1968 Kentucky Derby

The 1968 Kentucky Derby was the 94th running of the Kentucky Derby. The race took place on May 4, 1968.[1]

94th Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
Grade I stakes race
LocationChurchill Downs
DateMay 4, 1968
Winning horseForward Pass[note 1]
JockeyIsmael Valenzuela
TrainerHenry Forrest
OwnerCalumet Farm
SurfaceDirt

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
Finished Post Horse Jockey Trainer Owner Time / behind
1st 10 Forward Pass[note 1] Ismael Valenzuela Henry Forrest Calumet Farm 2:02 1/5
2nd 7 Francie's Hat Earlie Fires James P. Conway Saddle Rock Farm
3rd 2 T V Commercial Howard Grant Anthony L. Basile Bwamazon Farm
4th 12 Kentucky Sherry Jimmy Combest Alcee J. Richard Dorothy D. Brown
5th 3 Jig Time Ray Broussard MacKenzie Miller Cragwood Stables
6th 4 Don B. Donald R. Pierce Lester Holt Don B. Wood
7th 13 Trouble Brewing Buck Thornburg William Sterling Coventry Rock Farm
8th 8 Proper Proof Johnny Sellers J. Lee Mosbacher Mrs. Montgomery R. Fisher
9th 14 Te Vega Mike Manganello George C. Berthold Brunswick Farm (Frank C. Sullivan)
10th 6 Captain's Gig Manuel Ycaza William Ward Stephens Cain Hoy Stable
11th 1 Iron Ruler Braulio Baeza Edward J. Yowell October House Farm
12th 5 Verbatim Angel Cordero Jr. Jerry C. Meyer Elmendorf Farm
13th 11 Gleaming Sword Eddie Belmonte Robert L. Wheeler Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney
14th 9 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. 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. "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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