| Kentucky Derby | |
| Grade I stakes race | |
 Day Star, 1878 Kentucky Derby winner. | |
| Location | Churchill Downs |
|---|---|
| Date | May 21, 1878 |
| Winning horse | Day Star |
| Jockey | Jimmy Carter |
| Trainer | Lee Paul |
| Owner | Thomas J. Nichols |
| Surface | Dirt |
The 1878 Kentucky Derby was the 4th running of the Kentucky Derby. The race took place on May 21, 1878. [1] Winning horse Day Star set a new Kentucky Derby record with a winning time of 2:37.25. [2] He also led the pack from start to finish, a first for the Derby. However, the most notable horse was the heavily-favored Himyar. He had a bad start at the gate and the rest of the pack was ten lengths ahead before he got started. However, he passed all of them except Day Star, who he trailed by only two lengths at the finish line. [3] This was the year that pari-mutuel betting was introduced to the Derby from France. [4]
