Kentucky Derby Roses and Winning Stables
Garland of Roses Begun In 1932 For Derby Victor Burgoo King
Apr 29, 2009
Leading the Kentucky Derby winning stables all time is Calumet Farm. Its eight Derby champions dominated the race in the forties and fifties. The stable added its last winner in 1968 when a disqualifying judgment went against victor Dancer's Image.
Second place finisher Forward Pass was declared the winner of the 1968 Kentucky Derby after Dancer's Image tested positive in post-race checks for illegal substances. It was the only incident of disqualification of the winner in the 134-year history of the event.
A Garland of Roses for Derby Winner
Colonel M. Lewis Clark, the Kentucky Derby's founder and organizer extraordinaire, declared the rose the official flower for the race in 1884. Its use became a regular part of the day's pageantry.
A racing columnist, Bill Corum, first referred to the Derby as the Run for the Roses in 1925, when he observed that the flower's part in the event had reached ceremonial status. Corum was president of Churchill Downs from 1950 to 1958.
Ben Brush, a bay son of Bramble, was the first horse to receive a collar of roses across his withers -- albeit pink and white -- after his victory in 1896.
The Churchill Downs organization commissioned Mrs. Kingsley Walker in 1931 to develop a garland of roses to be annually presented to the race winner. Mrs. Kingsley created the garland from 500 dark roses embedded in greenery attached to a cloth blanket. Burgoo King was wreathed with the first garland in 1932.
Mrs. Kingsley was active in the design of the garland until 1974, when her daughter, Betty Korfhage, took over the duties. The Kroger Company grocery chain out of Cincinnati, Ohio later claimed the honors, beginning in 1987 to supply the garland for Derby day.
Leading Derby Owners
- No. 1 --- Calumet Farm ----- 8 winners: Whirlaway, 1941; Pensive, 1944; Citation, 1948; Ponder, 1949; Hill Gail, 1952; Iron Liege, 1957; Tim Tam, 1958; Forward Pass, 1968
- No. 2 --- Colonel E.R. Bradley ----- 4 winners: Behave Yourself, 1921; Bubbling Over, 1926; Burgoo King, 1932; Brokers Tip, 1933
- No. 3 --- Belair Stud ----- 3 winners: Gallant Fox, 1930; Omaha, 1935; Johnstown, 1939
Nine stables have two Derby winners:
- Bashford Manor Stable ----- Azra, 1892; Sir Huon, 1906
- Harry Payne Whitney: Regret, 1915; Whiskery, 1927
- Mrs. John D. Hertz: Reigh Count, 1928; Count Fleet, 1943
- Greentree Stable: Twenty Grand, 1931; Shut Out, 1942
- King Ranch: Assault, 1946; Middleground, 1950
- Darby Dan Farm: Chateaugay, 1963; Proud Clarion, 1967
- Meadow Stable: Riva Ridge, 1972; Secretariat, 1973
- William Condren and Joseph Cornacchia: Strike the Gold, 1991; Go for Gin, 1994
- Robert and Beverly Lewis: Silver Charm, 1997; Charismatic, 1999
The 2009 Kentucky Derby Run for the Roses is scheduled for May 2.
