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2008 Kentucky Derby Results
Big Brown was the winner of the 134rd Kentucky Derby on May 3, 2008 in a time of 2:01.82. The three-year-old surged to victory in one of the most remarkable performances in Kentucky Derby history. Big Brown was crowned champion with filly Eight Belles , Denis of Cork, and Tale of Ekati rounding out the top four finishers.
Kentucky Derby Race Results
| Finish Position | Horse Name | Gate Position | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | Big Brown | 20 | K. Desormeaux | Richard Dutrow Jr. |
| Place | Eight Belles | 5 | G. Saez | Larry Jones |
| Show | Denis of Cork | 16 | C. Borel | David Carroll |
Kentucky Derby Payouts - Win / Place / Show
| Gate | Horse Name | Min | Win | Place | Show |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | Big Brown | $2 | 6.80 | 5.00 | 4.80 |
| 5 | Eight Belles | $2 | 10.60 | 6.40 | |
| 16 | Denis of Cork | $2 | 11.60 |
Kentucky Derby Payouts - Exotic Wagers
| Min | Bet | Results | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1 | Exacta | 20-5 | $70.80 |
| $1 | Trifecta | 20-5-16 | $1,722.80 |
| $1 | Superfecta | 20-5-16-2 | $29,368.90 |
| $1 | Daily Double | (5-20) | $12.40 |
| $1 | Pick-3 | (9-5-20) 3 Correct | $366.40 |
| $1 | Pick-4 | (7-9-2/5-20) 4 Correct | $7,377.80 |
Kentucky Derby Race Recap
The story of triumph and tragedy that unfolded in the 134th Kentucky Derby transcends the prestigious event itself.
Post time favorite Big Brown became only the seventh undefeated Derby winner and Eight Belles literally ran the race of her life to finish second before suffering a catastrophic injury in a race that tugged on every heartstring.
Big Brown, the least experienced horse in the race, performed like a seasoned veteran, breaking well from the outside post and stalking the leaders comfortably under a confident Kent Desormeaux. The long-striding colt seized control when the real racing began and accelerated through the long Churchill Downs stretch to an overwhelming victory. Desormeaux, whose career has experienced resurgence since a move from California to the east coast, was winning his third Derby and established himself with the best of his generation.
Third-place finisher Denis of Cork, who needed another horse's defection to make the 20 horse cut, redeemed his recent poor finish in the Illinois Derby with a credible performance to finish behind the ill-fated Eight Belles.
Tale of Ekati finished fourth completing a lucrative $58,737.80 superfecta. Recapturetheglory couldn't live up to his name, finishing fifth after racing forwardly throughout.
California-raced Colonel John failed to duplicate his synthetic track efforts over Churchill's natural dirt surface and never reached serious contention, ending up sixth after getting pinched back early.
Pyro, also seeking some redemption in the Derby after a poor showing in Keeneland's Blue Grass Stakes, was given a second chance by horseplayers but lost all hope when he was squeezed out of contention at the start.
Big Brown's dominance hints of a Triple Crown sweep, something racing fans haven't seen since Affirmed's memorable victories over Alydar in 1978. Unfortunately that intriguing possibility will have to share post-race storylines with the tragic loss of Eight Belles, a classy filly with unlimited potential.