• Loading stock data...
Saturday, September 6, 2025
Fox Analyst and Media Entrepreneur Greg Olsen to Speak at Tuned In Get your ticket now!

The 25 Fastest Finishes in Kentucky Derby History

  • Secretariat holds the fastest time in Kentucky Derby history.
  • Only 2 horses have recorded times under 2 minutes.
Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

Although horse racing isn’t the most highly viewed sport in the U.S. throughout the year, the Kentucky Derby—its pinnacle event—annually draws America’s attention to Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., on the first Saturday of May.

With a completely new field each year, the Kentucky Derby winner can quickly become a household name and just as quickly fade from the public eye. Some of the most memorable runs, however, can vault a horse into iconic status for decades.

The legendary horse Secretariat boasts the fastest finish in the history of the Kentucky Derby, with a time of 1:57.40. In 2010, the story behind the horse was adopted into a hit Disney film.

Trailing behind Secretariat is Monarchos with a time of 1:59.97. Secretariat and Monarchos are the only two horses to record times of under two minutes at the Kentucky Derby. Coming in third with a time just three-hundredths of a second behind Monarchos is Norther Dancer in a time of two minutes flat.

Rounding out the top five are Spend A Buck and Decidedly with times of 2:00.20 and 2:00.40, respectively. Since 2010, only four horses have made their way into the ranks of the top 25 times of the race’s history.

Here is the full list of the 25 fastest finishes in Kentucky Derby History. The list was compiled in April 2025 using data from Twinspires.

RankHorseTimeYear
1Secretariat1:59.401973
2Monarchos1:59.972001
3Northern Dancer2:00.001964
4Spend A Buck2:00.201985
5Decidedly2:00.401962
6Proud Clarion2:00.601967
7Authentic2:00.612020
T-8Fusaichi Pegasus2:01.002000
T-8Grindstone2:01.001996
10Mandaloun2:01.102021
11War Emblem2:01.132002
12Funny Cide2:01.192003
T-13Thunder Gulch2:01.201995
T-13Affirmed2:01.201978
T-13Lucky Debonair2:01.201965
16Nyquist2:01.312016
17Barbaro2:01.362006
18Whirlaway2:01.401941
19Mage2:01.572023
T-20Bold Forbes2:01.601976
T-20Hill Gail2:01.601952
T-20Middleground2:01.601950
T-23Riva Ridge2:01.801972
T-23Majestic Prince2:01.801969
T-23Chateaugay2:01.801963
T-23Swaps2:01.801955
T-23Twenty Grand2:01.801931

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Who Are the Richest MLB Owners?

MLB owners are among the wealthiest people in the U.S.
Aug 27, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) flies out to left field in the eighth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium.

The Biggest Deferred Contracts In Each Major Sports League

Shohei Ohtani will make $680 million after his contract ends.
Aug 25, 2025; Flushing, NY, USA; Venus Williams (USA)after losing to Karolina Muchova (Czech)(not pictured) on day two of the 2025 U.S. Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

Which Tennis Players Have Made the Most US Open Appearances?

Venus Williams has the most US Open appearances of any tennis player.

Every Regular-Season NFL Exclusive-Streaming Game in 2025

Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, ESPN+, Peacock, and YouTube have exclusive games

Featured Today

Tennis

The US Open Is Groaning Under the Weight of Its Own Success

New York’s tennis major is more popular than ever.
Dec 21, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) gets ready to take the field prior to a game against the Houston Texans at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
September 5, 2025

How Brazil Game Fits Into NFL’s Plans for World Domination

Friday night’s Chiefs-Chargers game in São Paulo is big by design.
Oct 13, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) and wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) celebrate their touchdown pass during the second quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Lincoln Financial Field.
September 2, 2025

TV Ratings Just Changed Again. The NFL Will Be the Big Winner

Nielsen’s new viewership system will have a big impact on sports.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) celebrates with offensive lineman Donovan Jackson (74) after a touchdown catch against Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first quarter during the College Football Playoff National Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on January 20, 2025.
August 30, 2025

The Most Expensive Roster Year in College Football History

The House settlement created revenue-sharing—and a big NIL loophole.

NFL’s Expected Early-Season Ratings Boost Gets Off to a Stormy Start

The kickoff game somewhat resembles the delays last year in an SNF game.
Eagles
September 4, 2025

The Death of Streameast Has Been Greatly Exaggerated

Mirror sites began popping up Thursday, the day the NFL season begins.
September 4, 2025

TNT Sports to Try Its Own Streaming App After WBD Split

TNT Sports will have its own app as a corporate split approaches.
Sponsored

Trailblazer Cal Calamia Is Racing for ‘Advocacy, Storytelling, and Performance’

The marathoner wants excellence—not just inclusion—to be the goal for non-binary athletes.
September 4, 2025

3 ABC Games Top 10M Viewers Each in ESPN’s Record CFB Weekend

Miami–Notre Dame led the way with 10.8 million viewers.
September 4, 2025

Bill Belichick’s UNC Debut Draws More Than 6M Viewers on ESPN

TCU-UNC was the fifth-most-watched college football game of Week 1.
September 3, 2025

Ohio State–Texas Showdown Was Most-Watched Week 1 CFB Game Ever

Fox drew 16.62 million viewers on Saturday afternoon.
September 2, 2025

NFL on Nielsen’s Latest Measurement Upgrade: ‘More Work to Be Done’

The league calls its relationship with the agency a “protracted journey.”