Global Courant 2023-05-07 17:10:11
Competitors are on display at the 149th Kentucky Derby “Run For The Roses” at Churchill Downs on May 6, 2023 in Louisville, Kentucky.
Stephen J. Cohen | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images
Mage won the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, to capture the first leg of American thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown.
Mage, who finished second in the Florida Derby last month, completed the 1-1/4 mile race in two minutes and 1.57 seconds.
The bay colt, who took off at odds of 15-1, accelerated on the final stretch to take the lead and cross the finish ahead of Two Phil’s, who took second, and Angel of Empire, one of the favourites, who finished in third place.
The win was the first Kentucky Derby win for Venezuelan trainer Gustavo Delgado and Venezuelan Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano, who won the Run for the Roses after 16 tries.
“I never give up, I always try my best, it took me a lot to get here, I finally get it,” said Castellano. “I’m blessed. Thanks for the chance to run this horse, it has a lot of heart.”
An emotional Delgado added, “When I arrived in the US my first dream was to go to Kentucky. I was sure the horse was very good.”
This year’s race was marked by the numbers horses scratchedincluding favorite Forte who became the fifth horse to be removed early on Saturday, leaving the field at 18 horses, the smallest field since 2020.
Saturday’s Derby was also the culmination of a week in which seven horses died, leading to the suspension of trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. Two horses, Chloe’s Dream and Freezing Point, had to be euthanized hours before Saturday’s race.
“It is with the utmost sadness that we report these tragic fatal injuries. Churchill Downs is unwavering in our commitment to the health and welfare of equine safety,” said Churchill Downs.
Animal rights organization PETA said that given the number of deaths, they had urged Churchill Downs to close the track to implement stricter safety protocols.
“Churchill Downs is a killing field,” said PETA senior vice president Kathy Guillermo added in a separate statement.
The Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown, will be run on May 20 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, followed by the Belmont Stakes three weeks later on June 10.
