Talk:Kentucky Derby

This is the talk page for discussing improvements to the Kentucky Derby article.
This is not a forum for general discussion of the article's subject.

Put new text under old text. Click here to start a new topic.
New to Wikipedia? Welcome! Learn to edit; get help.

Article policies

Find sources: Google (books · news · scholar · free images · WP refs) · FENS · JSTOR · TWL

Archives: 1: 90 days

Kentucky Derby is a former featured article candidate. Please view the links under Article milestones below to see why the nomination failed. For older candidates, please check the archive.

Article milestones
Date	Process	Result
May 11, 2005	Featured article candidate	Not promoted

United States: Kentucky / Louisville High‑importance

	United States portal This article is within the scope of WikiProject United States, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of topics relating to the United States of America on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the ongoing discussions. Template Usage Articles Requested! Become a Member Project Talk Alerts United StatesWikipedia:WikiProject United StatesTemplate:WikiProject United StatesUnited States articles
High	This article has been rated as High-importance on the project's importance scale.
	Kentucky portal This article is supported by WikiProject Kentucky (assessed as Top-importance).
	Kentucky portal This article is supported by WikiProject Louisville (assessed as Top-importance).

Horse racing Top‑importance

	This article is within the scope of WikiProject Horse racing, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Horse racing on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.Horse racingWikipedia:WikiProject Horse racingTemplate:WikiProject Horse racingHorse racing articles
Top	This article has been rated as Top-importance on the project's importance scale.

Invite to join the Derby 150 article development and backlog drive (relevant article)[edit]

WikiProject Louisville		Derby 150 article development and backlog drive
		Help WikiProject Louisville commemorate and celebrate the 150th Kentucky Derby! Join our article development and backlog drive taking place during the period of the Kentucky Derby Festival, April 20 – May 5, 2024. The purpose of this drive is to improve a corner of the Wikipedia related to and timed for this special rare anniversary, as a part of improving the whole encyclopedia. Barnstars will be awarded for participation. Tag your edit summary with `[[WP:DERBY150]]`, both to advertise the event and tally edits for milestone tracking and a possible leaderboard. Interested in helping out? Sign up here. (We're also looking for technical assistance.) Join our festive international Derby party! Mint julep, anyone?

Stefen Tower_{s among the rest!} ^{Gab • Gruntwerk} 17:08, 15 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Lead development[edit]

I am confused by the line in the lead, "The race is run by three-year-old Thoroughbreds at a distance of 1 +1⁄4 miles (10 furlongs; 2,012 metres), the first time horses in the field race that distance." I don't know enough about this statement to make a change, but it looks like they are saying no 3 year old would have ever raced a distance of 1 1/4 miles. How would you guarantee that? StarHOG (Talk) 00:58, 22 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I have reviewed this. During a rework of the lead in May 2023, that clause was added but no citation was given for it. Without support from a reliable source, I have removed it. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Stefen Tower_{s among the rest!} ^{Gab • Gruntwerk} 18:10, 23 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Dates[edit]

The horseraces infobox that's used on this article should include spaces for the last race and the upcoming race, like they have for seasons in the sports league infobox. And it should include spaces for the dates of the last race and the upcoming race, like they have in the holiday infobox. I suggest we put the dates with the links to the articles for the last and upcoming races. I'd make that change myself, but it's extended-confirmed-protected. - Burner89751654 (talk) 18:44, 4 May 2024 (UTC)[reply]

This has crossed my mind as well. I have endorsed your idea over there, and if there are no objections there , I have the access and knowledge to implement the ideas. Let's see if there are any other responses for a while and then I'll proceed. Stefen Tower_{s among the rest!} ^{Gab • Gruntwerk} 19:14, 4 May 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Most Exciting Two Minutes or Fastest Two Minutes?[edit]

There is reference to both of these titles in the introduction.

It seems the references stem from legendary sportswriter Grantland Rice's description of the event: "In 1935, legendary Tennessee-born sports writer Grantland Rice described the race. "Those two minutes and a second or so of derby running carry more emotional thrills, per second, than anything sport can show," he said. That phrase has since been shortened to describe the Kentucky Derby as 'the most exciting two minutes in sports.'" (trying to find original source)

I think "Fastest Two Minutes" references may just be incorrect nods to the "Most Exciting Two Minutes." "Fasest.." to me doesn't make sense, since 120 seconds is 120 seconds. The quote is meant to capture how much action is packed into that small window, I think. I'd like to consider removing the latter reference, or at least trying to better source its provenance. Sawitontwitter (talk) 15:12, 7 May 2024 (UTC)[reply]