Kentucky Derby 2011: Animal Kingdom Wins 137th Running Of The Roses

Kentucky Derby 2011: How Animal Kingdom Won, And Can He Do It Again At Preakness?

Why did Animal Kingdom triumph while favorite Dialed In struggled in Saturday's 2011 Kentucky Derby? Two words: "pace" and "trip".

Kentucky Derby 2011: Video, Results And Race Notes

The 2011 Kentucky Derby capped an excellent weekend at Churchill Downs as crowds turned out in record numbers to watch the 137th running of America's premier horse race. Once again, we were treated to a thrilling race as long-shot Animal Kingdom used a speedy kick to distance himself from the field and finish ahead of the pack to win the first leg of the Triple Crown.

The crowds at Churchill Downs were outstanding as the Kentucky Derby 164,858 spectators in what's become a giant party with a side or racing. On Friday, another 110,000 fans showed up to watch the Kentucky Oaks, the precursor to Saturday's big race featuring some of the finest three-year-old fillies. For two days, horse racing was alive and well.

While the finish was thrilling, the race itself wasn't exactly blistering. And Down The Stretch They Come's Matt Gardner noted the splits, taken every 1/4 mile, were among the slowest in the last quarter century. With Shackleford in front setting the pace, the field was content to sit-back and wait until the final turn without expending much energy throughout. The splits can be found below, courtesy of And Down The Stretch They Come.

1/4: 24.26
1/2: 25.42
3/4: 24.72
Mile: 23.55
Finish: 24.09

And at 20/1, Animal Kingdom paid well to win, making Saturday a nice payday for bettors who caught lightning in a bottle. The Kentucky Derby winner paid 43.80 to win, 19.60 to place and 13.00 to show. The rest of the wagering results can be found below.

Wager Type Winning Numbers Paid
$1 Double 7/16 $196.50
$1 E5 $0.00
$2 Exacta 16-19 $329.80
$1 Pick-3 1/7/16 $2,369.10
$1 Pick-4 8/1/7/16 $12,292.20
$1 Pick-5 1/8/1/7/16 $427,790.68
$2 Pick-6 2/1/8/1/7/16 $12,251.80
$1 Pick-6 $0.00
$1 Superfecta 16-19-13-14 $24,063.00
$1 Trifecta 16-19-13 $1,976.20

To relive all the action, check out the 2011 Kentucky Derby video. It's worth the two minutes to watch the race in-full one more time. A second, overhead angle can be found at And Down The Stretch They Come. With the blimp view, you can get an idea of how the race was run and won by Animal Kingdom.

For more on the Derby, check out SB Nation's 2011 Kentucky Derby StoryStream. Also, our horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come has two must-read resources for Derby fans: A Beginner's Guide To Following Horse Racing and a glossary of horse racing terms.

Kentucky Derby 2011: Animal Kingdom Overcomes Long Odds In Wide-Open Field

With a wide-open field and no clear-cut favorite, it should come as no surprise a long-shot emerged to claim the 2011 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday. Animal Kingdom, at 20-1 odds as the horses took to the starting gates, used a late-burst to fly past the field as they came down the home-stretch, holding off the field to claim the 137th Kentucky Derby and the garland of roses awarded to the winner of American horse racing's most prestigious event.

It was a brilliant ride for jockey John Velazquez, who was without a mount just a two days ago. When Uncle Mo, Valazquez's ride for the Derby, was scratched, the rider appeared destined to sit the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby out. But when Robby Albarado, the rider scheduled to take the reigns of Animal Kingdom, was injured in a horse racing accident earlier in the week, Valazquez suddenly found himself on the long-shot, and took advantage on Saturday.

It was a tough race for a few of the contenders, including morning line favorite Dialed In. As the field hit the back-stretch, Dialed In was well off the pace and mounted a serious threat on Saturday. The 5-1 favorite finished in eighth place, ending a disappointing day at Churchill Downs.

Nehro finished in second, with Mucho Macho Man in third and Shackleford, who led for most of the way, in fourth. As Animal Kingdom began to pull away down the stretch, Nehro tried to go with him, but couldn't find the extra gear and finished the cluster of horses vying for second.

Animal Kingdom will now head to the Preakness Stakes with the Triple Crown in his sights. Whether it can be done is unclear, but Valazquez and Animal Kingdom had a day to remember at Churchill Downs on Saturday.

Relive the two minutes of action by re-watching the entire 2011 Kentucky Derby.

For more on the Derby, check out SB Nation's 2011 Kentucky Derby StoryStream. Also, our horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come has two must-read resources for Derby fans: A Beginner's Guide To Following Horse Racing and a glossary of horse racing terms.

2011 Kentucky Derby Results: Archarcharch Has Lateral Condylar Fracture

The 2011 Kentucky Derby was a rousing race, buoyed by an electrifying run from Derby winner Animal Kingdom. But it nearly took a tragic turn when Archarcharch had to be removed from the track.

The horse, considered a Derby favorite before he drew the inside rail as a post position, left the track in an equine ambulance, getting into it under his own power. He was then returned to the Churchill Downs stables.

It's there that it was determined that Archarcharch's injury is not life-threatening:

Archarcharch, who started on the rail, was injured and taken off the track by ambulance. The injury is a lateral condylar fracture and is not life-threatening.

For more on the Derby, check out SB Nation's 2011 Kentucky Derby StoryStream. Also, our horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come has two must-read resources for Derby fans: A Beginner's Guide To Following Horse Racing and a glossary of horse racing terms.

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Watch The 2011 Kentucky Derby: Full Video Of The 137th Run For The Roses

In case you weren't able to watch the 137th Kentucky Derby live, don't worry. Video of the race in its entirety has already been uploaded to YouTube. Enjoy:

It was every bit as thrilling as we'd expect from a Kentucky Derby race. Shackleford stayed in front throughout much of the race, but that often bodes poorly for a horse. As Shackleford faded, Nehro and Mucho Macho Man charged. The real lightning, though, came courtesy of Animal Kingdom, who seemed to find another gear after the final turn to edge out the win. Well! That was fun.

For more on the Derby, check out SB Nation's 2011 Kentucky Derby StoryStream. Also, our horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come has two must-read resources for Derby fans: A Beginner's Guide To Following Horse Racing and a glossary of horse racing terms.

Like this post? You can like SB Nation on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

2011 Kentucky Derby Results: Animal Kingdom Wins, Nehro Places, Mucho Macho Man Show

You already know that Animal Kingdom won the 2011 Kentucky Derby. But here are the official Kentucky Derby results behind Animal Kingdom, who won in 2:02:04 after storming from the middle of the pack down the stretch. Animal Kingdom's win, combined with Nehro's place and Mucho Macho Man's show, would have made you a lot of money as a trifecta; check the full 2011 Kentucky Derby payouts for more.

1. Animal Kingdom
2. Nehro
3. Mucho Macho Man
4. Shackleford
5. Master of Hounds
6. Santiva
7. Brilliant Speed
8. Dialed In
9. Pants on Fire
10. Twice the Appeal
11. Soldat
12. Stay Thirsty
13. Derby Kitten
14. Decisive Moment
15. Archarcharch
16. Midnight Interlude
17. Twinspired
18. Watch Me Go
19. Comma to the Top

Animal Kingdom's victory is the first Kentucky Derby victory for his trainer, Barry Irwin.

After the race, Archarcharch was removed from the track by equine ambulance, but returned to his stall. He will be examined, including being x-rayed, after showing lameness.

For more on the Derby, check out SB Nation's 2011 Kentucky Derby StoryStream. Also, our horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come has two must-read resources for Derby fans: A Beginner's Guide To Following Horse Racing and a glossary of horse racing terms.

Like this post? You can like SB Nation on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

2011 Kentucky Derby Payouts: Animal Kingdom's Result Makes Long Odds Look Good

Animal Kingdom won the 2011 Kentucky Derby on Saturday afternoon, and made a lot of bettors a lot of money in the process. Animal Kingdom went off at 20-1 odds, and the dark horse thundered past the pack, including favorite Mucho Macho Man, down the stretch, making the 2011 Kentucky Derby payouts a series of eye-popping numbers.

Wager Type Winning Numbers Paid
$1 Double 7/16 $196.50
$1 E5 $0.00
$2 Exacta 16-19 $329.80
$1 Pick-3 1/7/16 $2,369.10
$1 Pick-4 8/1/7/16 $12,292.20
$1 Pick-5 1/8/1/7/16 $427,790.68
$2 Pick-6 2/1/8/1/7/16 $12,251.80
$1 Pick-6 $0.00
$1 Superfecta 16-19-13-14 $24,063.00
$1 Trifecta 16-19-13 $1,976.20

As NBC showed in a graphic, even betting on Animal Kingdom alone paid off:

For more on the Derby, check out SB Nation's 2011 Kentucky Derby StoryStream. Also, our horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come has two must-read resources for Derby fans: A Beginner's Guide To Following Horse Racing and a glossary of horse racing terms.

Like this post? You can like SB Nation on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Kentucky Derby Results: Animal Kingdom Wins, Nehro Places, Mucho Macho Man Shows

The unofficial results from the 2011 Kentucky Derby have Animal Kingdom as the winner. Nehro finished second, and Mucho Macho Man finished third.

Animal Kingdom faced long odds, which, of course, means a big payout. The horse's morning line was set at 30-to-1.

Nehro entered with a morning line of 6-to-1. Here is what our horse racing expert, Matt Gardner, had to say about this horse prior to the race.

Nehro is a nicely developing son of Mineshaft that should relish the mile and a half distance, the long Churchill stretch drive, and a fast early pace.  He's a legit contender.

The show horse, Mucho Macho Man, seemed be the subject of a lot of bets on the merits of his name alone, if the NBC broadcast is any meaningful indicator. Here is what Gardner had to say about this horse, who had a morning line of 12-to-1.

His works at Churchill have been strong over the past two weeks and he's drawn in the perfect spot for a colt that wants to stalk the early speed.  He seems like a good bet to at least be in the trifecta and he looms as a serious win candidate.

For more on the Derby, check out SB Nation's 2011 Kentucky Derby StoryStream. Also, our horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come has two must-read resources for Derby fans: A Beginner's Guide To Following Horse Racing and a glossary of horse racing terms.

Like this post? You can like SB Nation on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Animal Kingdom Wins 2011 Kentucky Derby

Animal Kingdom is the winner of the 137th Kentucky Derby. The horse, ridden by jockey John Velasquez, made a furious charge after the final turn to bypass Nehro, the place horse, and Mucho Macho Man, the show horse. Here is what our horse racing expert, Matt Gardner, had to say about Animal Kingdom.

See if you've read this before: Animal Kingdom is a colt that has run his best races on synthetic surfaces and has never raced on a dirt surface.  Of the turf horses entered in the Derby, I think Animal Kingdom might have a shot to run decently, even if I don't like him for the win. 

If you bet on Animal Kingdom, congratulations.

For more on the Derby, check out SB Nation's 2011 Kentucky Derby StoryStream. Also, our horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come has two must-read resources for Derby fans: A Beginner's Guide To Following Horse Racing and a glossary of horse racing terms.

Like this post? You can like SB Nation on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Kentucky Derby Odds Update: Dialed In Remains Favorite At 5-1

It's 5:15 p.m. ET on Saturday, just over an hour from the scheduled post time of the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby. As expected, there have been a couple of shifts in odds from the morning line, but nothing terribly dramatic. Here are the updated odds, as reported by the NBC Sports broadcast:

1. Archarcharch 13-1
2. Brilliant Speed 26-1
3. Twice The Appeal 10-1
4. Stay Thirsty 16-1
5. Decisive Moment 37-1
6. Comma To The Top 35-1
7. Pants On Fire 7-1
8. Dialed In 5-1
9. Derby Kitten 34-1
10. Twinspired 30-1
11. Master Of Hounds 14-1
12. Santiva 34-1
13. Mucho Macho Man 9-1
14. Shackleford 24-1
15. Midnight Interlude 8-1
16. Animal Kingdom 20-1
17. Soldat 14-1
18. Uncle Mo SCRATCH
19. Nehro 10-1
20. Watch Me Go 29-1

The 2011 Kentucky Derby post time is at 6:24 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, May 7th and SB Nation has everything you need to prepare for it - current Derby odds, contender profiles, field updates and more. You can find all of that and more at our 2011 Kentucky Derby StoryStream. Also, our horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come has two must-read resources for Derby fans: A Beginner's Guide To Following Horse Racing and a glossary of horse racing terms.

Kentucky Derby Weather Update: Rain Begins To Fall In Louisville

We're now a little over four hours removed from the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby, and at this point, one of the primary concerns at Churchill Downs is the weather forecast. Indeed, on the second consecutive Derby Day, rain is falling in the Louisville area. From where I'm sitting (roughly two miles away from the Downs), the sky is overcast and it's sprinkling intermittently.

However, we're not likely to be in for a downpour. Though a storm is expected to roll through the area between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. local time, the chance of precipitation falls to 10 percent until 8 p.m., when another storm may pass through Louisville. Odds are, then, that by the scheduled 6:24 p.m. post time, the weather shouldn't be a major factor.

The 2011 Kentucky Derby post time is at 6:24 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, May 7th and SB Nation has everything you need to prepare for it - current Derby odds, contender profiles, field updates and more. You can find all of that and more at our 2011 Kentucky Derby StoryStream. Also, our horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come has two must-read resources for Derby fans: A Beginner's Guide To Following Horse Racing and a glossary of horse racing terms.

Kentucky Derby Odds: Morning Line Has Dialed In As Favorite

We're now only a few hours away from the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby, and as of noon ET, Dialed In unsurprisingly remains the favorite. Here is what the morning line looks like, courtesy of SB Nation Seattle:

Archarcharch 13-1
Brilliant Speed 30-1
Twice the Appeal 7-1
Stay Thirsty 17-1
Decisive Moment 42-1
Comma to the Top 43-1
Pants on Fire 9-1
Dialed In 9-2
Derby Kitten 29-1
Twinspired 21-1
Master of Hounds 18-1
Santiva 30-1
Mucho Macho Man 12-1
Shackleford 19-1
Midnight Interlude 10-1
Animal Kingdom 24-1
Soldat 17-1
Nehro 7-1
Watch Me Go 29-1

We were waiting to see how the odds would shift after Uncle Mo was scratched. Dialed In, unsurprisingly, remains the favorite at 9-2. The biggest shift: Watch Me Go, which improved from 50-1 to 29-1.

The 2011 Kentucky Derby post time is at 6:24 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, May 7th and SB Nation has everything you need to prepare for it - current Derby odds, contender profiles, field updates and more. You can find all of that and more at our 2011 Kentucky Derby StoryStream. Also, our horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come has two must-read resources for Derby fans: A Beginner's Guide To Following Horse Racing and a glossary of horse racing terms.

Watch The Kentucky Derby 2011 Online On NBC Website

Note: Updated information on how to watch the Derby online is here.

Coverage of the 2011 Kentucky Derby will be aplenty on Saturday as all eyes turn to Churchill Downs for the 137th running of the race. Kentucky Derby weekend is an event in itself as Churchill Downs turns into a weekend-long part with over 100,000 fans converging on the area. And for horse racing fans and casual observers alike, it's the most recognizable event in the sport.

There are plenty of ways to watch the 2011 Kentucky Derby, including the traditional forms of media. Versus will broadcast the Kentucky Derby undercard beginning at 11 a.m. EDT. The Kentucky Derby itself will be broadcast by NBC, with coverage set to begin at 4 p.m. But for those without access to a TV, or those looking for a new-age way to watch, there is an option.

The 2011 Kentucky Derby will also be broadcast online, with NBC showing a simulcast on its website. A link has yet to be posted, but NBC has been broadcasting a live-stream throughout the week and should have one before post-time, coinciding with the network broadcast. We'll be updating this story with the link when it's posted.

The 2011 Kentucky Derby post time is at 6:24 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, May 7th and SB Nation has everything you need to prepare for it - current Derby odds, contender profiles, field updates and more. You can find all of that and more at our 2011 Kentucky Derby StoryStream. Also, our horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come has two must-read resources for Derby fans: A Beginner's Guide To Following Horse Racing and a glossary of horse racing terms.

Like this post? You can like SB Nation on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Current Kentucky Derby 2011 Odds: Twice The Appeal Rising

Uncle Mo is out of the 2011 Kentucky Derby after his trainers, in conjunction with his veterinarians, decided the derby contender's recovery from a gastrointestinal infection had not progressed far enough to allow him to run at Churchill Downs. The loss of Uncle Mo from the Kentucky Derby field was good news for Dialed In, though, as the odds shifted even more in his favor. Already the morning line favorite, early action has Dialed In, at 9-2, distanced from the field, with no other horse better than 7-1.

There are strange things afoot in the odds though, and it involves a certain Kentucky Derby jockey. Calvin Borel, winner of the last two, and three of the last four, Kentucky Derbies is aboard Twice the Appeal and gamblers seem to love him. Twice the Appeal opened at 20-1 odds, but has been bet all the way down to 7-1 ahead of the race, a surprising turn of events for a horse many didn't see as a contender.

The rest of the odds, updated on Friday afternoon, can be found below. These odds will change throughout the day on Saturday as action comes rolling in.

Dialed In 9-2
Nehro 7-1
Twice the Appeal 7-1
Pants on Fire 9-1
Midnight Interlude 10-1
Mucho Macho Man 12-1
Archarcharch 13-1
Stay Thirsty 17-1
Soldat 17-1
Master of Hounds 18-1
Shackleford 19-1
Twinspired 21-1
Animal Kingdom 24-1
Watch Me Go 29-1
Derby Kitten 29-1
Brilliant Speed 30-1
Santiva 30-1
Decisive Moment 42-1
Comma to the Top 43-1

The 2011 Kentucky Derby post time is at 6:24 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, May 7th and SB Nation has everything you need to prepare for it - current Derby odds, contender profiles, field updates and more. You can find all of that and more at our 2011 Kentucky Derby StoryStream. Also, our horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come has two must-read resources for Derby fans: A Beginner's Guide To Following Horse Racing and a glossary of horse racing terms.

Kentucky Derby 2011 Contenders: Favorite Uncle Mo Scratched

Kentucky Derby favorite Uncle Mo was scratched from the 2011 Kentucky Derby on Friday morning due to a stomach ailment, as first seen on ESPN reporter and Louisville resident Pat Forde’s Twitter feed, and now via an official announcement from the thoroughbred’s owner Mike Repole made this morning in Louisville.

Uncle Mo was the clear favorite in an otherwise muddled Derby field coming into Race Week, but had been troubled by a gastrointestinal infection that veterinarians were monitoring in race preparations. Owner Mike Repole said on Thursday that vet tests performed that day on the horse would be evaluated by the veterinary staff, and that he and trainer Todd Pletcher would then meet to make the call on whether Uncle Mo was fit enough to go.

That decision is now officially a “no.” With Uncle Mo’s departure from the Derby pack, the odds-on favorite is now Dialed In at 4-1, with Nehro close behind at 5-1 and Shackleford, Soldat, and Archarcharch all sitting at 8-1 to win.

Kentucky Derby 2011 Contenders: Odds Still Favor Dialed In Over Uncle Mo

Update: Uncle Mo has been scratched. 

With the 2011 Kentucky Derby just one day away, we know which horse will be the morning favorite and where the odds stand heading into Saturday at Churchill Downs. While the odds are stable for now, they are subject to change on Saturday based on the amount of action. So while Dialed In is a slightly favored over Uncle Mo, the odds can all change in an instant on Saturday.

According to And Down The Stretch They Come’s Matt Gardner, Kentucky Derby odds can be a fascinating element to watch on Saturday. The betting lines will move throughout the morning due to the sheer volume of wagers for horse racing’s biggest event. But with about an hour to go, the odds should be stable, finally giving us a good idea of which horse will go off as the favorite at Churchill Downs.

Consider the morning line odds the starting point, or guideline, for derby betting. As the windows open, these will be the odds bettors are placing wagers on, but the lines will be fluid throughout the day. While it’s quite unlikely a horse goes from long-shot to favorite, many of the horses near the top of the morning line can move up, down or shuffle around on derby morning.

Here are the latest odds for the 2011 Kentucky Derby. The morning line odds were set shortly after the post position draw on Wednesday afternoon.

Dialed In: 4/1
Uncle Mo: 9/2
Nehro 6/1
Midnight Interlude: 10/1
Archarcharch: 10/1
Soldat: 12/1
Mucho Macho Man: 12/1
Shackleford: 12/1
Pants On Fire: 20/1
Stay Thirsty: 20/1
Twice the Appeal: 20/1
Master of Hounds: 30/1
Animal Kingdom: 30/1
Comma to the Top: 30/1
Derby Kitten: 30/1
Twinspired: 30/1
Brilliant Speed: 30/1
Santiva: 30/1
Decisive Moment: 30/1
Watch Me Go: 50/1

2011 Kentucky Derby: 'Jinks' Fires, Kerwin Clark Two Rookies Worth Rooting For

When the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby happens this Saturday, most of its participants will be three-year-olds.

However, two people involved in the Run for the Roses attempting to win the $2 million purse will be a whole lot older than the horses racing in it.

52-year-old jockey Kerwin Clark will ride Decisive Moment on Saturday, his first Kentucky Derby ride. Clark has almost 2,600 career wins over a career that began in 1975. He had the opportunity to ride Decisive Moment last November in a stakes race at Louisiana’s Delta Downs.

"I still can’t believe it,’’ Clark said. "It’s such a thrill to get the chance to ride in this race."

If you thought 52 was an old age for someone to compete at their first Derby, you haven't heard about 70-year-old trainer William “Jinks” Fires, who will send Archarcharch to the gates. While Fires is excited about the opportunity, he's none too thrilled with his horse's draw, the dreaded No. 1 post position.

“The one hole is usually not good,” said the likable Fires, wearing a black  cowboy hat and a sad smile  when the draw was done.  “You’ll have to break running and get out of there and try to get your position. You can’t take back from the one hole because if you do, you get shuffled all the way to the back.”

If you're looking for feel-good underdogs to root for Saturday, look no further than these two "rookies."

The 2011 Kentucky Derby post time is at 6:24 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, May 7th and SB Nation has everything you need to prepare for it - current Derby odds, contender profiles, field updates and more. You can find all of that and more at our 2011 Kentucky Derby StoryStream. Also, our horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come has two must-read resources for Derby fans: A Beginner's Guide To Following Horse Racing and a glossary of horse racing terms.

2011 Kentucky Derby Horses: Experts, Non-Experts Alike Picking Dialed In

Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia has made Dialed In the 4-1 morning-line favorite for Saturday's 137th running of the Kentucky Derby while Uncle Mo is the second choice at 9-2.

Noting that his third choice, 6-1 Nehro, might scare some bettors off with his No. 19 post, Battaglia said, “I think it's a pretty solid favorite on Dialed In.”

Expert picks are slowly starting to trickle in, does Dialed In impress them as well?

Hall of Fame jockey and three-time Kentucky Derby winner Gary Stevens knows a thing or two about horse racing. He spoke with And Down The Stretch They Come and told the blog that he thinks Dialed In will win, though he's quick to mention he thinks highly of Midnight Interlude as well.

As for non-expert picks, Rick Pitino wants you to know that he knows which horses will finish 1-2, even if he doesn't know their names.

“It’ll go down to the wire with Uncle Mo leading the pack and here comes, is it Come Again? What is it Dial Again? Dialed In is going to chase Uncle Mo, it’s going to go neck-and-neck – it’s going to be a five-minute photo. So if you want that cold exacta, I don’t know whose going to win, that’s what I dreamed it’s going to be those two going to the wire.”

Pitino is quick to mention he's only picked the Derby correctly once in 19 years.

The 2011 Kentucky Derby post time is at 6:24 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, May 7th and SB Nation has everything you need to prepare for it - current Derby odds, contender profiles, field updates and more. You can find all of that and more at our 2011 Kentucky Derby StoryStream. Also, our horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come has two must-read resources for Derby fans: A Beginner's Guide To Following Horse Racing and a glossary of horse racing terms.

2011 Kentucky Derby Post Positions: Full Starting Order For Saturday's Race

You can view the latest Derby odds here. 

With 20 horses in the 2011 Kentucky Derby field, post position is vital. As Andy Hutchins discussed earlier, an outside draw forces a horse to navigate through traffic while an inside draw reduces the chances of a clean start, with the rail on the inside and the rest of the field bearing down from the outside. In that regard, a draw in the middle of the starting gate is vital, especially for the favorites.

The draw is done by way of lottery. It is a luck of the draw deal for the 20 horses in the field. This isn't picking teams or bidding on starting positions; It's simply hoping to see your number pulled in a position near the middle.

Dialed In, the current favorite at 3/1, received an excellent draw with the No. 8 post position. Uncle Mo, currently at 4/1 and second in the odds, received a horrendous draw and will start out of the No. 18 spot. Nehro, holder of the third-best odds, also received a rough draw and will start in the No. 19 post position. Soldat is also out-wide at No. 17.

Edit: Matt Gardner, from And Down The Stretch They Come, added an excellent quick piece of analysis on the post draw:

Soldat is actually in a good spot. Early speed wants to be outside of the other speed. If you’ve got a colt that wants to be up front early, drawing wide is okay.

Archarcharch has a tough task…the rail is unkind to most and he’s going to have to deal with being boxed in during most of the race. He drew worst of all.

Decisive Moment is also kind of in a bad spot. he’s a speed horse drawn inside most of the other speed. He’ll need to gun it to get clear early, using up valuable energy in the process.

Because of the draw, Dialed In should be the prohibitive morning favorite, with Uncle Mo, Nehro and Soldat all taking a hit due their starting positions.

Here are the Kentucky Derby post draw results, as announced on Wednesday evening.

No. 1: Archarcharch
No. 2: Brilliant Speed
No. 3: Twice The Appeal
No. 4: Stay Thirsty
No. 5: Decisive Moment
No. 6: Comma To The Top
No. 7: Pants On Fire
No. 8: Dialed In
No. 9: Derby Kitten
No. 10: Twinspired
No. 11: Master Of Hounds
No. 12: Santiva
No. 13: Mucho Macho Man
No. 14: Shackleford
No. 15: Midnight Interlude
No. 16: Animal Kingdom
No. 17: Soldat
No. 18: Uncle Mo
No. 19: Nehro
No. 20: Watch Me Go

2011 Kentucky Derby Field: Dialed In Favored In Latest Odds

With Toby's Corner out of the 2011 Kentucky Derby, the odds shifted on Tuesday. Toby's Corner had been among the favorites, listed at 8/1 odds, but trainers were forced to scratch him due to a hind-leg injury. Archarcharch, an amazing name for a horse, bumped up a tick and is currently fourth in the odds at 10/1.

Dialed in is the favorite with Uncle Mo close-behind, with the top of the field closely bunched together. On the other side of the coin, Decisive Moment is the longest shot of them all at 60/1. Watch Me Go is at 50/1, with Brilliant Speed and Santiva at 40/1.

Here are the latest odds, courtesy of Bodog.

Dialed In: 3/1
Uncle Mo: 4/1
Nehro 8/1
Archarcharch: 10/1
Soldat: 12/1
Mucho Macho Man: 14/1
Midnight Interlude: 15/1
Master of Hounds: 16/1
Shackleford: 20/1
Pants On Fire: 22/1
Stay Thirsty: 25/1
Twice the Appeal: 25/1
Animal Kingdom: 30/1
Comma to the Top: 35/1
Derby Kitten: 35/1
Sway Away: 35/1
Twinspired: 35/1
Brilliant Speed: 40/1
Santiva: 40/1
Watch Me Go: 50/1
Decisive Moment: 60/1

For the latest news and odds, stay tuned to our 2011 Kentucky Derby StoryStream. For all your horse racing needs, head over to And Down The Stretch They Come.

Toby's Corner Leaves 2011 Kentucky Derby Field Due To Leg Injury

Toby's Corner, one of the top-four favorites to win the 2011 Kentucky Derby, has been scratched from the field due to a hind leg injury, Reuters reported Tuesday. The 8-to-1 contender winner injured his left hind leg, which hampered his movement and convinced trainer Graham Motion his horse couldn't make the race.

 This settles the Kentucky Derby field back down to what it would've been had Toby's Corner not upset Uncle Mo in the 2011 Wood Memorial. He's already been removed from the list of horses on which odds are offered by Bodog.com. The revised odds list moves Archarcharch into the fourth spot at 10-to-1 odds.

The Kentucky Derby is on Saturday, May 7, and Kentucky Derby post time is 6:24 p.m. Eastern, 3:24 p.m. Pacific. Check out SB Nation's horse racing blog, And Down The Stretch They Come, for all the Kentucky Derby previews, analysis, and news you need.

2011 Kentucky Derby Post Position Draw: When Is It, And Why Does It Matter?

We're a day away from the 2011 Kentucky Derby post position draw, and thus the first and likely only time most Americans will care about what position a horse starts a horse race in this year. But why does post position matter in the Kentucky Derby? Why should you care about the draw, which is Wednesday at 5 p.m. Eastern?

Turf 'n' Sport examined historical Kentucky Derby performance by post positions after Big Brown won the 2008 Kentucky Derby, becoming the first horse to win the Derby from the 20th position — the widest possible post position — since 1975. The position that produced the most winners in that period was 10th, but anywhere from fifth to 10th works: 16 of the 33 winners in that span came from those spots.

So, typically, starting in the middle is ideal. Why? Starting too wide can force a horse to fight through traffic to get to the rail, and/or run further to get to the front; starting too close to the rail — as 2010 Derby favorite Lookin At Lucky did last year — can shuffle a horse back or force it to break fast to get a clean start. The middle, than, is advantageous in large part because it doesn't come with disadvantages.

The Kentucky Derby is on Saturday, May 7, and Kentucky Derby post time is 6:24 p.m. Eastern, 3:24 p.m. Pacific. Check out SB Nation's horse racing blog, And Down The Stretch They Come, for all the Kentucky Derby previews, analysis, and news you need.

2011 Kentucky Derby: Rain Could Dampen Derby Day

The 137th running of the Kentucky Derby will take place this Saturday but if Mother Nature has its way, it might be a wet one.

The current forecast for the Derby calls for scattered thunderstorms with a 40% chance of rain.

The day of the race isn't the only one where rain is going to dampen the track and the horses racing on it. Rain fell Monday and is expected again Tuesday as well as Friday. The reprieve on Wednesday and Thursday will still be cloudy and overcast.

Trainer Bob Baffert spent the day working out Midnight Interlude for its final workout before the big race.

"I really can't do anything about it...We just have to deal with it. If it rains for the race, at least he's been over a wet track."

In other words, those crazy hats won't just be fashion statements on Saturday. They'll be necessary.

For more serious analysis of the 2011 Kentucky Derby, head to SB Nation's And Down The Stretch They Come.

Kentucky Derby 2011 TV Schedule: Post Time Is 6:24 P.M. ET On May 7

It is 2011 Kentucky Derby week, and there is plenty of horse-related goodness between Wednesday and the 137th running of the Derby on Saturday afternoon. From classic replays to the Running of the Roses, NBC and its affiliates have you covered. Here’s the full Kentucky Derby 2011 TV schedule. Plan your viewing accordingly.

Wednesday:

• 4-5 p.m. ET: Derby Classics on Versus
• 5-6 p.m. ET: Derby Post Position Draw on Versus

Thursday:

• 4-5 p.m. ET: Derby Classics on Versus
• 5-6 p.m. ET: Derby Access on Versus

Friday:

• 4-5 p.m. ET: Derby Classics on Versus
• 5-6 p.m. ET: 137th Kentucky Derby Oaks on Versus

Saturday:

• 4-5 p.m. ET: Kentucky Derby Red Carpet Special on NBC
• 5-7 p.m. ET: The 137th Kentucky Derby on NBC

The official post time for the Kentucky Derby is 6:24 p.m. ET on Saturday. Check out SB Nation’s And Down The Stretch They Come for complete Derby coverage all week long.

Kentucky Derby 2011 Contenders: Uncle Mo Favored In Early Odds

The 2011 Kentucky Derby gets underway on May 7 and we'll be following the race with wall-to-wall coverage. With the race just about a week away, and the post draw a few days away, there are some early odds floating around, giving us an idea of which horses may be favored in the 2011 Kentucky Derby. It's a wide-open field this year and no contender seperated itself during the run-up to the derby, but plenty did falter.

Uncle Mo is the early favorite despite being upset by Toby's Corner in the Wood Memorial. Uncle Mo came into the tune-up race at Aqueduct heavily favored, yet faded down the stretch as Toby's Corner surged. With the loss, the Kentucky Derby field was throw into chaos, at least for the moment.

Uncle Mo is followed by Dialed In, Nehro, Toby's Corner and Soldat, all of which hold 10/1 or better odds. Midnight Interlude, winner of the Santa Anita Derby, is at 15/1, as is Pants On Fire.

Below are the latest odds for the Kentucky Derby.

Uncle Mo 3/1
Dialed In 4/1
Nehro 8/1
Tobys Corner 8/1
Soldat 10/1
Archarcharch 11/1
Mucho Macho Man 12/1
Midnight Interlude 15/1
Pants On Fire 15/1
Twinspired 17/1
Stay Thirsty 20/1
Master of Hounds 20/1
Brilliant Speed 25/1
Animal Kingdom 28/1
Shackleford 28/1
Twice The Appeal 30/1
Santiva 30/1
Decisive Moment 30/1
Watch Me Go 35/1
Comma to the Top 35/1
Sway Away 35/1
Mr Commons 50/1
Derby Kitten 50/1

Stay with our Kentucky Derby StoryStream for more on the race, including odds, predictions and extensive previews. For even more coverage of all things horse racing, head over to And Down The Stretch They Come.