Kris Kin but he recovered quickly after treatment and was allowed to run. At Epsom, the colt was strongly supported, being backed down from 14-1 to 6-1 on the course, with the money reportedly coming from ordinary members of the public rather than professional gamblers. He started the race as fourth favourite behind three Irish-trained colts, Refuse To Bend, Alamshar and Brian Boru. Ridden for the first time by Kieren Fallon, Kris Kin seemed to be struggling in the early stages, and turned into the straight in eighth place. As at Chester, he began to make rapid progress after being switched to
Kentucky Derby first run at 1 1/2 miles (12 furlongs; 2.4 km) the same distance as the Epsom Derby. The distance was changed in 1896 to its current 1 1/4 miles (10 furlongs; 2 km). On May 17, 1875, in front of an estimated crowd of 10,000 people, a field of 15 three-year-old horses contested the first Derby. Under jockey Oliver Lewis, a colt named Aristides, who was trained by future Hall of Famer Ansel Williamson, won the inaugural Derby. Later that year, Lewis rode Aristides to a second-place finish in the Belmont Stakes. Although the first race meeting proved a success,