2000 Kentucky Derby

The 2000 Kentucky Derby was the 126th running of the Kentucky Derby. The race took place on May 6, 2000.^[1] There were 153,204 in attendance. The winning horse Fusaichi Pegasus, ridden by jockey Kent Desormeaux, was the first betting favorite to win the Derby since Spectacular Bid in 1979.^[2] This was the last Kentucky Derby race to be broadcast on ABC, ending a 25-year association with the network; NBC took over the broadcast rights the next year and has broadcast the race since then.

The purse was split between the top 5 finishers. The first-place winner received around $1.86 million which is more than 60% of the total purse.^[3]

Fusaichi Pegasus was known as “the most expensive racehorse of all time.”^[4] Fusaichi Pegasus was born to mare Angel Fever, who was purchased from Bob McNair and Arthur Hancock’s Stone Farm for $525,000. Fusaichi Pegasus was sold at the 1998 Keeneland July yearling sale to a Japanese businessman, Fusao Sekiguchi, who purchased the yearling at $4 million--the most expensive sale in 13 years. Fusaichi Pegasus was named after the last four letters, “ichi” which means “best” and “Pegasus'', which refers to the winged mythical creature.^[5] After Fusaichi Pegasus' winning debut at the Kentucky Derby on May 6, 2000, Fusaichi was sold by Sekiguchi for a record of $70 million. This record-selling horse went to Coolmore Stud in Ireland, and he's held the title of "the most expensive horse in history" all the way through to his retirement of stud duties at Coolmore Stud in Kentucky during 2020.^[4]

The 126th Kentucky Derby Payout Schedule

• $2 Exacta: (12-5) Paid $66.00
• $2 Trifecta: (12-5-1c) Paid $435.00
• $1 Superfecta: (12-5-1c-9) Paid $1,635.40^[7]

Fusaichi Pegasus broke to the inside left of the field at the start of the race, saving ground along the backstretch. Trippi takes the early lead, with Hal's Hope challenging early on. Aptitude won along the backstretch, easing outside Fusaichi Pegasus nearing the final sixteenth. When rounding the clubhouse turn, Hal's Hope is in the front, following Trippi on the outside in second place. At the 1/2 mile mark, Fusaichi Pegasus finds room in the back towards the inside, having a lot of ground to make up, being eight links from the front. On the far turn, Hal's Hope is continuing to lead the way on the inside. By the 3/4 mile mark, Hal's Hope and Trippi are neck and neck of one another. We then see in the middle of the track that Captain Steve and Wheelaway have made advancing movements, and can see Fusaichi Pegasus in fifth place. Wheelaway takes lead by a head, with More Than Ready following in line. Fusaichi Pegasus comes flying on the outside, passing and taking the lead. Fusaichi Pegasus wins the Kentucky Derby by a leg and a half, with Aptitude following just behind.^[8]

• 2000 Preakness Stakes
• 2000 Belmont Stakes