135th Kentucky Derby runs tomorrow, May 2nd

The Kentucky Derby is easily Thoroughbred racing’s most public event. Over 100,000 spectators attend the Derby at Churchill downs while millions more watch on television. Last year, the second place horse, Eight Belles, broke down and was euthanized on the track immediately following the race. This occurred only a few months after the 2006 Derby winner Barbaro was euthanized after a long struggle with injuries sustained during the Preakness Stakes.

New public attention on Thoroughbred racing has caused the industry to take action to consider the health and welfare of racehorses. The National Thoroughbred Racing Association created a Safety and Integrity Alliance in 2008 meant to help oversee safety and welfare issues. Additionally, the American Association of Equine Practitioners created guidelines for the care of racehorses in early 2009.

The industry is beginning to take steps toward accountability for the horses that are a part of it, but reform is often slow in the tradition-drenched horse racing world.

There are 20 contenders racing for the roses in this year’s Derby. For more information visit kentuckyderby.com.

Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Owner
West Side Bernie	Kelly Breen	Stewart Elliott	George & Lori Hall
Musket Man	Derek Ryan	Eibar Coa	Eric Fein & Vic Carlson
Mr. Hot Stuff	Eoin Harty	John Velazquez	WinStar Farm LLC
Advice	Todd Pletcher	Rene Douglas	WinStar Farm LLC
Hold Me Back	Bill Mott	Kent Desormeaux	WinStar Farm LLC
Friesan Fire	Larry Jones	Gabriel Saez	Fox Hill Farms and Vinery Stables
Papa Clem	Gary Stute	Rafael Bejarano	Bo Hirsch
Mine That Bird	Bennie Woolley Jr.	Calvin Borel	Double Eagle Ranch & Bueno Suerte Equine
Join in the Dance	Todd Pletcher	Chris DeCarlo	Jake Ballis, Rashard Lewis, Reagan Swinbank, Reed Ballis & William Swinbank
Regal Ransom	Saeed bin Suroor	Alan Garcia	Godolphin
Chocolate Candy	Jerry Hollendorfer	Mike Smith	Sid & Jenny Craig Trust
General Quarters	Thomas R. McCarthy	Julien Leparoux	Thomas R. McCarthy
I Want Revenge	Jeff Mullins	Joe Talamo	David J. Lanzman & IEAH Stables, Puglisi Racing, Charles Winner
Atomic Rain	Kelly Breen	Joe Bravo	George & Lori Hall
Dunkirk	Todd Pletcher	Edgar Prado	Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith
Pioneerof the Nile	Bob Baffert	Garrett Gomez	Zayat Stables, LLC
Summer Bird	Tim Ice	Chris Rosier	Drs. Kalarikkal K. & Vilasini D. Jayaraman
Nowhere to Hide	Nick Zito	Shaun Bridgmohan	My Meadowview Farm
Desert Party	Saeed bin Suroor	Ramon Dominguez	Godolphin
Flying Private	D. Wayne Lukas	Robby Albarado	Grand Slam Farm