How do the horses get into the Kentucky Derby?

Question

How do the horses get into the Kentucky Derby?

Answer 1

top 20 added stakes earnings.......

Answer 2

Horses qualify on career graded stakes earnings.

With the field limited to 20, the top 20 earners can run if their connections choose to enter them.  Once injured runners or runners unsuited to the distance, or runners running in other races (such as fillies runnning in the Kentucky Oaks the day before the Derby) are eliminated, horses lower than 20th on the earnings leaderboard may become eligible.  Also, the horse must have been triple crown nominated, but I think you can still late nominate a potential contender, but I think now it costs $200,000 (it was much less expensive earlier in the year).

Answer 3

You must qualify. The top 20 stakes money won will get you in. If your 21st too bad.

Answer 4

Look how the picks did last year at this site Winning Ponies:

http://www.winningponies.com/results/pic...

Answer 5

Hundreds of horses are nominated at the start of their 3 year old year.  If you're not nominated then but later decide you want to run (like maybe the horse was unraced until February of their 3 year old year and didn't enter because it hadn't raced yet... or if it's a filly and they decide that she's good enough to run with the boys) then you have to supplement your nomination and it costs extra.  You can't enter without first being nominated.  

The field is limited to 20 horses.  Entries are taken the week of the race.  If more than 20 are entered, then preferrence is given based on graded stakes earnings (the money you won in allowances or in maiden races does NOT count).  When more than 20 are entered, the horses with the lowest earnings don't get to run.  You don't have to be in the top 20 money earners of 3 year old horses... just the top 20 of the horses that are entered in the race.  Typically there are some 3 year olds that come up with injuries or lamenesses and can't race in the derby even though they had enough earnings (like Georgie Boy this year), so that leaves room for the horses who were 21-25 on the overall 3 year olds list of earnings.

Answer 6

3 years only can qualify,total earnings to date,be invited!