2022 Kentucky Derby facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
148th Kentucky Derby

Kentucky Derby
Grade I stakes race
"The Run for the Roses"
Location	Churchill Downs Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Date	May 7, 2022 (2022-05-07)
Distance	1+1⁄4 mi (10 furlongs; 2,012 m)
Winning horse	Rich Strike
Winning time	2:02.61
Final odds	80-1
Jockey	Sonny Leon
Trainer	Eric Reed
Owner	RED TR-Racing
Conditions	Fast
Surface	Dirt
Attendance	147,294
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The 2022 Kentucky Derby was a super exciting horse race! It was the 148th time this famous race was held. It happened on May 7, 2022, in Louisville, Kentucky. This race is a big deal for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses. They run a distance of about 2 kilometers (1 and a quarter miles) at the Churchill Downs racetrack. The prize money for the winner in 2022 was $3 million!

The race was won by a horse named Rich Strike. What made his win so amazing was that he was a huge underdog. His odds were 80-1, meaning most people didn't expect him to win at all! It was a truly surprising victory.

The race was shown live on TV by NBC. Many people watched from home and at the track.

How Horses Qualify for the Derby

The Kentucky Derby is only for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses. This means all the horses in the 2022 race were born in 2019. Only twenty horses get to race in the Derby. They earn their spot by getting points in special races called the "2022 Road to the Kentucky Derby". This system helps pick the best horses to compete.

Many races help horses earn points. Some of the most important ones are the UAE Derby, Louisiana Derby, Florida Derby, and Santa Anita Derby. If a horse wins one of these big races, they usually get enough points to enter the Derby. For example, Epicenter won the Louisiana Derby and Crown Pride won the UAE Derby.

Sometimes, horses from Europe or Japan can also qualify. But in 2022, no horses from those special paths entered the race.

The Horses in the Race

The horses that were going to race in the Derby were officially announced on May 2. Many experts thought this group of horses was one of the best in a long time. Here were some of the top horses people were watching:

• Epicenter – He won two big races, the Risen Star Stakes and the Louisiana Derby. He had the most points to get into the Derby.
• Zandon – He won the Blue Grass Stakes.
• Taiba – This horse was very new to racing. The Kentucky Derby was only his third race ever!
• Smile Happy – He finished second in the Blue Grass Stakes.
• White Abarrio – He won the Holy Bull Stakes and the Florida Derby.
• Mo Donegal – He won the Wood Memorial.
• Cyberknife – He won the Arkansas Derby.

The amazing winner, Rich Strike, almost didn't even get to race! Another horse, Ethereal Road, had to drop out the day before the Derby. This opened up a spot for Rich Strike. Before this, Rich Strike had only won one small race. He was bought for only $30,000 in 2021. He earned his Derby points by finishing third in the Jeff Ruby Steaks.

The Exciting Race

When the race started, a horse named Summer is Tomorrow quickly took the lead. Another horse, Crown Pride, was right behind him. They ran the first part of the race incredibly fast! It was the fastest start ever for a Kentucky Derby.

As the race continued, Summer is Tomorrow got tired and fell behind. Messier then took the lead, with Crown Pride still close. Messier held the lead as they went around the last turn. But then, Epicenter passed Messier as they headed for the finish line.

Meanwhile, Rich Strike had a tough start. He was way behind the other horses, in 18th place, and far from the leaders. But he started to move forward on the last turn. He found a small space near the inside rail and weaved his way through the other horses. He then made an incredible sprint towards the finish line, passing Epicenter in the very last moments! Rich Strike won by about three-quarters of a horse length.

It was the first Kentucky Derby win for Rich Strike's trainer, Eric Reed. He said he never thought he would have a Derby horse, showing how surprising the win was.

It was also the first Derby win for jockey Sonny Leon. He was praised for his amazing ride. Leon said he knew his horse well and waited for the perfect moment to make his move. He found a clear path near the rail and went for it!

Rich Strike made history by being the first horse to win the Kentucky Derby after being "claimed". This means his owner bought him from another owner for a set price in a special type of race. Rich Strike's owner, Rick Dawson, said he believed in the horse because of his family tree and how well he trained.

Race Results

Here are the results for the 2022 Kentucky Derby:

Track condition: The track was "fast," meaning it was dry and firm.

Race Times:

• First quarter-mile: 21.78 seconds
• Half-mile: 45.36 seconds
• Three-quarter mile: 1:10.34
• One mile: 1:36.96
• Final time: 2:02.61