One of the greatest moments in all of sports is watching a longshot race horse cross the finish line first in the Kentucky Derby. Just last year, Rich Strike, who sat 80-1 at the gate, pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Derby history. Seemingly the entire country watched on bated breath as Rich Strike closed the gap and finish a nose ahead of the competition. But Rich Strike was only the second largest upset in Kentucky Derby history.
Below, we’ll look at the five biggest longshots to ever win the Kentucky Derby.
- What time does the Kentucky Derby start? Click this link to stay up to date on the Run for the Roses schedule.
5 Biggest Longshots To Win The Kentucky Derby
Historic odds below courtesy of Churchill Downs.
5. Giacomo, 50-1 (2005)
Ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Mike E. Smith, Giacomo came up from 17th place to start, closing a massive gap in a blazing half-mile pace (:45.2). Smith notched his first Derby victory in the race. Like many Derby longshot winners, Giacomo would drop races in both the Preakness (third) and Belmont (seventh). But his victory in 2005 stands as one of the legendary performances and, at the time, was the second-largest upset ever.
4. Mine That Bird, 50-1 (2009)
On a sloppy track, Mine That Bird came from a distant last to a distant first, finishing nearly 16 lengths ahead of the pack. That victory tied the second-longest ever upset at the time and was the largest margin of victory at the Kentucky Derby in over 60 years. He rode the rail from last to first coming off the second turn and shocked the horse racing world.
3. Country House, 65-1 (2019)
2019 featured one of the most difficult Derby tracks in recent memory. He started out of Gate 20 and settled in behind the bulk of the pack early. Maximum Security crossed the line first, but was later disqualified due to veering into two other horses. Jockey Luis Saez was able to straighten him out, but officials declared Maximum Security DQ’d. It’s a controversial finish, but Country House bettors ultimately got the payout.
- Follow TheLines on Twitter for complete Kentucky Derby coverage.
2. Rich Strike, 80-1 (2022)
At 8:00 a.m. on Friday, May 6, 2022, Rich Strike was not in the Kentucky Derby field. By 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 7, he had won it. A last-second scratch in the field vaulted the 21st horse – Rich Strike – into the field, who closed at 80-1 improbable odds. Not only did Rich Strike beat out one of the deepest Derby field in recent memory, jockey Sonny Leon expertly weaved him through the field, rather than taking an inside or outside lane. He won by a nose, finishing with one of the fastest final stretches ever.
1. Donerail, 91-1 (1913)
Despite a slew of longshots to win the Kentucky Derby in the 2000s, Donerail’s upset remains, and may remain, unbeaten. Coincidentally, Churchill Downs had just undergone massive renovation for the 1913 run and betting limits were lowered to $2. Donerail was housed three miles from the track, since this year’s field was “overcrowded.” Given this was in 1913, Donerail walked to the race track. He ended the day by setting a track record at the time, 2:04.8.
