Who Won The 2022 Kentucky Derby?

LOUISVILLE, KY — Rich Strike, a long-shot, has won the 148th Kentucky Derby.

Known as “the most exciting two minutes in sports,” the Kentucky Derby is America’s longest continually held sporting event. Twenty 3-year-old thoroughbred horses run the 1.25 miles at Churchill Downs in Louisville, after competing in a series of 35 races around the world. Rich Strike will receive $1.86 million of the $3 million derby purse.

The favorites to win in 2022 included Zandon, Mo Donegal, Epicenter and Zozos. J. Keeler Johnson, who wrote a guide to the competing horses for the derby website, called this year’s event “an ultra-competitive race with many viable win contenders.”

Last year’s derby was mired in controversy after champion Medina Spirit was disqualified and his trainer, Bob Baffert, was temporarily banned from Churchill Downs, according to the Associated Press. Medina Spirit failed a drug test after the race and was found to have taken a steroid, the Associated Press reported, noting the horse was the second in the derby's history to be disqualified for drug use. The win was eventually awarded to Mandaloun, who had a time of 2:01.02.

The derby takes place on the first Saturday in May and typically draws a live crowd of more than 150,000.