Kentucky Derby Simulation Taken By Secretariat

The Kentucky Derby always runs the first Saturday of May, but the coronavirus caused this years’ race to be postponed. As of now, the race is supposed to take place on Sept. 5 for the first Derby to take place in the fall.
But since the Derby wasn’t able to run on Saturday, there was a virtual race that took its place. To provide some entertainment for horse fans, there was a simulated Kentucky Derby that included some of the greatest thoroughbreds of all time. The race made all 13 Triple Crown winners face against each other to decide who was truly the greatest horse of all time.
Order of finish for the Kentucky Derby Triple Crown Showdown:
- Secretariat
- Citation
- Seattle Slew
- Affirmed
- American Pharoah
- Whirlaway
- Count Fleet
- Justify
- Assault
- War Admiral
- Omaha
- Gallant Fox
- Sir Barton
NBC was broadcasting throwback Kentucky Derby races all day on Saturday. This simulation was aired at just prior to 6 pm ET. Secretariat, arguably the most famous racehorse of all time, crossed the finish line first.
He was able to run down the early leader and 1977 champion, Seattle Slew, to win the race. The 1948 champion, Citation, made his way up for a late second place.
The Race in September
Many horse racing fans are still hoping that the Kentucky Derby can take place in September. Churchill Downs will resume racing in a couple of weeks without fans, but it remains to be known if spectators will be allowed to attend the Derby this fall. Officials have high hopes that the 150,000 will be able to attend the race in September.
“There’s still going to be social distancing issues,” Carstanjen, chief executive of Churchill Downs, said in a call with investors and analysts on Thursday. “Whatever is capable of being done in this country in four months, whatever can be done, whatever is the maximum acceptable processes and protocols, that’s where we’ll be. That’s what we’ll be offering, and that’s what we’ll do.”
The Kentucky Derby was in a comeback year after the disappointing disqualification in 2019. Maximum Security crossed the line first, but the roses were taken away after being accused of interference.
Maximum Security, along with Triple Crown winner Justify, were suspected of using performance-enhancing drugs entering the Derby.
With the Kentucky Derby being postponed, it also affected the dates for the Preakness and Belmont. The Triple Crown must stay intact for the race to keep its importance. In reaction to the Derby being postponed, the last two legs of the Crown have also been rescheduled to the fall.
New York officials have been working with Governor Andrew Cuomo to open up the horse tracks without spectators. Several employees that work on the backstretch of Belmont have tested positive for the coronavirus.
Andy Beshear, the governor of Kentucky, hopes for a better result in the commonwealth. He is allowing Churchill to resume racing on May 11. Online betting for horse racing is at an all-time high because of the lack of sports across the country.