13 Triple Crown Winners Ride Again In 2020 Virtual Kentucky Derby

No bookmaker would have taken you seriously if earlier this year you had placed the 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat as your odds on favourite to claim the annual Kentucky Derby 2020 title.

However, that is exactly the prediction made by veteran oddsmaker Mike Battaglia when reviewed the field for this Saturday’s ground-breaking ‘Kentucky Derby: Triple Crown Showdown’ event.

 Triple Crown Lockdown Race Day

With the impact that the lockdown has had on most sports industries, many have turned to digital technology in order to keep fan interest alive.

Inspired Entertainment is pushing the boundaries of virtual horse racing by creating an animated virtual Kentucky Derby Triple Crown event featuring thirteen legendary horses, each who was a past winner of the event.

Here is the starting line-up from the rail out including winning year, jockey and trainer:

• #1 Affirmed (1978, Steve Cauthen, Laz Barrera, 5-1)
• #2 Assault (1946, Warren Mehrtens, Max Hirsch, 20-1)
• #3 Secretariat (1973, Ron Turcotte, Lucien Lauren, 7-2)
• #4 Sir Barton (1919, Johnny Loftus, Guy Bedwell, 20-1)
• #5 Seattle Slew (1977, Jean Cruguet, Billy Turner Jr., 5-1)
• #6 American Pharoah (2015, Victor Espinoza, Bob Baffert, 6-1)
• #7 Gallant Fox (1930, Earl Sande, “Sunny” Jim Fitzsimmons, 20-1)
• #8 Citation (1948, Eddie Arcaro, Ben Jones, 4-1)
• #9 War Admiral (1937, Charlie Kurtsinger, George Conway, 8-1)
• #10 Whirlaway (1941, Eddie Arcaro, Ben Jones, 4-1)
• #11 Count Fleet (1943, Johnny Longden, Don Cameron, 6-1)
• #12 Justify (2018, Mike Smith, Bob Baffert, 15-1)
• #13 Omaha (1935, Willie “Smokey” Saunders, “Sunny” Jim Fitzsimmons, 20-1)

The line-up was made by Battaglia who has made every morning line at Churchill Downs since 1974.

 Join The Kentucky Derby at Home Party

While the official 146th Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve will only take place on September 5th this year Churchill Downs will continue to celebrate the event on May 2nd with a special virtual ‘Kentucky Derby at Home’ event.

Kevin Flanery, President of Churchill Downs Racetrack said:

“For many fans around the country, the first Saturday in May has become a part of their family’s yearly traditions. We will celebrate the annual excitement of our traditional date with our fans and community by offering ways for us to join together for a great cause. Our fans will be captivated by the realistic view of the virtual race and we can debate, as we do each year, our favourite to win.”

Fans of the traditional event can head over the official Kentucky Derby site and make their prediction of who will win take the crown on the day. The event will be aired on the NBC television network from 3-6pm ET where the new virtual champion will be crowned.

 Virtual Horses Doing Real Good

Churchill Downs and its associated partners will not be offering any bets of the event. Fans who choose to participate in the event have the option to make a charitable donation to a managed relief fund. Churchill Downs has pledged to match all donations up to a maximum of $1,000,000 with the majority of the money going to the Team Kentucky Fund and Direct Relief and a small percentage to the R.E.I.N. Fund (Relief for Equine Industry Needs).

Between these two organisations, the funds raised will go towards ensuring care and support for both the peoples in the industry whose livelihoods have been affected and the horses themselves.