Thoroughbred Racing Fan Association, Inc.
Thoroughbred Racing Fan Association, Inc.
BESIDES JUSTIFY WHO WAS THE ONLY OTHER HORSE TO WIN THE KENTUCKY DERBY WITHOUT RUNNING AS A 2-YEAR-OLD?
9/13/2019
On May 16, 1882, five years after the Reconstruction era, fourteen horses assembled in Louisville, Kentucky for the eighth running of the Kentucky Derby. The heavy favorite was Runnymeade sent off at 4-to-5. Grouped in a field of two horses (10-1) for wagering purposes was the horse, Appollo. He had an interesting start. His broodmare was bred twice. Once to Ashstead and once to Lever. Absent of DNA, his exact sire was never determined. Record books list Ashstead, while his appearance resembled Lever. Unlike the rest of the field this colt was a “newcomer” to the races. He never raced at two and the Derby was the fifth start of his career. Through his previous four starts he demonstrate his ability to run a distance of ground and the 1 ˝ mile Derby was the right distance for him. He broke near the back of the pack, but gradually moved up. In the stretch Runnymeade ran like the favorite he was, taking a healthy lead inside the 8th pole. Then Appollo commenced his run to catch the favorite and pass him at the finish line by ˝ length. This was the first time that a horse had won the Derby without running as a 2-year-old. That record stood for 126 years until Justify did it in 2018. Appollo ended his career with 55 starts, with 24 wins, with 15 places and 9 shows; a 87% in the money rate.