquez	Bob Baffert	Spendthrift Farm LLC, MyRaceHorse Stable, Madaket Stables LLC and Starlight Racing	2:00.61
2019	Country House	Flavien Prat	William I. Mott	Mrs. JV Shields, EJM McFadden and LNJ Foxwoods	2:03.98
2018	Justify *	Mike E. Smith	Bob Baffert	China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners, Starlight Racing and WinStar Farms	2:04.20
2017	Always Dreaming	John R. Velazquez	Todd Pletcher	Brooklyn Boyz Stables, Teresa Viola Racing Stables, Siena Farm LLC, West Point Thoroughbreds, MeB Racing Stables LLC, St. Elias Stables, LLC.	2:03.59
2016	Nyquist	Mario Gutierrez	Doug F. O’Neill	Reddam Racing LLC	2:01:31
2015	American Pharoah *	Victor Espinoza	Bob Baffert	Ahmed Zayat	2:03.02
2014	California Chrome	Victor Espinoza	Art Sherman	Steve and Carolyn Coburn & Perry and Denise Martin	2:03.66
2013	Orb	Joel Rosario	Claude R. “Shug” McGaughey III	Stuart Janney III & Phipps Stable (Ogden Mills “Dinny” Phipps)	2:02.89
2012	I’ll Have Another	Mario Gutierrez	Doug O’Neill	J. Paul Reddam	2:01.83
2011	Animal Kingdom	John Velazquez	H. Graham Motion	Team Valor International	2:02.04
2010	Super Saver	Calvin Borel	Todd Pletcher	WinStar Farm LLC.	2:04.45
2009	Mine That Bird	Calvin Borel	Bennie Woolley Jr.	Double Eagle Ranch & Bueno Suerte Equine	2:02.66
2008	Big Brown	Kent Desormeaux	Richard Dutrow, Jr.	IEAH Stable (Michael Iavarone) and Paul P. Pompa Jr.	2:01.82
2007	Street Sense	Calvin Borel	Carl Nafzger	James B. Tafel	2:02.17
2006	Barbaro	Edgar Prado	Michael Matz	Lael Stables (Roy & Gretchen Jackson)	2:01.36
2005	Giacomo	Mike Smith	John Shirreffs	Mr. & Mrs. Jerome S. Moss	2:02.75
2004	Smarty Jones	Stewart Elliott	John Servis	Someday Farm	2:04.06
2003	Funny Cide	José Santos	Barclay Tagg	Sackatoga Stable (Jackson Knowlton)	2:01.19
2002	War Emblem	Victor Espinoza	Bob Baffert	The Thoroughbred Corporation	2:01.13
2001	Monarchos	Jorge Chavez	John T. Ward, Jr.	John C. Oxley	1:59.97
2000	Fusaichi Pegasus	Kent Desormeaux	Neil D. Drysdale	Fusao Sekiguchi	2:01
1999	Charismatic	Chris Antley	D. Wayne Lukas	Robert B. & Beverly J. Lewis	2:03.29
1998	Real Quiet	Kent Desormeaux	Bob Baffert	Mike Pegram	2:02 1/5
1997	Silver Charm	Gary Stevens	Bob Baffert	Robert B. & Beverly J. Lewis	2:02 2/5
1996	Grindstone	Jerry Bailey	D. Wayne Lukas	Overbrook Farm	2:01
1995	Thunder Gulch	Gary Stevens	D. Wayne Lukas	Michael Tabor	2:01 1/5
1994	Go for Gin	Chris McCarron	Nick Zito	William J. Condren & Joseph M. Cornacchia	2:03 3/5
1993	Sea Hero	Jerry Bailey	MacKenzie “Mack” Miller	Rokeby Stable	2:02
1992	Lil E. Tee	Pat Day	Lynn Whiting	W. Cal Partee	2:03
1991	Strike the Gold	Chris Antley	Nick Zito	BCC Stable	2:03
1990	Unbridled	Craig Perret	Carl Nafzger	Frances A. Genter	2:02
1989	Sunday Silence	Patrick Valenzuela	Charles Edward Whittingham	H-G-W Partners	2:05
1988	Winning Colors	Gary Stevens	D. Wayne Lukas	Eugene V. Klein	2:02 1/5
1987	Alysheba	Chris McCarron	Charles “Jack” Van Berg	D. & P. Scharbauer	2:03
1986	Ferdinand	William Shoemaker	Charles Edward Whittingham	Elizabeth A. Keck	2:02 4/5
1985	Spend a Buck	Angel Cordero, Jr.	Cam Gambolati	Dennis Diaz	2:00 1/5
1984	Swale	Laffit Pincay, Jr.	Woodford C. Stephens	Claiborne Farm	2:02 2/5
1983	Sunny’s Halo	Eddie Delahoussaye	David C. Cross, Jr.	D. J. Foster Stable	2:02 1/5
1982	Gato Del Sol	Eddie Delahoussaye	Edwin J. Gregson	Hancock & Peters	2:02 2/5
1981	Pleasant Colony	Jorge Velasquez	John P. Campo	Buckland Farm	2:02
1980	Genuine Risk	Jacinto Vasquez	LeRoy Jolley	Diana M. Firestone	2:02
1979	Spectacular Bid	Ronnie Franklin	Grover Delp	Hawksworth Farm	2:02 2/5
1978	Affirmed *	Steve Cauthen	Lazaro Barrera	Harbor View Farm	2:01 1/5
1977	Seattle Slew *	Jean Cruguet	Wm. H. Turner, Jr.	Karen L. Taylor	2:02 1/5
1976	Bold Forbes	Angel Cordero, Jr.	Lazaro Barrera	E. Rodriguez Tizol	2:01 3/5
1975	Foolish Pleasure	Jacinto Vasquez	LeRoy Jolley	John L. Greer	2:02
1974	Cannonade	Angel Cordero, Jr.	Woodford C. Stephens	John M. Olin	2:04
1973	Secretariat *	Ron Turcotte	Lucien Laurin	Meadow Stable	1:59 2/5
1972	Riva Ridge	Ron Turcotte	Lucien Laurin	Meadow Stud	2:01 4/5
1971	Canonero II	Gustavo Avila	Juan Arias	Edgar Caibett	2:03 1/5
1970	Dust Commander	Mike Manganello	Don Combs	Robert E. Lehmann	2:03 2/5
1969	Majestic Prince	William Hartack	John Longden	Frank M. McMahon	2:01 4/5
1968	Forward Pass	Ismael Valenzuela	Henry Forrest	Calumet Farm	2:02 1/5
1967	Proud Clarion	Robert Ussery	Loyd Gentry, Jr.	Darby Dan Farm	2:00 3/5
1966	Kauai King	Don Brumfield	Henry Forrest	Ford Stable	2:02
1965	Lucky Debonair	William Shoemaker	Frank Catrone	Ada L. Rice	2:01 1/5
1964	Northern Dancer	William Hartack	Horatio Luro	Windfields Farm	2:00
1963	Chateaugay	Braulio Baeza	James P. Conway	Darby Dan Farm	2:01 4/5
1962	Decidedly	William Hartack	Horatio Luro	El Peco Ranch	2:00 2/5
1961	Carry Back	John Sellers	Jack Price	Katherine Price	2:04
1960	Venetian Way	William Hartack	Victor J. Sovinski	Sunny Blue Farm	2:02 2/5
1959	Tomy Lee	William Shoemaker	Frank E. Childs	Fred & Juliette Turner	2:02 1/5
1958	Tim Tam	Ismael Valenzuela	H. A. Jones	Calumet Farm	2:05
1957	Iron Liege	William Hartack	H. A. Jones	Calumet Farm	2:01 1/5
1956	Needles	David Erb	Hugh Fontaine	D & H Stable	2:03 2/5
1955	Swaps	William Shoemaker	M. A. Tenney	Rex C. Ellsworth	2:01 4/5
1954	Determine	Raymond York	William Molter	Andrew J. Crevolin	2:03
1953	Dark Star	Henry Moreno	Eddie Hayward	Cain Hoy Stable	2:02
1952	Hill Gail	Eddie Arcaro	Ben A. Jones	Calumet Farm	2:01 3/5
1951	Count Turf	Conn McCreary	Sol Rutchick	Jack J. Amiel	2:02 3/5
1950	Middleground	William Boland	Max Hirsch	King Ranch	2:01 3/5
1949	Ponder	Steve Brooks	Ben A. Jones	Calumet Farm	2:04 1/5
1948	Citation *	Eddie Arcaro	Ben A. Jones	Calumet Farm	2:05 2/5
1947	Jet Pilot	Eric Guerin	Tom Smith	Maine Chance Farm	2:06 4/5
1946	Assault *	Warren Mehrtens	Max Hirsch	King Ranch	2:06 3/5
1945	Hoop Jr.	Eddie Arcaro	Ivan H. Parke	Fred W. Hooper	2:07
1944	Pensive	Conn McCreary	Ben A. Jones	Calumet Farm	2:04 1/5
1943	Count Fleet *	John Longden	G. D. Cameron	Fannie Hertz	2:04
1942	Shut Out	Wayne D. Wright	John Milton Gaver, Sr.	Greentree Stable	2:04 2/5
1941	Whirlaway *	Eddie Arcaro	Ben A. Jones	Calumet Farm	2:01 2/5
1940	Gallahadion	Carroll Bierman	Roy Waldron	Milky Way Farm	2:05
1939	Johnstown	James Stout	Jame Fitzsimmons	Belair Stud	2:03 2/5
1938	Lawrin	Eddie Arcaro	Ben A. Jones	Herbert M. Woolf	2:04 4/5
1937	War Admiral *	Charle Kurtsinger	George Conway	Glen Riddle Farm	2:03 1/5
1936	Bold Venture	Ira Hanford	Max Hirsch	Morton L. Schwartz	2:03 3/5
1935	Omaha *	William Saunders	Jame Fitzsimmons	Belair Stud	2:05
1934	Cavalcade	Mack Garner	Robert A. Smith	Brookmeade Stable	2:04
1933	Brokers Tip	Don Meade	Herbert John Thompson	Edward R. Bradley	2:06 4/5
1932	Burgoo King	Basil James	Herbert John Thompson	Edward R. Bradley	2:05 1/5
1931	Twenty Grand	Charle Kurtsinger	James Rowe, Jr.	Greentree Stable	2:01 4/5
1930	Gallant Fox *	Earl Sande	Jame Fitzsimmons	Belair Stud	2:07 3/5
1929	Clyde Van Dusen	Linus McAtee	Clyde Van Dusen	Herbert P. Gardner	2:10 4/5
1928	Reigh Count	Charle Lang	Bert Michell	Fannie Hertz	2:10 2/5
1927	Whiskery	Linus McAtee	Fred Hopkins	Harry P. Whitney	2:06
1926	Bubbling Over	Albert Johnson	Herbert John Thompson	Edward R. Bradley	2:03 4/5
1925	Flying Ebony	Earl Sande	William Duke	Gifford A. Cochran	2:07 3/5
1924	Black Gold	John D. Mooney	Hanly Webb	Rosa M. Hoots	2:05 1/5
1923	Zev	Earl Sande	D. J. Leary	Rancocas Stable	2:05 2/5
1922	Morvich	Albert Johnson	Fred Burlew	Benjamin Block	2:04 3/5
1921	Behave Yourself	Charles Thompson	Herbert John Thompson	Edward R. Bradley	2:04 1/5
1920	Paul Jones	Ted Rice	William Garth	Ral Parr	2:09
1919	Sir Barton *	John Loftus	H. Guy Bedwell	J. K. L. Ross	2:09 4/5
1918	Exterminator	William Knapp	Henry McDaniel	Willis Sharpe Kilmer	2:10 4/5
1917	Omar Khayyam	Charles Borel	C. T. Patterson	Billings & Johnson	2:04 3/5
1916	George Smith	John Loftus	Hollie Hughes	John Sanford	2:04
1915	Regret	Joe Notter	James Rowe, Sr.	Harry P. Whitney	2:05 2/5
1914	Old Rosebud	John McCabe	Frank D. Weir	Hamilton C. Applegate	2:03 2/5
1913	Donerail	Roscoe Goose	Thomas P. Hayes	Thomas P. Hayes	2:04 4/5
1912	Worth	Carroll Hugh Shilling	Frank M. Taylor	Henry C. Hallenbeck	2:09 2/5
1911	Meridian	George Archibald	Albert Ewing	Richard F. Carman	2:05
1910	Donau	Robert Herbert	George Ham	William Gerst	2:06 2/5
1909	Wintergreen	Vincent Powers	Charles Mack	Jerome B. Respess	2:08 1/5
1908	Stone Street	Arthur Pickens	J. W. Hall	C. E. & J. W. Hamilton	2:15 1/5
1907	Pink Star	Andy Minder	W. H. Fizer	J. Hal Woodford	2:12 3/5
1906	Sir Huon	Roscoe Troxler	Pete Coyne	Bashford Manor Stable	2:08 4/5
1905	Agile	Jack Martin	Robert Tucker	Samuel S. Brown	2:10 3/4
1904	Elwood	Frank Prior	Charle E. Durnell	Mrs. C. E. Durnell	2:08 1/2
1903	Judge Himes	Harold Booker	John P. Mayberry	Charles R. Ellison	2:09
1902	Alan-a-Dale	Jimmy Winkfield	Thomas Clay McDowell	Thomas Clay McDowell	2:08 3/4
1901	His Eminence	Jimmy Winkfield	Frank B. Van Meter	Frank B. Van Meter	2:07 3/4
1900	Lieut. Gibson	Jimmy Boland	Charles Hughes	Charles H. Smith	2:06 1/2
1899	Manuel	Fred Taral	Robert Walden	A. H. & D. H. Morris	2:12
1898	Plaudit	Willie Simms	John E. Madden	John E. Madden	2:09
1897	Typhoon II	Buttons Garner	J. C. Cahn	J. C. Cahn	2:12 1/2
1896	Ben Brush	Willie Simms	Hardy Campbell, Jr.	Mike F. Dwyer	2:07 3/4
1895	Halma	Soup Perkins	Byron McClelland	Byron McClelland	2:37 1/2
1894	Chant	Frank Goodale	H. Eugene Leigh	Leigh & Rose	2:41
1893	Lookout	Eddie Kunze	William McDaniel	Cushing & Orth	2:39 1/4
1892	Azra	Alonzo Clayton	John H. Morris	Bashford Manor Stable	2:41 1/2
1891	Kingman	Isaac Murphy	Dud Allen	Jacobin Stable	2:52 1/4
1890	Riley	Isaac Murphy	Edward Corrigan	Edward Corrigan	2:45
1889	Spokane	Thomas Kiley	John Rodegap	Noah Armstrong	2:34 1/2
1888	Macbeth II	George Covington	John Campbell	Chicago Stable	2:38 1/4
1887	Montrose	Isaac Lewis	John McGinty	Labold Brothers	2:39 1/4
1886	Ben Ali	Paul Duffy	Jim Murphy	J. B. A. Haggin	2:36 1/2
1885	Joe Cotton	Erkine Henderson	Abe Perry	James T. Williams	2:37 1/4
1884	Buchanan	Isaac Murphy	William Bird	William Cottrill	2:40 1/4
1883	Leonatus	William Donohue	Raleigh Colston	Chinn & Morgan	2:43
1882	Apollo	Babe Hurd	Green B. Morris	Morris & Patton	2:40 1/4
1881	Hindoo	James McLaughlin	James G. Rowe, Sr.	Dwyer Bros. Stable	2:40
1880	Fonso	George Garret Lewis	Tice Hutsell	J. Snell Shawhan	2:37 1/2
1879	Lord Murphy	Charlie Shauer	George Rice	Darden & Co	2:37
1878	Day Star	Jimmy Carter	Lee Paul	T. J. Nichols	2:37 1/4
1877	Baden-Baden	William Walker	Edward D. Brown	Daniel Swigert	2:38
1876	Vagrant	Bobby Swim	James Williams	William Astor, Jr.	2:38 1/4
1875	Aristides	Oliver Lewis	Ansel Williamson	Hal P. McGrath	2:37 3/4

* Indicates Triple Crown Winners | List source: KY Derby Official Website

Also Check: Kentucky Derby 2025 Latest Updates

History of Triple Crown Winners

Since 1919, only 13 horses have won the Triple Crown, winning the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes in the same year.

Complete List of Triple Crown Winners

Year	Horse	Jockey	Trainer
2018	Justify	Mike E. Smith	Bob Baffert
2015	American Pharoah	Victor Espinoza	Bob Baffert
1973	Secretariat	Ron Turcotte	Lucien Laurin

The All-Time Top 5 Kentucky Derby Winners

The Kentucky Derby has seen some of the greatest racehorses in history. These champions didn’t just win—they dominated, broke records, and became legends. Here’s a look at the top five Derby winners of all time and their lasting impact on the sport.

1. Secretariat (1973) – The Fastest Ever

When people think of horse racing greatness, Secretariat is the first name that comes to mind. Nicknamed “Big Red,” he won the 1973 Triple Crown in jaw-dropping fashion. His Kentucky Derby record of 1:59.40 still stands today- the fastest in history. Even more incredible? He ran each quarter-mile faster than the last, showing unmatched stamina and speed. Simply put, no horse has ever done it better.

2. American Pharoah (2015) – The Triple Crown Breakthrough

For 37 years, horse racing fans waited for another Triple Crown winner. Then, in 2015, American Pharoah finally ended the drought. Trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Victor Espinoza, he swept the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes with ease. His smooth stride and calm personality made him a fan favorite, and his historic run revived excitement in horse racing.

3. Justify (2018) – The Undefeated Star

Some horses take time to shine, but Justify wasted no time. He didn’t race as a two-year-old, but that didn’t stop him from making history. In 2018, he won the Triple Crown in just 112 days—a feat no other horse has accomplished. With Mike Smith in the saddle, he conquered one of the wettest Kentucky Derbies ever and retired undefeated. His rise was fast, but his place in history is permanent.

4. Seattle Slew (1977) – From Underdog to Champion

Seattle Slew’s story is pure racing magic. Bought for just $17,500, he didn’t have the hype of a big-name horse. But in 1977, he became the first undefeated Triple Crown winner. His Kentucky Derby win was just the beginning, as he powered through the Preakness and Belmont Stakes to complete his historic run. His journey proved that greatness can come from anywhere.

5. Citation (1948) – The Winning Machine

Back in the 1940s, one horse dominated like no other—Citation. Trained by Ben A. Jones and ridden by Eddie Arcaro, he didn’t just win—he kept winning. After taking the 1948 Kentucky Derby, he went on to win 16 races in a row, an achievement that still amazes racing fans today. His consistency, stamina, and power made him a legend of his time.

A Legacy of Champions

These five Kentucky Derby winners—Secretariat, American Pharoah, Justify, Seattle Slew, and Citation—did more than win big races. They changed horse racing forever, setting records, inspiring fans, and proving why the Run for the Roses is where legends are made.

Which of these champions is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!