The Kentucky Derby’s official race distance at Churchill Downs is 1¼ miles.
The distance equals 10 furlongs, or about 2,012 metres. The race is run on the dirt track at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, and is reserved for three-year-old Thoroughbreds.
The Derby was first run in 1875, when it covered 1½ miles. Its distance was shortened to 1¼ miles in 1896, establishing the format used today. The race is the first leg of the American Triple Crown.
The Kentucky Derby is sometimes confused with the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. The Preakness is shorter at 1 3/16 miles, while the Belmont Stakes has traditionally been longer than both.