The 2023 Kentucky Derby has come and gone. Amidst much fanfare (and several public relations nightmares), 15-1 longshot Mage emerged victorious Saturday at Churchill Downs.
With the dust largely settled and Kentucky horse betting fans looking to the Preakness Stakes later this month, here are the major takeaways from the 149th Kentucky Derby.
2023 Kentucky Derby Day breaks handle records
From a financial perspective, the Saturday program was a major success. Bettors wagered a record-setting $288.7 million on the 14 races on the day of the Kentucky Derby. That eclipsed the mark set last year of $273.8 million.
The Derby itself was about two-thirds of that total. All-sources wagering on the Run for the Roses totaled $188.7 million, up from a then-record $179 million 12 months ago.
Bill Carstanjen, CEO of Churchill Downs, Inc., glowed about the growth in a press release sent out Sunday:
“We expect the Kentucky Derby Week Adjusted EBITDA to reflect a new record with $14 to $16 million of growth over the prior record set last year. We will now accelerate our focus on our year-long celebration in preparation for the 150th Kentucky Derby in May 2024.”
Unfortunately, it wasn’t all good news…
It was a rough week and a half for horse racing. In the 10 days leading up to the Kentucky Derby, seven horses suffered fatal injuries over the Churchill Downs track.
This includes Kentucky Derby hopeful Wild On Ice, who broke down in a workout the week before the race. In addition, a pair of horses on the Kentucky Derby undercard were euthanized as well.
In that vein, news broke Saturday morning that Kentucky Derby favorite Forte would likely scratch from the race due to a hoof bruise. Whispers around the track had turned into rumors. But owner Mike Repole and trainer Todd Pletcher attempted to quiet those down.
However, in a morning inspection, an on-track veterinarian determined Forte was unfit to race that afternoon.
On Monday morning, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission updated the public on Forte’s scratch:
“Forte was scratched from the Kentucky Derby by KHRC veterinarians following Saturday’s routine soundness checks. As is the case with all KHRC veterinary scratches related to soundness, and pursuant to HISA Rule 2241(a), this places Forte on a mandatory 14-day veterinary list. After 14 days, the requirement for the removal from the list include a satisfactory workout performed for a state regulatory veterinarian and a negative blood sample result.”
By placing him on the 14-day list, Forte likely won’t be available to race in the Preakness Stakes.
More on Kentucky Derby winner Mage
Mage had most recently run second to Forte in the Florida Derby. He rated well behind a fast early pace, launched his bid turning for home, and rallied past stubborn runner-up Two Phil’s to hit the wire first by a length. Post-time favorite Angel of Empire finished third.
This is the first Kentucky Derby win for all of Mage’s connections. That includes Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano, who had been 0-for-15 in the Kentucky Derby prior to Saturday afternoon.
A son of 2018 Kentucky Derby runner-up Good Magic, Mage is trained by Gustavo Delgado. He did not race as a 2-year-old, making him just the second unraced 2-year-old since 1882 to win the Kentucky Derby a year later. In an ironic twist, the other such horse was Justify, who topped Mage’s sire five years ago.
A $2 win wager on Mage paid $32.42. The $2 exacta consisting of Mage and Two Phil’s paid $330.44, and the 50-cent trifecta including Angel of Empire paid $491.18. It was the first Kentucky Derby since the institution of penny breakage. According to the Thoroughbred Idea Foundation, more than $1 million in additional winnings was returned to horseplayers on Friday and Saturday.
Up next: The 2023 Preakness Stakes
Mage’s connections haven’t fully committed to the Preakness Stakes yet. However, they have said he’s likely to run if he’s healthy.
Should Mage win the Preakness, he would be eligible to sweep all three legs of horse racing’s Triple Crown. The final jewel in the series is the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 10, at Belmont Park in New York.
Justify was the most recent runner to win the vaunted trio of races. He won the 2018 Triple Crown. In doing so, he became the 13th Triple Crown winner and just the second since 1978.
