| Kentucky Derby | |
| Grade I stakes race | |
 Grandstands of the Louisville Jockey Club grounds, 1875 | |
| Location | Churchill Downs |
|---|---|
| Date | May 17, 1875 |
| Winning horse | Aristides |
| Jockey | Oliver Lewis |
| Trainer | Ansel Williamson |
| Owner | H. Price McGrath |
| Surface | Dirt |
The 1875 Kentucky Derby was the first running of that annually recurring race, taking place on May 17, 1875. [1] [2] [3] [4] It took place on May 17, 1875 on the Louisville Jockey Club Grounds as a 1.5-mile run. The track was not called Churchill Downs until 1884 and the traditional distance of 1.25 miles was not established until 1896. [5] That first Derby was a 1.5-mile race, and the traditional distance of 1.25 miles was not established until the 1896 Derby. [6] Thirteen of the fifteen jockeys in the race, including winner Oliver Lewis, were African-American. [7] [8] Attendance was estimated at 10,000. [3]
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The winner was Aristides, by two lengths. Ansel Williamson trained him and H. Price McGrath. Aristides' half-brother and stablemate Chesapeake also ran in the race. [9] Both Aristides' jockey and trainer were black. Aristides's time of 2 minutes and 37.75 seconds was at the time a world record for the distance.
