The anticipation surrounding the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby reached its peak as spectators eagerly awaited the results of a nail-biting finish. Mystik Dan emerged victorious in a dramatic photo finish, captivating the hearts of over 156,170 attendees at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. This race not only highlighted the extraordinary skill of jockey Brian Hernandez but also underscored the competitive spirit of the horses involved, making it a memorable moment in the history of horse racing.
As the race unfolded, Mystik Dan initially held a commanding lead, but as the finish line approached, challengers Sierra Leone and Forever Young surged forward, raising the stakes for all involved. The tension in the air was palpable, and the ensuing wait for the final results felt like an eternity. The excitement of the crowd amplified as they witnessed the remarkable display of speed and endurance from the competitors.
The official margin of victory was astonishingly close, with only a nose separating the horses. This outcome marked one of the closest finishes in Derby history, reminiscent of legendary races from the past. Mystik Dan's triumph represents not only a personal achievement for the horse and its team but also an unforgettable chapter in the storied legacy of the Kentucky Derby.
The photo to determine the winner of the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby took a few minutes to post but to those involved it might as well have been hours. Mystik Dan, with a smart ride up the rail, had pulled to about a three-length lead with about a sixteenth of a mile to go. But Sierra Leone was coming fast on the outside and Forever Young was in between horses with a lot of finish. The lead kept getting smaller and smaller until it seemed to evaporate. Watching it live, the eye couldn’t pick a winner. But, the replay looked as if Mystic Dan had held on. Maybe.
“It took about two minutes,” said winning jockey Brian Hernandez. “And then finally when they said, ‘Yeah, you’ve just won the Kentucky Derby,’ I was like, ‘Oh, wow, that’s a long two minutes.’ Yes, that was the longest two minutes in sports — from the fastest two minutes to the longest, by far.”
The official margin of victory was a nose and another nose separated Sierra Leone and Forever Young. But, it was really just one nose, and a small one at that, separating all three horses. It was the closest finish since 1996 when Grindstone beat Cavonnier by a nose and the closest three-way finish since 1947 when Jet Pilot won by a head. Most of the 156,170 in attendance knew they saw an ending for the ages.
“Between the post position draw and the job that Brian did gave us a huge opportunity because we saved ground, saved ground, saved ground,” said winning trainer Kenny McPeek. “And when you look at
