Kentucky Derby

American  

noun

Trademark.

1. a horse race for three-year-olds, run annually since 1875, on the first Saturday in May, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.: the first race in the Triple Crown.

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Kentucky Derby British  

noun

1. a race for three-year-old horses run annually since 1875 at Louisville, Kentucky

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Kentucky Derby Cultural  

1. The most famous American horse race, held each spring at Churchill Downs racetrack in Kentucky.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Kentucky Derby

He was the official artist for events including the Olympics, the Super Bowl, the World Series, the Kentucky Derby and the Indianapolis 500.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026

And while soccer remains her main duty, she has also covered the Kentucky Derby numerous times and has fronted NBC’s coverage of the last seven Olympics.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026

“This extra week between the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness opens the Preakness to potential participants who use modern training methods.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 8, 2026

Of the 95 horses who have run in the Kentucky Derby in the past five years, only 13 entered the starting gate for the Preakness.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 8, 2026

The work paid off: Fitzsimmons had cultivated the talents of myriad champions, including Gallant Fox and Omaha, two of the first three horses to sweep the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes—the Triple Crown.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand