Kentucky Derby top four finishers
This is a listing of first-place, second-place, third-place and fourth-place finishers, and the number of starters in the Kentucky Derby, a Grade I American Thoroughbred race run at 1+1⁄4 miles on dirt for three-year-olds. It is the first leg of the American Triple Crown, run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
| Year | Winner | Second | Third | Fourth | Starters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Mage | Two Phil's | Angel of Empire | Disarm | 18 |
| 2022 | Rich Strike | Epicenter | Zandon | Simplification | 20 |
| 2021 * | Mandaloun | Hot Rod Charlie | Essential Quality | O Besos | 19 |
| 2020 | Authentic | Tiz the Law | Mr. Big News | Honor A.P. | 15 |
| 2019 ** | Country House | Code of Honor | Tacitus | Improbable | 20 |
| 2018 | Justify † | Good Magic | Audible | Instilled Regard | 20 |
| 2017 | Always Dreaming | Lookin At Lee | Battle of Midway | Classic Empire | 20 |
| 2016 | Nyquist | Exaggerator | Gun Runner | Mohaymen | 20 |
| 2015 | American Pharoah † | Firing Line | Dortmund | Frosted | 18 |
| 2014 | California Chrome | Commanding Curve | Danza | Wicked Strong | 19 |
| 2013 | Orb | Golden Soul | Revolutionary | Normandy Invasion | 19 |
| 2012 | I'll Have Another | Bodemeister | Dullahan | Went The Day Well | 20 |
| 2011 | Animal Kingdom | Nehro | Mucho Macho Man | Shackleford | 19 |
| 2010 | Super Saver | Ice Box | Paddy O'Prado | Make Music for Me | 20 |
| 2009 | Mine That Bird | Pioneerof the Nile | Musket Man | Papa Clem | 19 |
| 2008 | Big Brown | Eight Belles | Denis of Cork | Tale of Ekati | 20 |
| 2007 | Street Sense | Hard Spun | Curlin | Imawildandcrazyguy | 20 |
| 2006 | Barbaro | Bluegrass Cat | Steppenwolfer | Jazil | 20 |
| 2005 | Giacomo | Closing Argument | Afleet Alex | Don't Get Mad | 20 |
| 2004 | Smarty Jones | Lion Heart | Imperialism | Limehouse | 18 |
| 2003 | Funny Cide | Empire Maker | Peace Rules | Atswhatimtalkinbout | 16 |
| 2002 | War Emblem | Proud Citizen | Perfect Drift | Medaglia d'Oro | 18 |
| 2001 | Monarchos | Invisible Ink | Congaree | Thunder Blitz | 17 |
| 2000 | Fusaichi Pegasus | Aptitude | Impeachment | More Than Ready | 19 |
| 1999 | Charismatic | Menifee | Cat Thief | Prime Timber | 19 |
| 1998 | Real Quiet | Victory Gallop | Indian Charlie | Halory Hunter | 15 |
| 1997 | Silver Charm | Captain Bodgit | Free House | Pulpit | 13 |
| 1996 | Grindstone | Cavonnier | Prince of Thieves | Halo Sunshine | 19 |
| 1995 | Thunder Gulch | Tejano Run | Timber Country | Jumron | 19 |
| 1994 | Go for Gin | Strodes Creek | Blumin Affair | Brocco | 14 |
| 1993 | Sea Hero | Prairie Bayou | Wild Gale | Personal Hope | 19 |
| 1992 | Lil E. Tee | Casual Lies | Dance Floor | Conte Di Savoya | 18 |
| 1991 | Strike the Gold | Best Pal | Mane Minister | Green Alligator | 16 |
| 1990 | Unbridled | Summer Squall | Pleasant Tap | Video Ranger | 15 |
| 1989 | Sunday Silence | Easy Goer | Awe Inspiring | Dansil | 15 |
| 1988 | Winning Colors | Forty Niner | Risen Star | Proper Reality | 17 |
| 1987 | Alysheba | Bet Twice | Avies Copy | Cryptoclearance | 17 |
| 1986 | Ferdinand | Bold Arrangement | Broad Brush | Rampage | 16 |
| 1985 | Spend A Buck | Stephan's Odyssey | Chief's Crown | Fast Account | 13 |
| 1984 *** | Swale | Coax Me Chad | At The Threshold | Fali Time | 20 |
| 1983 | Sunny's Halo | Desert Wine | Caveat | Slew o' Gold | 20 |
| 1982 | Gato Del Sol | Laser Light | Reinvested | Water Bank | 19 |
| 1981 | Pleasant Colony | Woodchopper | Partez | Classic Go Go | 21 |
| 1980 | Genuine Risk | Rumbo | Jaklin Klugman | Super Moment | 13 |
| 1979 | Spectacular Bid | General Assembly | Golden Act | King Celebrity | 10 |
| 1978 | Affirmed † | Alydar | Believe It | Darby Creek Road | 11 |
| 1977 | Seattle Slew † | Run Dusty Run | Sanhedrin | Get the Axe | 15 |
| 1976 | Bold Forbes | Honest Pleasure | Elocutionist | Amano | 9 |
| 1975 | Foolish Pleasure | Avatar | Diabolo | Master Derby | 15 |
| 1974 | Cannonade | Hudson County | Agitate | J. R.'s Pet | 23 |
| 1973 | Secretariat † | Sham | Our Native | Forego | 13 |
| 1972 | Riva Ridge | No Le Hace | Hold Your Peace | Introductivo | 16 |
| 1971 | Canonero II | Jim French | Bold Reason | Eastern Fleet | 20 |
| 1970 | Dust Commander | My Dad George | High Echelon | Naskra | 17 |
| 1969 | Majestic Prince | Arts and Letters | Dike | Traffic Mark | 8 |
| 1968 **** | Forward Pass | Francie's Hat | T.V. Commercial | Kentucky Sherry | 14 |
| 1967 | Proud Clarion | Barbs Delight | Damascus | Reason to Hail | 14 |
| 1966 | Kauai King | Advocator | Blue Skyer | Stupendous | 15 |
| 1965 | Lucky Debonair | Dapper Dan | Tom Rolfe | Native Charger | 11 |
| 1964 | Northern Dancer | Hill Rise | The Scoundrel | Roman Brother | 12 |
| 1963 | Chateaugay | Never Bend | Candy Spots | On My Honor | 9 |
| 1962 | Decidedly | Roman Line | Ridan | Sir Ribot | 15 |
| 1961 | Carry Back | Crozier | Bass Clef | Dr. Miller | 15 |
| 1960 | Venetian Way | Bally Ache | Victoria Park | Tompion | 13 |
| 1959 | Tomy Lee | Sword Dancer | First Landing | Royal Orbit | 17 |
| 1958 | Tim Tam | Lincoln Road | Noureddin | Jewel's Reward | 14 |
| 1957 | Iron Liege | Gallant Man | Round Table | Bold Ruler | 9 |
| 1956 | Needles | Fabius | Come On Red | Count Chic | 17 |
| 1955 | Swaps | Nashua | Summer Tan | Racing Fool | 10 |
| 1954 | Determine | Hasty Road | Hasseyampa | Goyamo | 17 |
| 1953 | Dark Star | Native Dancer | Invigorator | Royal Bay Gem | 11 |
| 1952 | Hill Gail | Sub Fleet | Blue Man | Master Fiddle | 16 |
| 1951 | Count Turf | Royal Mustang | Ruhe | Phil D | 20 |
| 1950 | Middleground | Hill Prince | Mr. Trouble | Sunglow | 14 |
| 1949 | Ponder | Capot | Palestinian | Old Rockport | 14 |
| 1948 | Citation † | Coaltown | My Request | Billings | 6 |
| 1947 | Jet Pilot | Phalanx | Faultless | On Trust | 13 |
| 1946 | Assault † | Spy Song | Hampden | Lord Boswell | 17 |
| 1945 | Hoop Jr. | Pot O'Luck | Darby Dieppe | Air Sailor | 16 |
| 1944 | Pensive | Broadcloth | Stir Up | Shut Up | 16 |
| 1943 | Count Fleet † | Blue Swords | Slide Rule | Amber Light | 10 |
| 1942 | Shut Out | Alsab | Valdina Orphan | With Regards | 15 |
| 1941 | Whirlaway † | Staretor | Market Wise | Porter's Cap | 11 |
| 1940 | Gallahadion | Bimelech | Dit | Mioland | 8 |
| 1939 | Johnstown | Challedon | Heather Broom | Viscounty | 8 |
| 1938 | Lawrin | Dauber | Can't Wait | Menow | 10 |
| 1937 | War Admiral † | Pompoon | Reaping Reward | Melodist | 20 |
| 1936 | Bold Venture | Brevity | Indian Broom | Coldstream | 14 |
| 1935 | Omaha † | Roman Soldier | Whiskolo | Nellie Flag | 18 |
| 1934 | Cavalcade | Discovery | Agrarian | Mata Hari | 13 |
| 1933 | Brokers Tip | Head Play | Charley O. | Ladysman | 13 |
| 1932 | Burgoo King | Economic | Stepenfetchit | Brandon Mint | 20 |
| 1931 | Twenty Grand | Sweep All | Mate | Spanish Play | 12 |
| 1930 | Gallant Fox † | Gallant Knight | Ned O. | Gone Away | 15 |
| 1929 | Clyde Van Dusen | Naishapur | Panchio | Blue Larkspur | 21 |
| 1928 | Reigh Count | Misstep | Toro | Jack Higgins | 22 |
| 1927 | Whiskery | Osmand | Jock | Hydromel | 15 |
| 1926 | Bubbling Over | Bagenbaggage | Rock Man | Rhinock | 13 |
| 1925 | Flying Ebony | Captain Hal | Son of John | Single Foot | 20 |
| 1924 | Black Gold | Chilhowee | Beau Butler | Altawood | 19 |
| 1923 | Zev | Martingale | Vigil | Nassau | 21 |
| 1922 | Morvich | Bet Mosie | John Finn | Deadlock | 10 |
| 1921 | Behave Yourself | Black Servant | Prudery | Tryster | 12 |
| 1920 | Paul Jones | Upset | On Watch | Damask | 17 |
| 1919 | Sir Barton † | Billy Kelly | Under Fire | Valcanite | 12 |
| 1918 | Exterminator | Escoba | Viva America | War Cloud | 8 |
| 1917 | Omar Khayyam | Ticket | Midway | Rickety | 15 |
| 1916 | George Smith | Star Hawk | Franklin | Dodge | 9 |
| 1915 | Regret | Pebbles I | Sharpshooter | Royal II | 16 |
| 1914 | Old Rosebud | Hodge | Bronzewing | John Gund | 7 |
| 1913 | Donerail | Ten Point | Gowell | Foundation | 8 |
| 1912 | Worth | Duval | Flamma | Free Lance | 7 |
| 1911 | Meridian | Governor Gray | Colston | Mud Sill | 7 |
| 1910 | Donau | Joe Morris | Fighting Bob | Boola Boola | 7 |
| 1909 | Wintergreen | Miami | Dr. Barkley | Sir Catesby | 10 |
| 1908 | Stone Street | Sir Cleges | Dunvegan | Synchronized | 8 |
| 1907 | Pink Star | Zal | Ovelando | Red Gauntlet | 6 |
| 1906 | Sir Huon | Lady Navarre | James Reddick | Hyperion II | 6 |
| 1905 | Agile | Ram's Horn | Layson | none | 3 |
| 1904 | Elwood | Ed Tierney | Brancas | Prince Silverwings | 5 |
| 1903 | Judge Himes | Early | Bourbon | Bad News | 6 |
| 1902 | Alan-a-Dale | Inventor | The Rival | Abe Frank | 4 |
| 1901 | His Eminence | Sannazarro | Driscoll | Amur | 5 |
| 1900 | Lieut. Gibson | Florizar | Thrive | Highland Lad | 7 |
| 1899 | Manuel | Corsini | Mazo | His Lordship | 5 |
| 1898 | Plaudit | Lieber Karl | Isabey | Han d'Or | 4 |
| 1897 | Typhoon II | Ornament | Dr. Catlett | Dr. Shepard | 6 |
| 1896 | Ben Brush | Ben Eder | Semper Ego | First Mate | 8 |
| 1895 | Halma | Basso | Laureate | Curator | 4 |
| 1894 | Chant | Pearl Song | Sigurd | Al Boyer | 5 |
| 1893 | Lookout | Plutus | Boundless | Buck McCann | 6 |
| 1892 | Azra | Huron | Phil Dwyer | none | 3 |
| 1891 | Kingman | Balgowan | High Tariff | Hart Wallace | 4 |
| 1890 | Riley | Bill Letcher | Robespierre | Palisade | 6 |
| 1889 | Spokane | Proctor Knott | Once Again | Hindoocraft | 8 |
| 1888 | Macbeth II | Gallifet | White | Alexandria | 7 |
| 1887 | Montrose | Jim Gore | Jacobin | Banburg | 7 |
| 1886 | Ben Ali | Blue Wing | Free Knight | Lijero | 10 |
| 1885 | Joe Cotton | Bersan | Ten Booker | Favor | 10 |
| 1884 | Buchanan | Loftin | Audrain | Bob Miles | 9 |
| 1883 | Leonatus | Drake Carter | Lord Raglan | Ascender | 7 |
| 1882 | Apollo | Runnymede | Bengal | Harry Gilmore | 14 |
| 1881 | Hindoo | Lelex | Alfambra | Sligo | 6 |
| 1880 | Fonso | Kimball | Bancroft | Boulevard | 5 |
| 1879 | Lord Murphy | Falsetto | Strathmore | Trinadad | 9 |
| 1878 | Day Star | Himyar | Leveler | Solicitor | 9 |
| 1877 | Baden-Baden | Leonard | King William | Vera Cruz | 11 |
| 1876 | Vagrant | Creedmore | Harry Hill | Parole | 11 |
| 1875 | Aristides | Volcano | Verdigris | Bob Wooley | 15 |
A † designates a Triple Crown Winner.
Note: D. Wayne Lukas swept the 1995 Triple Crown with two different horses.
* In 2021, Medina Spirit finished first, but was disqualified after a post-race urine sample revealed traces of a banned drug, betamethasone, in the horse. Mandaloun was placed first.
**In 2019, Maximum Security finished first, but was disqualified to 17th for fouling War of Will.
***In 1984, Gate Dancer finished fourth, but was disqualified for fouling Fali Time, who was then moved up from 5th to 4th place.
****In 1968, Dancer's Image finished first, but was disqualified after a post-race urine sample revealed traces of a banned drug in the horse. The drug in question - phenylbutazone - illegal at the time, is now legal for use on racehorses in many states, including Kentucky. Forward Pass was placed first.
.jpg.webp)