Kentucky Derby Kentucky Derby The Kentucky Derby , is a horse race that is held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds at a distance of at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry and fillies . The race is often called "The Run for the Roses" for the blanket of roses draped over the winner. It is also known in the United States as "The Most Exciting Two Minutes In Sports" or "The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports" in reference
Commonwealth Derby Commonwealth Derby The "Virginia Derby" is an American Thoroughbred horse race returning to Colonial Downs in New Kent County, Virginia. The race was previously known as the Commonwealth Derby when it was held at Laurel Park race track in Laurel, Maryland. A Grade II event, it is raced on turf at a distance of 9 Furlongs ( miles) and is open to three-year-old horses. From 1998 to 2013, the race was run at a distance of miles. No race was held in 2014. Since 2015, the distance has been miles. The Virginia Racing Commission announced the race will not be