In 1984, 17-year-old jockey Mike Smith was given a leg up on Loblolly Stable’s 3-year-old colt Pine Circle by future Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey.
The Kentucky Derby is an event for the stars – both equine and human. Making it to the race is a dream of horse owners from all walks of life. For example, former Major League Baseball World Series champion Jayson Werth had a Kentucky Derby starter two years in a row in 2024-'25.
Over its 152-year history, the Kentucky Derby has had its share of forefathers, figures who created and nurtured this racing tradition as it evolved from a Kentucky stakes into a bucket-list experience.
BloodHorse news editor Byron King presents his weekly Derby Dozen for 2026, with a look at his leading contenders for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve on May 2.
Each week, members of the national media vote on the nation's top contenders on the Triple Crown trail in the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Top Thoroughbred Poll.
