The world's greatest horse race comes to life in the beautiful pages of this definitive history of the Kentucky Derby.
 Take a front row seat at "the Run for the Roses" with the first comprehensive history of the Kentucky Derby. The Derby is one of America's yearly iconic events that is watched by a huge cross section of the County––from the extravagant hat wearers in "Millionaire's Row" to the rowdy campers in the infield to the millions who watch from their living rooms. 
 This stunning, full–color book is the official reference for the Derby, complete with a comprehensive history of the race, essential facts and statistics, and the gripping stories of dreams won and lost in every Derby since 1875. Relive each exhilarating two minute battle to the finish line as the moments and people who have made the race what it is today are revealed, along with fascinating trivia that every horse lover should know, such as Triple Crown nominees, famous disqualifications, starting post positions of winners, birthplaces, bloodlines, and more.

Two Minutes to Glory: The Official History of the Kentucky Derby

History

PHILBIN, Tom

Churchill Downs, Inc.

Brodowsky, Pamela K.

Americas

Harper

Take a front row seat at "the Run for the Roses" with the first comprehensive history of the Kentucky Derby.
From mint juleps to the garland of roses, to weeping men and women in the Winner's Circle, Two Minutes to Glory is the official story of the world's greatest horse race—the Kentucky Derby.
This book is chockablock with facts, figures, and statistics on all 132 years of this incredible race. It also contains a capsuled yet detailed history of the race and of Churchill Downs, focusing on all the larger-than-life personalities from Col. M. Lewis Clark, who founded the Derby in 1875, to Col. Matt Winn, who saved it when it was in the stretch, out of breath, about to break down, and in need of a miracle—and beyond that to the present day.
But perhaps the best parts of this lavishly illustrated book are the stories of the races, from 1875 to 2006. It is not a mere recitation of what happened—though there is that—but the human (and horse) stories behind the races, like that of Conn McCreary, who, astride Count Turf in 1951, looked down the track before the gates opened and knew that he was riding not just to win the Derby, but for his life. Or the 2005 race where a seventy-nine-year-old woman named Alice Chandler burst into tears as she watched her 50-1 shot Giacomo roar down the stretch to win—but also cried because she knew that when just a foal, he had previously beaten an opponent called death. This book looks at all the people and horses who made the Derby what it is over the years: trainer Ben A. Jones with six Derby winners; Eddie "Banana Nose" Arcaro and Secretariat, who broke the two-minute barrier and ran the fastest Derby in history; the great owners, the grooms—and all the rest. It is history, yes, but history with heart and soul.
As horsemen say, have a good ride.

It Books

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Churchill Downs, Inc.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Churchill Downs, Inc.