Kentucky Derby Names

Kentucky Derby Horse Names

The Kentucky Derby — the most exciting two minutes in sports — has produced some of the most famous horse names in history. Every first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs, a new name enters racing immortality. This guide covers every notable winner and Derby-inspired names for your own horse. Try our horse name generator for racing-quality names.

Top 20 kentucky derby horse names at a glance

# Name Meaning Style
1 Secretariat 1973 record holder Legend
2 Seattle Slew 1977 undefeated TC Legend
3 Affirmed 1978 rivalry Legend
4 American Pharoah 2015 TC drought ended Modern
5 Justify 2018 undefeated TC Modern
6 Mine That Bird 2009 50-1 upset Modern
7 Funny Cide 2003 gelding Modern
8 Winning Colors 1988 filly winner Classic
9 Monarchos 2001 2nd fastest Modern
10 Nyquist 2016 undefeated Modern
11 Always Dreaming 2017 wire-to-wire Modern
12 California Chrome 2014 people’s horse Modern
13 Barbaro 2006 tragic hero Modern
14 Orb 2013 rainy day win Modern
15 I’ll Have Another 2012 2 of 3 Modern
16 Rich Strike 2022 80-1 upset Modern
17 Mage 2023 rain winner Modern
18 Mystik Dan 2024 photo finish Modern
19 Churchill The Downs itself Inspired
20 Bluegrass Kentucky’s nickname Inspired

Triple Crown winners at the Derby

These horses didn’t just win the Derby — they swept all three classic races.

  • Secretariat (1973) — Still holds the Derby speed record at 1:59.40. Won Belmont by 31 lengths.
  • Seattle Slew (1977) — Only undefeated Triple Crown winner. Purchased for just $17,500.
  • Affirmed (1978) — Won by a nose over Alydar. Their rivalry defined an era.
  • American Pharoah (2015) — Ended the 37-year Triple Crown drought. Became a cultural phenomenon.
  • Justify (2018) — Undefeated in 6 starts including the Triple Crown. The “curse of Apollo” broken.
  • Citation (1948) — Won 16 consecutive races including the Triple Crown.
  • Whirlaway (1941) — Won by 8 lengths with a wild, wide-running style.
  • Assault (1946) — Called “Club Foot” due to a childhood injury. Won despite the odds.
  • Count Fleet (1943) — Dominated the Triple Crown, winning Belmont by 25 lengths.
  • War Admiral (1937) — Son of Man o’ War. Later lost to Seabiscuit in their famous match race.

Greatest Derby upsets

The Kentucky Derby loves an underdog story.

  • Mine That Bird (2009) — 50-1 longshot. Came from dead last to win by 6¾ lengths.
  • Rich Strike (2022) — 80-1 longshot. Barely made the field. Won in stunning fashion.
  • Giacomo (2005) — 50-1 upset. Named after Sting’s son.
  • Donerail (1913) — 91-1. The longest odds winner in Derby history.
  • Country House (2019) — 65-1. Won via disqualification of Maximum Security.
  • Canonero II (1971) — Venezuelan-trained 8-1 shot who shocked the racing world.
  • Dark Star (1953) — Beat the heavily favored Native Dancer.
  • Charismatic (1999) — 31-1 shot who went on to win the Preakness too.
  • Lil E. Tee (1992) — 17-1 upset in a rain-soaked Derby.
  • Ferdinand (1986) — 17-1 shot ridden by Bill Shoemaker at age 54.

Derby-inspired name ideas

Names inspired by the Derby tradition, Churchill Downs, and Kentucky culture.

  • Churchill — After Churchill Downs itself.
  • Bluegrass — Kentucky’s nickname. The Bluegrass State.
  • Bourbon — Kentucky’s signature spirit.
  • Mint Julep — The official Derby cocktail.
  • Garland — The garland of roses draped on the winner.
  • Derby — The race itself.
  • Louisville — Home city of Churchill Downs.
  • Thoroughbred — The breed that races.
  • Furlong — Racing distance measurement.
  • Paddock — Where horses gather before the race.
  • Silks — The jockey’s colorful uniform.
  • Steeplechase — Racing over fences.
  • Homestretch — The final straight.
  • Grandstand — Where the crowd cheers.
  • Roses — Run for the Roses — the Derby’s nickname.

Tips for choosing the perfect name

  • Update annually. The Derby happens every May — check for new winners.
  • Use the winner as inspiration, not the exact name (it’s likely registered).
  • Derby cocktail names like Mint Julep and Bourbon work great.
  • Kentucky place names — Louisville, Lexington, Bluegrass — make natural horse names.
  • Consider the story behind each winner. Upset winners like Mine That Bird make especially inspiring names.

Explore more horse names

Frequently Asked Questions

Who has the fastest Kentucky Derby time?

Secretariat holds the record at 1:59.40 (1973) — the only horse to run the Derby in under 2 minutes.

How many fillies have won the Kentucky Derby?

Only 3 fillies have won: Regret (1915), Genuine Risk (1980), and Winning Colors (1988).

What was the biggest Derby upset?

Donerail (1913) at 91-1 is the longest odds winner. In modern history, Rich Strike (2022) at 80-1 and Mine That Bird (2009) at 50-1 are the biggest upsets.

How long is the Kentucky Derby?

The Derby is 1¼ miles (10 furlongs), run on a dirt track at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

When is the Kentucky Derby?

The Kentucky Derby is held on the first Saturday in May every year.

Can any horse run in the Kentucky Derby?

Only 3-year-old Thoroughbreds who have earned enough qualifying points can enter, with a maximum field of 20 horses.

Use our Horse Name Generator to discover more names — filter by style, breed, coat colour, and personality for instant results.