How long is the Kentucky Derby? How many miles is the race at Churchill Downs? USA TODAY
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They don’t call the 2024 Kentucky Derby “the most exciting two minutes in sports” for nothing.
The 150th edition of the “Run for the Roses” is almost off to the races, but before we get the show on the road, just how long is the legendary racetrack at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky? We have your answer.
The Kentucky Derby was first run in 1875 at 1 1/2 miles long or 12 furlongs, a commonly used metric in horse racing that’s equivalent to 660 feet each. The length was changed in 1896 to 1 1/4 miles (10 furlongs).
There have been only two horses in Kentucky Derby history that have completed that distance in less than two minutes – Secretariat, the eventual Triple Crown winner, recorded a final time of 1:59.4 in 1973 and Monarchos finished in 1:59.97 in 2001.
