Two Minute Derby Very Difficult
Only Two Thoroughbreds Have Broken the Barrier
The best two minutes in sports, the Sport of Kings' Kentucky Derby, has been run in less than two minutes just twice in 133 tries, by Secretariat (record) and Monarchos.
The Kentucky Derby, some say, is the most exciting two minutes in all of sports. Could be, since its packed with at least 120 plus seconds of tension as far as the outcome is concerned. Try counting off 120 seconds out loud. Long time, isn't it?
In 1973, Secretariat gave the Derby day crowd less than two minutes of his time. Big Red was the first to run the 1-1/4 miles of the Derby in under two minutes. His race record of 1:59-2/5 still stands. There has been but one competitor who has challenged Big Red's Derby record, winning in under two minutes, but not equaling Secretariat's time. He was Monarchos of 2001, who won the fourth biggest Derby payout up to his time, $812,000. His time was 1:59.97 (1:59-4/5).
Here are the other close-behind-the-two-minute-barrier competitors:
Northern Dancer (1964), 2:00 flat-----Spend A Buck (1985), 2:00-1/5-----Decidedly (1962), 2:00-2/5-----Proud Clarion (1967), 2:00-3/5-----Grindstone (1996, 2:01-----Fusaichi Pegasus (2000), 2:01-----Lucky Debonair (1965), 2:01-1/5-----Affirmed (1978), 2:01-1/5-----Thunder Gulch (1995), 2:01-1/5-----War Emblem (2002), 2:01.13(1/5)-----Funny Cide (2003), 2:01.19(1/5)-----Whirlaway (1941), 2:01-2/5-----Middleground (1950), 2:01-3/5-----Hill Gail (1952), 2:01-3/5-----Bold Forbes (1976), 2:01-3/5-----Barbaro (2006), 2:01.36(3/5)-----Chateaugay (1963), 2:01-4/5-----Twenty Grand (1931), 2:01-4/5-----Majestic Prince (1969), 2:01-4/5-----Riva Ridge (1972), 2:01-4/5-----Swaps (1955), 2:01-4/5
One fifth of a second equals one eighth of a mile covered. One eighth equals one furlong. One mile is eight furlongs. The Kentucky Derby is 10 furlongs. The above fastest Derbies ever run shows you what a whopping accomplishment Secretariat gave us in 1973.
Secretariat's Belmont time of 2:24 flat for 1-1/2 miles (12 furlongs) also still stands. It's a world record. None like Big Red.
