As much as Americans like to claim that the Kentucky Derby is all about their nation, there have been examples throughout history that those from outside of the U.S. can steal the spotlight in the opening leg of the Triple Crown series.
The Kentucky Derby is the standout event on the racing schedule in North America, with huge numbers tuning in to witness history being made. You can find more information about it here: twinspires.com/kentuckyderby/
But, there have been a number of Canadian victories in the race that have been celebrated fiercely back home across the border. But, who are some of the Canadians with deep roots in the race at Churchill Downs?
Northern Dancer
Canadian superstar Northern Dancer would send shockwaves across the U.S. in the 1960s, as he would become the first Canadian-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby.
His success on track started on home soil in 1963, winning the Summer Stakes and Coronation Futurity, before being sent Stateside in 1964 to land the Blue Grass Stakes and Florida Derby.
Northern Dancer continued his dominance in the 1964 Derby, winning in a record time, before later landing the Preakness Stakes. However, he would come up short in his Triple Crown bid when finishing third in the Belmont Stakes.
Still, Northern Dancer returned home after his trip in the U.S. to a heroes welcome before being retired to stud after a win in the Queen’s Plate. Following his retirement, he would continue to produce champions at stud. Most notably, Nijinsky, who would land the English Triple Crown in 1970.
Sunny’s Halo
Only one other Canadian-bred horse has won the Kentucky Derby, and it would arrive nearly 20 years after the dominance enjoyed by Northern Dancer.
Sunny’s Halo was a runner from the David Cross Jr yard, and he would become a leading Derby chance following a win in the Arkansas Derby. Such was his ability, Sunny’s Halo would land the Derby in one of the hottest renewals, beating future Hall of Famer Slew o’ Gold.
As well as becoming the second Canadian winner, it also marked the first time in history that the winner of the Arkansas Derby was able to follow up at Churchill Downs. However, Sunny’s Halo would later finish sixth in the Preakness Stakes, but he returned to action when winning the Super Derby at Louisiana Downs in a track record time.
His offspring also achieved success on track, with Race The Wild Wind winning the Santa Maria Handicap, and Irgun landing the Wood Memorial Stakes.
Ron Turcotte
There are potentially few more famous Canadian figures in horse racing history than Ron Turcotte. The legendary jockey formed a historic partnership alongside Secretariat during his career, winning the Triple Crown in 1973, setting records in each race.
The win saw him become the first Triple Crown victor in 25 years, and the photo of Turcotte looking behind him when 31 lengths clear in the Belmont Stakes remains one of the most iconic moments ever caught in racing.
Turcotte has previously landed success in the Derby with Riva Ridge in 1972, meaning his success aboard Secretariat saw him become the first jockey since Jimmy Winkfield in 1902 to win successive editions of the race at Churchill Downs.
His prior wins aboard Riva Ridge in the Derby and Belmont Stakes also saw him become the first jockey in history to have won five from six Triple Crown races after completing the memorable feat on Secretariat.
Turcotte was honoured in 1979 when inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, while a statue of the jockey aboard Secretariat stands in his home town of Grand Falls, New Brunswick.
Frederick Herbert
While Turcotte is the most famous Canadian-born Derby winner, the first Canadian to win the opening leg of the Triple Crown was Frederick Herbert.
The jockey rode from an incredible 50 years, with his biggest success coming aboard Donau in the 1910 Kentucky Derby. Despite winning the race, his ability to compete in high stakes races in the U.S. were limited due to New York laws. Therefore, Herbert instead opted to race outside of North America, as he settled in England.
He would regularly win at the highest level during his time in England, landing the May Maiden Plate, the Wokingham Stakes and Norfolk Stakes. Two of his biggest victories in terms of prize money would come in 1913 and 1915 when winning the Cesarewitch Handicap and Great Metropolitan Handicap, respectively.
Aside from competing in the United Kingdom, Herbert would also finish second in the Moscow Derby, and would also compete in nations such as Australia, New Zealand, India, and South Africa. Despite travelling being a common part of a jockeys life in this modern day, it could be argued that Herbert was one of the first jet-setting stars to set the trend for racing in this modern day.
