The Fastest Kentucky Derby Winners of All Time

Horseracing fans have seen the toughest and snappiest thoroughbreds compete in international races. The Triple Crown Series, one of the most-coveted horseracing titles in the world, has presented the fastest champions in the sport's history.

Kentucky Derby, the first leg of the Triple Crown, has hosted the most promising three-year-old runners of their generations. Every Year, twenty horses would compete in the Run for the Roses to start their bid for the Triple Crown. Now that the Derby is near let's review the records of the fastest Kentucky Derby winners of all time!

Secretariat

Also called "Big Red," Secretariat was a bright-red chestnut stallion trained by Lucien Laurin. He was known as the ninth winner of the 1973 Triple Crown with the record-breaking speed in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. Secretariat was a heavy favorite, along with Angle Light, with 3-2 odds.

His undisputed Derby track record is 1:592⁄5, making him the first to finish the race in under two minutes. Monarchos joined him in 2001 with a 1:59.97 record. Secretariat also set a speed record in the Preakness Stakes with 1:532⁄5 and Belmont Stakes with 2:24 flat. With such impressive feats, Secretariat was regarded as one of the most outstanding, if not the greatest, horses in the sport's history.

Monarchos

Monarchos is a grey stallion owned by John C. Oxley and trained by John T. Ward Jr. As already mentioned, Monarchos sits with Secretariat as the only two horses who broke the two-minute barrier in the Run for the Roses. He holds the 1:59.97 record for 1+1⁄4 miles, closely behind Secretariat in the ranking. We shouldn't expect as much in the 2023 Kentucky Derby competitors, but to see if they have the potential to break records, visit Fanduel picks.

Monarchos finished sixth in the 2001 Preakness Stakes and third in the 2001 Belmont Stakes. Nonetheless, he won the Florida Derby in the same Year. He retired in January 2002 after injuring a tendon in training.

Northern Dancer

Northern Dancer was an offspring of Native Dancer and Natalma. Horatio Luro trained this bay stallion. He runs for the Windfields Farm. Northern Dancer won both the 1964 Kentucky Derby with a 2:00.00 record and Preakness Stakes in 2:02 1⁄5. His bid for the Triple Crown failed when he finished third in Belmont Stakes.

He was the first Canadian-bred colt to win the Run for the Roses, so he was inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame in 1965 and later inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in Canada and the United States in 1976. His other major wins as a three-year-old include Flamingo Stakes (1964), Florida Derby (1964), Blue Grass Stakes (1964), and Queen's Plate (1964).

Spend a Buck

Mounted by the legendary Angel Cordero Jr., Spend a Buck won the 1985 Kentucky Derby with a winning record of 2:00 1/5. With this achievement, the brown stallion was named the U.S. Champion Three-Year-Old Colt and the United States Horse of the Year in 1985.

Moreover, he was inducted into the Calder Race Course Hall of Fame in 1995. His legacy continues as multiple stakes were named after him. These races include Grade III Spend a Buck Handicap at Calder Race Course and the Spend a Buck Stakes at Monmouth Park.

Decidedly

This grey stallion's parents were War Glory and Gloire Fille. He is owned by George A. Pope Jr. and trained by Horatio Luro. He was jockeyed by Bill Hartack in the 1962 Kentucky Derby and won the race with 2:00.40 speed. His other popular victories include the Ben Ali Handicap (1963), Dominion Day Handicap (1963), and Monmouth Handicap (1963).

Proud Clarion

Proud Clarion was sent off to the Kentucky Derby with 30:1 odds. He won the 1967 Run for the Roses in 2:00 3/5, one of the fastest records in the history of the race. He was ridden to victory by Bobby Ussery. He finished the Preakness Stakes in third place and placed fourth in the Belmont Stakes. His other significant wins are Roamer Handicap, with a flat record of 1:55 flat for a 1 3/16 mile.

Authentic

Authentic was a bay colt sired by Into Mischief out of Flawless. Seasoned trainer Bob Baffert conditioned the champion American thoroughbred racehorse for races. Jockeyed by John R. Velazquez, Authentic rallied in the 2020 Kentucky Derby to win the race with a 2:00.61 finishing time.

He placed second in the Preakness Stakes with a 1:53.28 record, and his victory earned him the American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse and American Horse of the Year awards in 2020. Other than winning the Run for the Roses, Authentic is also known for winning major stakes like Sham Stakes, San Felipe Stakes, Breeders' Cup Classic, and Haskell Stakes in 2020.

Conclusion

As the "Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports," the Kentucky Derby remains one of the biggest tracks showcasing the toughest three-year-olds yearly. Fans don't need to disagree on which horse was the fastest. The finishing time recorded for each horse could tell why we have included these horses in our list.