1988 Kentucky Derby - Winning Colors

The lady is a champ, and the Kentucky Derby press corps won't have trainer Wayne Lukas to kick around anymore.
Winning Colors, the last of the 17 horses to leave the barn Saturday and be led on the long walk from the backstretch to the paddock at Churchill Downs, was first the rest of the afternoon--out of the gate, at the wire and every step in between--to win the 114th Derby by a neck over Forty Niner in a manner that Lukas thought she would.
In becoming the third filly--after Regret in 1915 and Genuine Risk in 1980--to win the Derby, Winning Colors enabled Lukas to end his frustrations here. In 7 years of trying with 10 colts and 2 fillies who couldn't finish higher than third, Lukas finally made it to the winner's circle--with a salt-and-pepper-colored Amazon who admittedly got more care from his 30-year-old son, Jeff, than from the boss of the organization.
Winning Colors' run to the roses came in the same way that she defeated all comers in five of her six previous races. From the No. 11 stall, jockey Gary Stevens quickly broke Gene Klein's 1,100-pound filly from the gate and allowed her to lope along on an easy lead most of the way around, leaving her with enough in the boiler to hold off Forty Niner at the wire.
After Forty Niner, it was three lengths back to Risen Star, who had a half-length on Proper Reality, the fourth-place finisher. Private Terms, undefeated in seven races and trying to become the fifth unbeaten horse to win a Derby, instead wound up ninth, losing by more than 6 lengths and becoming the ninth straight favorite to fall in the opening round of the Triple Crown.
"My horse was galloping, and I seemed to have a lot of horse going down the backstretch," said Chris Antley, Private Term's rider. "But then he just seemed to quit running. By the time we got to the 5/16th pole, I was talking to myself. I was asking, 'Where's it at?' "
articles.latimes.com/1988-05-0...

[@davidpayne3628]

“DOWN THE STRETCH THEY COME!!” Dave Johnson is as good an announcer as there ever was.

[@ptgarner1]

I was fortunate enough to watch this in person from the rail on the backside. She passed me after 3/4 running with such ease that I could not stop laughing.

[@jamessills5802]

So was I, infield home stretch.

[@sergiosaunier]

What an experience you guys must have had! Watching the Derby is in my bucket list, hopefully I'll be able to put a check mark near to it.

[@michaelpflug394]

Such a shame Risen Star was left with so much to do down the lane, he was definitely the best horse in that crop and passed a ton of horses late. But, Winning Colors earned it, no question.

[@Psyfi85]

Yes, she had it all and everyone knew it. Does stink Risen Star didn’t get any room to catch up. Guess he made up for it in next two races, made Dad proud nevertheless.

[@steveludwig4200]

What a GREAT group of 3 year olds. Winning Colors, Risen Star, Forty Nine and Seeking the Gold. Every one of them could have been a deserved Derby winner.

[@charlesdavis7523]

The real question is what was Pat Day doing on Forty Niner?? He broke well and was in a good position to press Winning Colors. He chose to let her open up 4 lengths and then proceeded to let his horse drop back 2 more positions to 4th. He was on the winner. He must have fallen asleep down the backside

[@user-nr8gm3hh4s]

winning colors what a fantastic fillie she is and will be missed. what ease and performance she gave during her career. Gary Stevens what a phenomenal jockey he is on every horse he rides.love them both for ever.

[@frndofbear]

And Gary was quite easy on the eyes. :)

[@cowhanson]

Never get sick watching this...Still exciting down the stretch after all these years

[@josephhunter1702]

She lost her share of races but she was a race horse in every sense of the word. Fantastic filly.

[@user-nr8gm3hh4s]

Winning Colors deserved that win just like she did in the Santa Anita😀She will be forever in our hearts😍😍😍😍😍❤️❤️

[@CarlosCastro_]

I remember watching this as a kid on TV and it was so exciting to watch a Filly beat all the Colts. Winning Colors was amazing.

[@Chalky29]

Here after reading the book ‘the greatest gambling story ever told’ good to see the race after it being described

[@Caroni100]

"The Kentucky Derby? There is no an adjective able to describe its greatness" Jose Gregorio Guillot, venezuelan horse racing analyst and radio producer. Greetings from Venezuela.

[@helixcheerleader]

The fact she won going gate to wire with those breathtaking opening fractions makes this a real hat trick and tour de force like I don't expect we will see very often anymore. But maybe this year - it's a very deep field with some true speedy types and with the points system, no cheap speed in the race anymore.

[@myburner8241]

What a frigging horse, all heart . You can count on one hand how many horse won the derby gate to wire . Glad Medina Spirit did it and showed alot of guts, i love this sport.

[@sergiosaunier]

Well, at this moment you'd need all your fingers and toes, plus three extra ones to count all of the wire-to-wire Derby winners; not as rare as your count would make it but it's difficult enough, I'll give you that.

[@aprillangelier2972]

Love watching her!!

[@bonibiermier7043]

I read the book also. This just brought it to life!

[@crooked9810]

ahh, i wish that Risen Star had won the derby.. he would have been the only one of Secretariat's foals to win the Triple Crown.

[@michaelpflug394]

cRoOkEd Yeah me too, definitely Big Red’s most talented son. I loved that horse!

[@sheilatruax6172]

@@michaelpflug394 He wasn't "Big Red". Maybe with a little b and a little r. Only one horse was Big Red, and he was foaled in 1917, not 1970. Sorry, get a clue, Boy! Sorry, Miss Penny.

[@TitanicHorseRacingLover]

​@@sheilatruax6172 Man O'War was the original Big Red

[@RealJackHQ]

She definitely won with Winning Colors. Incredible.

[@samludu5916]

Great field - Winning Colors, Forty Niner, Seeking the Gold, Risen Star ...

[@howtobeme8248]

Some legendary horses in this field like winning colors, forty niner, private terms, seeking the gold and Brian’s time

[@mitchellbaker9434]

We wouldn't want to mention Risen Star would we? He had a miserable trip in this race, flew home for third, then destroyed in the Preakness and Belmont. Was by far the best 3 year old that year. Should have won the Crown that year, but that's racing.

[@the_jackal622]

@@mitchellbaker9434 The jockey should had taken Risen Star on the outside, like Turncott did at the Derby on Secretariat. Risen Star also had the capacity to go on the outside.

[@atomexpires]

by far one of my favorite crops of all time

[@jm1657]

and Risen Star. How incredibly exciting it would have been if he had Triple Crowned like his Dad. But all hail to Winning Colors, a race for the ages here!

[@richardsanders5275]

Risen Star ; Winning Colors ; Brian's Time & 49er were the Definite class of these 3 year Olds... Risen Star being the most successful Colt(on the track) son of Secretariat; Winning Colors was the 3rd & still last Filly to win the Kentucky Derby; Brian's Time went on to Sire a Triple Crown Winner in Japan AND Risen Star's Winning Time in the Belmont of (2:26 2/5) was the Second Fastest Belmont Time ever[in 1988] , it's still the 5th Fastest ever to this day !!!!

[@rhiondahaffham1745]

I remember watching this race and shouting at the TV about how she made the "boys" come get her-she had her sire Secretariat's love of running and desire to win-I LOVED her

[@helixcheerleader]

Winning Colors is not by Secretariat no did she have him in her pedigree, I believe you are confusing her with another grey filly trained by Lukas... Lady's Secret who was by Secretariat. Winning Colors was by Caro. She does have a common thread with Secretariat in that her dam was sired by a son of Bold Ruler, Secretariat's sire.

[@rebeccasabet2802]

So Big Red was her uncle.

[@donaldknowles2015]

Her Sire was Wolf Power a South African champion

[@toniearl3497]

You can look up thoroughbred pedigrees here.... www.pedigreequery.com/winning+colors

[@toniearl3497]

Donald Knowles No, he wasn't.

[@kennethnero2011]

Jim McKay is the Greatest Sports Announcer ever

[@Smile-uwokeup-2day]

Amazing horses here winning g colors. In 1988 wins this derby race here .

[@Caroni100]

Today, May 7th., 2018 marks the 30th. anniversary of 114th. Kentucky Derby. That day, Wayne Lukas ' Winning Colors became the second filly in history to win "Run for the Roses" ☺

[@donaldknowles2015]

Caroni100 another milestone with her win is that her sire Wolf Power was a South African champion

[@toniearl3497]

Donald Knowles Winning Colors' sire was Caro. www.pedigreequery.com/winning+colors

[@toniearl3497]

Caroni100 Winning Colors was the 3rd filly to win the Kentucky Derby (not the second). Regret won in 1915. Genuine Risk won in 1980. www.pedigreequery.com/regret www.pedigreequery.com/genuine+risk

[@Caroni100]

@@toniearl3497 You're right Míster Earl. I remembered Genuine Risk but I forgot Regret. Winning Colors (March 14, 1985 - February 17, 2008) record is 8 wins, 3 seconds and 1 third in 19 starts and US $ 1.528.837 earned. She was inducted to The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2000. Regards from a 56 year-old venezuelan citizen who emigrated to Chile searching a better way of life.

[@JOHN----DOE]

Third. Regret and Genuine Risk.

[@chichillguy]

she was one of the very very best

[@kylestephens4133]

Risen Star was a Beast! But for a bad trip, we would have had a TC

[@haroldjoseph1902]

Should have( Won the Derby!!!!! )Risen Star.

[@michaelmiller9376]

I had my bet on Risen Star, stayed with him and made a profit the next two races...

[@mikeg534]

Risen Star was definitely the best 3 year old that year and would have been a triple crown winner if he wasn't in the 8 path on the final turn. Belmont is the fairest track there is and he showed what he can do in the Belmont Stakes.

[@douglasgriffiths3534]

Risen Star reminded me of his daddy as he won the Belmont.

[@DuyPhan-wg5wn]

This was a great derby field.

[@Caroni100]

"The difference between wining a Kentucky Derby and losing a Kentucky Derby, is a US$ 75.000 check for the jockey who won the race and a US$ 100 check for the jockey who arrived in sixth or in seventh place" Gary Stevens, Hall of Fame Jockey in an interview (2000) Greetings from Venezuela.

[@hectorroca9523]

Wow!!! What a Genius !!!!!

[@howtobeme8248]

Forty niner must be the oldest living Kentucky Derby contestant

[@johnhouseholder4692]

Typical Pat Day ride. Wait, wait, lose. Pretty impressive splits from the filly.

[@dolcevitausa]

Of course after watching Winning Colors Derby you have to watch Genuine Risk's Derby...

[@childwaters]

That high-pitched feminine roar as she comes into the home stretch . . . I am Woman, Hear Me Roar

[@CarolanIvey]

Not a Secretariat filly, but strong in the same Nasrullah bloodlines. Great shot from behind the gate, showing how much bigger she was than her competition.

[@OfficialMuffiin]

Doesn't matter if she was a Secretariat filly or not, Secretariat was a bust as a sire when it came to producing racehorses.

[@wayneclarke9695]

Risen star was the best horse in the race you see how him is finishing up him finish full of run and him prove it in the next too leg him was a great horse risen star

[@SarcasticFOX]

I'm not into this kind of stuff. But I heard about a story on NPR about $250k cash out and the cartel. So I had to watch this video 😜

[@a1tube132]

I heard it also. "Snap Judgement" (A very scary story by the way!) To bad they couldn't pronounce Tijuana.

[@NancyKinney-hb7wf]

My sister was giving birth to her first child as this race was on TV. Doctor had his arms ready to catch baby, but his head was turned onto the race. I tell my neice about this, but somehow she's not impressed nor has she been a Kentucky Derby fan. LOL

[@leonardhutchingsDownDirty]

She was one of many of the two year olds that I went through during My Apprenticeship Age 18 Slew o Gold First Big Horse Holy Bull Was My Last As I Started Finished Horse's Allen Jerkens Warren Croll Frank Brothers Sonny Hines Dewayne Lukas Beginning 1982 thru 1994

[@Caroni100]

"This is the best race in the country and perhaps in the world. If you win a race like the Kentucky Derby, what else can you ask for?" John Charles "Jack" van Berg (June 7, 1936 - December 27, 2017) Hall of Fame Trainer Greetings from Venezuela. "Ésta es la mejor carrera del país y quizás del mundo. Si usted gana una carrera como el Derby de Kentucky ¿qué más puede pedir?" John Charles "Jack" van Berg (June 7, 1936 - December 27, 2017) Hall of Fame Trainer Saludos desde Venezuela.

[@salicemccool9268]

Just a bit of trivia: she turned out to be a gray, not a roan.

[@douglasgriffiths3534]

Yep. She was nearly white as an older horse. Roans stay roan their whole lives.

[@Jean0987654321]

Track announcer: Dave Johnson

[@jamesdio891]

Giant girl

[@treychrs]

I remember watching this screaming at the tv. WC and Genny both 8s. Fate, baby.

[@brianclark1858]

When you have freakish speed you use it. You dont try to play the stamina game. cough cough Gamine.

[@Caroni100]

"La diferencia entre ganar un Derby de Kentucky y perder un Derby de Kentucky es un cheque de US$ 75.000 para el jinete que ganó la carrera y un cheque de US$ 100 para el jinete que llegó en sexto ó séptimo lugar" Gary Stevens

[@janetgriffiths7200]

Winning Colors was a grey, not a roan. Roan horses usually have darker colored heads, and they don't turn white with age as greys do. Winning Colors was nearly white as an older mare.

[@janetgriffiths7200]

Besides, roan is not in the Thoroughbred genetic makeup.

[@helixcheerleader]

Of course but this was not known at the time. That is why the jockey club registry denotes horses as "Grey/Roan" on the papers of all greys. I don't know why they haven't updated it to just grey though.

[@ronclatterbuck5311]

Hey you 2 idiots winning colors was a Roan it has nothing to do with there head she was not grey. They determine the color of the horse by the tail not the head. Dumbos

[@ronclatterbuck5311]

I guess I should have put if their face, mane , and tail are dark colored they are called Roan, Winning colors was definitely Roan

[@douglasgriffiths3534]

Whatever. Roans do not get lighter in color as they age as greys do. Winning Colors was nearly white as an older horse. Don't call my wife and helixcheerleader dumbos. They know more about horses than you do. So dumbo yourself.@@ronclatterbuck5311

[@rentslave]

Why didn't the Phillies win that year?They won the NL pennant when Regret won in 1915,the Series when Genuine Risk won in 1980,won it all again when Eight Belles beat all of the non-steroid horses in 2008.

[@abby5716]

Seriously? I mean SERIOUSLY?!

[@rentslave]

abigail hitchcock That's not all.Watch the price of gold.When the Phillies are in a long term uptrend,gold is sky high as well.The metal set a record in 1980,not to be surpassed until 2008.When Ryan Howard destroyed his ankle in Oct.2011,gold was over $1900.

[@abby5716]

Tom Dockery um...how does that have anything to do with THIS filly? 😕

[@rentslave]

Abigail Hitchcock It doesn't.Winning Colors victory has always stymied me as to why it didn't fit into the pattern.The next filly to win the Derby may not be until 2026-2036 if I've got this figured right.In three weeks,it'll be 40 years since Ruffian died.

[@abby5716]

Tom Dockery okay...then when's the next triple crown? And will it be a horse and rider I actually like? Lol!😆

[@gordoncosta]

Risen Star got a bad trip and got hung up otherwise he was the best horse that year.

[@michaelpflug394]

Glad Captain Kangaroo got a Kentucky Derby, who knew?

[@jeffreylorenger6746]

Winning colors reminds me of Mr. Ed?

[@mksisters1896]

10:09 Derby Starts

[@moskii-kb8un]

not much about Risen Star (son of Secretariat) who will go to capture the next 2 legs of the triple crown, The Preakness & The Belmont)

[@salicemccool9268]

+moskii 1958 I think that's understandable, as I believe he'd won only one race as a two year old, and a couple of grade two (?) races leading up to the Derby. Great horse though he was, Secretariat's name on a pedigree didn't suggest the same re his offspring.

[@hayzyhorses6899]

And he was the only secretariat foal to win any of the triple crown races

[@CarolanIvey]

@@hayzyhorses6899 He turned out to be a better broodmare sire.

[@coolrich8758]

They jockey waited to late to let Risen Star Run

[@coolrich8758]

Risen Star was like his daddy let him run don't hold him back. He would have been a triple crown winner if that jockey would have just let him run.

[@JWCFB]

I love winning colors but risen star took it to her hard in the next two races. He was a runnin son of a gun.

[@roncaporiccio1731]

Master.jockey.had.just.the.last.yard.

[@brenleegentry372]

I think she could have won the triple crown I really want to the the first filly to win it

[@michaelpflug394]

YOU DONT NEED TO TO KNOW MY NAME Risen Star destroyed her in the Belmont, she was never winning the triple crown.

[@goforwand31]

@@michaelpflug394 She should have never been in the Belmont. It was plain as day in the paddock she was a spent horse. She was ruined for life because of that race.

[@chocolatetownforever7537]

@@goforwand31 What makes you say she was ruined for life? She ran an awesome race later that year in the Breeders Cup Distaff, losing by a literal hair to one of the greatest fillies of all time in Personal Ensign?

[@Bassman968]

@@chocolatetownforever7537 She did run a hell of a race that day to push Personal Ensign to her limit, but I don't think Winning Colors was ever the same horse after the Preakness - I believe she only one one race after the Derby, and it was over a year later. Hindsight is 20/20, but Lukas should have put her in the barn until the fall.

[@jamesdio891]

PE up 2 bat

[@kennetm.d.ni78thalexander6]

No

[@1031E]

Another Derby where the best horse lost. The Derby field should be reduced to 12. Risen Star was on a completely different level than Winning Colors and Forty Niner and proved it in the next two races by destroying those 2.