1968 Kentucky Derby

Last updated
94th Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
Grade I stakes race
Location Churchill Downs
DateMay 4, 1968
Winning horse Forward Pass [note 1]
Jockey Ismael Valenzuela
Trainer Henry Forrest
Owner Calumet Farm
SurfaceDirt
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The 1968 Kentucky Derby was the 94th running of the Kentucky Derby. The race took place on May 4, 1968. [1]

Contents

Controversy over the disqualification of the winning horse

The race was the first Kentucky Derby in which the winning horse was subsequently disqualified. Dancer's Image won the race, but was disqualified to last after traces of phenylbutazone were discovered in the mandatory post-race urinalysis. [2] Second-place finisher Forward Pass was declared the winner. The controversy filled the sporting news of media outlets in North America and was a cover story for Sports Illustrated , [3] which referred to it as "the year's major sports story." [4]

Full results

FinishedPostHorseJockeyTrainerOwnerTime / behind
1st10 Forward Pass [note 1] Ismael Valenzuela Henry Forrest Calumet Farm 2:02 1/5
2nd7Francie's Hat Earlie Fires James P. Conway Saddle Rock Farm
3rd2T V Commercial Howard Grant Anthony L. Basile Bwamazon Farm
4th12Kentucky Sherry Jimmy Combest Alcee J. RichardDorothy D. Brown
5th3Jig Time Ray Broussard MacKenzie Miller Cragwood Stables
6th4Don B. Donald Pierce Lester HoltDon B. Wood
7th13Trouble BrewingBuck ThornburgWilliam SterlingCoventry Rock Farm
8th8Proper Proof Johnny Sellers J. Lee MosbacherMrs. Montgomery R. Fisher
9th14Te Vega Mike Manganello George C. BertholdBrunswick Farm (Frank C. Sullivan)
10th6Captain's Gig Manuel Ycaza William Ward Stephens Cain Hoy Stable
11th1Iron Ruler Braulio Baeza Edward J. Yowell October House Farm
12th5Verbatim Angel Cordero Jr. Jerry C. Meyer Elmendorf Farm
13th11Gleaming Sword Eddie Belmonte Robert L. Wheeler Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney
14th9 Dancer's Image [note 1] Bobby Ussery Lou Cavalaris Jr. Peter D. Fuller

Race Description

Starting off out of the gates Dancers Image had a bad break out of the gate, leading the horse to fall behind very quickly being in last. Then Dancers Image started to make a comeback and getting all the way back to the front and by the 8th pole passed the favorite, Forward Pass, Leading Dancers image to victory. This was the 5th time a Horse had gone from last to first. This was short-lived as Dancers Image failed its urinalysis, [2] this put Dancers Image back into last place. Runner-up Forward Pass was deemed the winner. [5]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Dancer's Image was initially declared the winner of the race with Forward Pass coming in second but was later disqualified due to prohibited drugs being found in his system post-race making Forward Pass the winner.

References

  1. ↑ "1968". Kentuckyderby.com. Retrieved 2016-06-05.
  2. 1 2 "THE 1968 KENTUCKY DERBY : THE VICTORY THAT WASN'T : Dancer's Image, Who Finished First, Was Disqualified After Positive Test for Illegal Medication". Los Angeles Times . 1988-05-01. Retrieved 2016-06-05.
  3. ↑ "May 20, 1968 Issue". Sports Illustrated . Retrieved May 5, 2019.
  4. ↑ Tower, Whitney (May 20, 1968). "It Was a Bitter Pill". Sports Illustrated . Retrieved May 5, 2019– via si.com/vault.
  5. ↑ Maese, Rick (May 3, 2018). "Dancer's Image, drugs and MLK: The enduring mystery of the 1968 Kentucky Derby". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 15, 2021.

Further reading

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