2001 Kentucky Derby - Monarchos: Full Broadcast

This was the consensus: Bob Baffert had two preternaturally talented horses, Point Given and Congaree. He already owned two victories as a trainer in the Kentucky Derby, and the 127th running of the race was his to lose. In the starting gate next to Point Given was Monarchos, a colt who most said had peaked in winning the Florida Derby in March after an electric move around the far turn.
But Monarchos, the big gray colt trained by John Ward, duplicated that move in almost Secretariat-like fashion today, ticking off the second-fastest winning time in the history of the mile-and-a-quarter Kentucky Derby, 1:59.97.
With the final quarter-mile remaining, Monarchos swept around the far turn and inhaled three, four, five, six horses, blew past Point Given, collared Congaree in midstretch and rushed off to a four-and-three-quarters-length victory over the long shot Invisible Ink. Point Given, the 9-5 favorite, was fifth.
www.nytimes.com...

[@73KHS]

Sad news today, RIP Monarchos 10-22-16

[@AlwaysHalloween000]

(February 9, 1998 - October 22, 2016) beautiful horse..One of the greatest Kentucky Derby winners ever

[@Caroni100]

Monarchos won 4 races in 10 starts; almost 50% effective!. He got 1 second place and 3 third places, earning US$ 1,720,230. I hope Monarchos will be inducted to National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame soon. Greetings from Venezuela.

[@onion6foot]

Happy Birthday, Monarchos ( and breeders Jim and Mary Ann Squires) Love from Suzanne. And thank you for the beautiful card.

[@dtt6933]

That horse 🐎 was flyin ! Under 2 minutes wow !

[@gloriajones4000]

SECRATARIAT WAS THE ALL TIME GREAT AND NO OTHER HORSE CAN COME CLOSE 🎉🎉🎉🎉😂

[@harryflashman330]

R.I.P. Monarchos. You'll be sorely missed, Sparky.

[@joek1211]

Invisible Ink, the horse that got me into racing. RIP buddy

[@DanielSong39]

He got unlucky, looked like he had an open lane but Monarchos came in half a lane and Point Given came out a half a lane and Invisible Ink got squeezed. Still probably finishes second though. Monarchos was strong!

[@michaelpflug7305]

My late Mother nailed the exacta. I played two separate $1 exacta boxes when I told her that she told me to change one. I went up and played the new ticket but kept the other one . When it came in I told her I still had both and she made over a grand but she wouldn’t hear of it and let me keep the one. That one and the one where I had Favorite Trick’s trifecta in the Waas were the two best Derby day’s I’ve had but seeing her face this one was definitely the best.

[@Caroni100]

"The Kentucky Derby? There´s no an adjective able to describe its greatness" Jose Gregorio Guillot, venezuelan horse racing analyst and radio producer

[@Caroni100]

Monarchos won 4 races in 10 starts; almost 50% effective!. He got 1 second places and 3 third places, earning US$ 1,720,230. I hope Monarchos will be inducted to National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame soon. Greetings from Venezuela.

[@ehoffman2260]

Great race call, but Secretariat ran 159 and 2/5ths and Monarchos ran 159 and 4/5ths.

[@robertlosasso4222]

So what are you getting at ?

[@ehoffman2260]

@@robertlosasso4222 He did a great job calling the race, but at the end he said that Monarchos ran as fast as Secretariat. He really didn’t.

[@robertlosasso4222]

@@ehoffman2260 The time would tell you that , but Monarchos did run a nice race .

[@ehoffman2260]

@@robertlosasso4222 He ran an incredible race. Tied with Sham for the second fastest Derby of all time. Believe me, my comment wasn’t a shot at Monarchos. It was one of the very few times I’ve had the winner in the Kentucky Derby.

[@SnidgetAsphodel]

This is an A+ broadcast. Not the crap they come up with these days. Ugh.

[@rugger104]

Yes! and Tom Durkin’s dramatic race calls are sorely missed.

[@salicemccool9268]

*Another* two out of three for Bob Baffert, with Point Given winning the Preakness and Belmont. Silver Charm had lost the TC by a half a length, Real Quiet by four inches, and the following year War Emblem couldn't pull it out in the Belmont, either. Had to wait 13 more years, but damn, you know it was worth it!

[@agustindejesus7398]

Salice, around that time was when Baffert started cheating....no one knew yet.

[@question_it_701]

@@agustindejesus7398 That was the year you almost got caught with an 11 year old, right?

[@loryhorn7113]

Monarchos was NOT as fast as Secretariat. He was a full 2/5 behind his time, equating to a full two lengths. A fine run, nonetheless though!

[@salicemccool9268]

I know he wasn't clocked, and it doesn't "count," but per lengths at the finish, Sham ran the Derby faster than Monarchos, with what many/most agree was a time of 1:59:90. After slamming his head on the starting gate and losing two teeth.

[@loryhorn7113]

Sham was an incredible horse who had the misfortune of being born the same year as Secretariat. As we are watching the olympics now, we feel the same way for the swimmers competing against Michael Phelps or runners competing against Bolt! When you consider that Sham lost two teeth and his mouth probably filled with blood, his feat in the Derby was phenomenal. I was quite saddened when he was ruined in the Belmont. He deserved much better.

[@kevinmichael686]

Salice McCool I think Monarchos win was more impressive, he was dead last at the half-mile mark, amazing performance.

[@4orrcountry]

@@kevinmichael686 You mean more visually appealing? Looks are in the eye of the spouse, and my equine spouse is named Secretariat! In winning his Derby, Secretariat accomplished something that that had never been done. Do you realize that in addition to setting a new Kentucky Derby record (which still stands today, 45 years later), he did so by running EVERY quarter mile faster than the one before? Usually thoroughbreds run their fastest during the early stages of a race and then gradually slow as they tire. Even horses that come from behind to win are likely not running faster than they were earlier, and are more likely passing tiring horses in an ever-slowing race. What Secretariat did in running each quarter faster than the previous one was unprecedented and hasn't been duplicated since. When we also consider that Secretariat may well have been "Best In Show" in the all-time looks department of all thoroughbreds ever born, the combination of his steadily increasing quarterly speed with his magnificent looks (and friendly personality) made for an unmatchable combination when it comes to comparing the visual appeal of all Kentucky Derby winners.

[@sammey1919]

@@4orrcountry He sure was the Best in Show. Great post.

[@Caroni100]

Monarchos (February 9, 1998 - October 22, 2016) * Sire: Maria's Mon * Grandsire: Wavering Monarch * Dam: Regal Band * Damsire: Dixieland Band * Breeder: James D. Squires * Owner: John C. Oxley * Trainer: John T. Ward, Jr. * 10 Starts * 4 Wins * 1 Second * 3 Thirds * U.S.$ 1,720,830 earned. Rest In Peace Champion! Greetings from Venezuela. Monarchos (9 de Febrero, 1998 - 22 de Octubre, 2016) * Padre: Maria's Mon * Abuelo Paterno: Wavering Monarch * Madre: Regal Band * Abuelo Materno: Dixieland Band * Criador: James D. Squires * Propietario: John C. Oxley * Entrenador: John T. Ward, Jr. * 10 Salidas * 4 Primeros * 1 Segundo * 3 Terceros * U.S.$ 1,720,830 producidos. ¡Descansa En Paz Campeón! Saludos desde Venezuela.

[@Caroni100]

"¿El Derby de Kentucky? Aún no se ha creado un calificativo capaz de describir su grandeza" José Gregorio Guillot, comentarista hípico y productor radial venezolano.

[@AZdoberwoman]

I have an objection. In today's terms, Monarchos' time was 1:59:97. Sham actually has the second-fastest Derby time, determined by lengths, at 1:59:90.

[@Katt30]

Susan Ouimette AGREED. Poor Sham getting shut out. Yes he ran that time making second, but it's still a record!

[@salicemccool9268]

+Crystal Meyers Even more impressive, to me; many horses fade, "sulk," when in that position. But even when being whipped by Pincay to beat the band in the Preakness, he gave it his all. I don't know if it was his sesamoid or his heart in the Belmont, but something broke.

[@mstrunn]

+Susan Ouimette Not correct Susan, first of all there is NO official time for Sham, in that era only the winner was timed, if you use the formula that every length behind equals 1/5 or .2 tenths than Shams estimated time is: 1:59.90, however, Monarchos' time was Electronic, so you have to convert that into tenths which equals: 1:59.80, 2nd fastest time.

[@salicemccool9268]

+mstrunn You concede that Sham ran it in 1:59:90, and we know per the electronic timer that Monarchos's time was 1:59:97, as recorded by the NY Daily Racing Form, and shown here on-screen. *Which* is faster? I'm talking straight-out times, not "by tradition" fractions or "we 'have to' convert it to" times.

[@mstrunn]

Sham was never given an official time as only the winner was timed in that era and times were in 1/5's of a second, so we need to go to a formula often used, but this is an estimation, it would seem that if Sham's time was 1:59.90 it would be faster than Monarchos', but it is not; because Monarchos's time is ELECTRONIC and has been converted to 1:59.80, which actually is in tenths. Electronic times are slower than times in tenths, it's the same as in Track and Field. With that said: 1. Big Red- 1:59.40, 2. Monarchos- 1:59.80 3. Sham-1:59.90.

[@eg6cvchatch]

That's one hell of a call by Tom Durkin.

[@rugger104]

Yes, indeed - amazing call, Durkin was the best to ever do it, and it isn’t even close, imo.

[@agustindejesus7398]

Velazquez told that guy with the microphone....shut up, iam on the phone. I was at the Meadowlands, NJ this day....damn 21 years today, i got old fast.

[@rugger104]

What a douche move trying to interrupt JV, while on the phone to the Stewards.

[@schumi246]

52:38 for the race.

[@FARSIKATZ]

schumi246 Thank Youu !!

[@kennethnero2011]

Rip John Ward 4/24/2021

[@charleslockhart6778]

I had Congaree and thought he was a winner mid stretch when he put away Point Given. It’s tough to lose a derby wager because you are always reminded of it, through the PP’s or KZbin videos, or pedigree charts.

[@JasonDelarosa2000]

And the Derby has aired on NBC *EVER SINCE.*

[@Dmx3698]

Yes it was lightning fast. Monarchos performance was amazing but the track was unusually fast. Secretariat wasn't even ridden out.

[@glenlynch1]

Monarhos another Triple Crown winner for Northern Dancer's DNA Prodigy... Let's not forget the '64 record setting Kentucky Derby race of Northern Dancer!!! Northern' like no other athlete in the History Of ANY Sport(s). ACTUALLY CHANGED the Thoroughbred Breed, and the history of the centuries old Sport Of Kings... Canada's Athlete Of The Year, has also forever changed the future of his sport. There NEVER HAS BEEN, nor FOREVER WILL BE??? Another athlete to HIS or in any sport accomplish, what our 'Dancer had and still achieves!!! More than 90% of ALL Champion Thoroughbreds still to this day have Oshawa Ontario DNA. From their Northern Dancer bloodline!!! Not bad at all... For Our Northern Dancer who as a yearling himself in '62, NOBODY wanted "Too small for a Thoroughbred athlete" they said. Until he forever changed the history of his sport, like no other athlete. They'll NOW pay, still to this day, almost 30 years past his death. $Million$ more for Thoroughbreds of HIS conformation (shape) and Prodigy. Then they ever did before, or even wanted to look at, over many centuries. Before Our Northern Dancer's Dominance in the sport of Thoroughbred Racing!!!

[@howl_with_the_wolves]

😅 you must be from Canada

[@ed9492]

A lot has happened in the last 20 years. I don't even want to think about what 2041 will be like.

[@ipowers2927]

Stevens asked Point Given too soon in that race. He was clearly the most talented 3 year old in the country that year and might be the most talented to not win the Triple Crown. Big Brown, Secretariat's son Risen Star, Seattle Slew's son and Secretariats's grandson A.P. Indy and Spectacular Bid were very talented colts that didn't win it either.

[@DanielSong39]

Point Given never responded to Stevens' urging so it would not have mattered. He was getting outrun by Congaree on the front end and could never challenge him.

[@3to5andglassy]

The key to Monarchos was the post parade. He, on occasions would get washy. I gave him out on my website as the winner, but only if he was dry in the post parade. He was and he won. The problem was you couldn't use him horizontally, because you had to wait and see if he was taking everything in stride. Great win price on him. As Greg said too bad about the knee.

[@orisha19]

You have got to win the Roses, plain and simple, after that we can argue about times and breeding.

[@frostedicepharoah7723]

Very fun to watch to get into the Kentucky Derby spirit; happy to see that Invisible Ink ran well after hearing his story. Surprised to hear that Whirlaway still holds the record for longest win margin. Fierceness could beat it.

[@bekkasawyer8401]

That story about Invisible Ink was so sad...but great!

[@wvXvxvXvw]

We got ripped off. He kept telling us we could watch 2 minutes of racing. That damned horse went too fast. Amazing run from a less than amazing horse makes this a more than amazing race.

[@johnforeman634]

I find it surprising that an announcer would exclaim that he equaled Secretariat. I don’t even follow the sport that closely and I know that isn’t correct. I mean, not to be so picky as for all intents and purposes it’s equal, but if we’re going to be absolutely technical….

[@jm1657]

Yes, he definitely jumped the gun with that presumption!

[@williamdiemert9866]

NBC first announced the Kentucky derby in 2001

[@bamfy15]

Tremendous race!

[@gonzalorafaelrm23]

It would be better if you dont put the winner game on the title. Thank you for sharing.

[@mannbradmusic]

For the benefit of you and others who view this, I have the lyrics for "My Old Kentucky Home" and they are below if you want to read them while listening or sing along. It occurs at the 42:58 mark. The sun shines bright on My Old Kentucky Home, 'tis Summer, the people are gay; The corn-top's ripe and the meadow's in the bloom, while the birds make music all the day. The young folks roll on the little cabin floor, all merry, all happy and bright; By'n by hard times come a-knocking at the door, then My Old Kentucky Home, good night! Weep no more, my lady! O, weep no more today! We will sing one song for My Old Kentucky Home, for My Old Kentucky Home far away. 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 Plus, the race itself begins at the 52:38 mark.

[@jpmato920]

do you know the music that is played in the introduction?

[@regisandrews4495]

Our Invisible Ink Colt "INKY" stall name... Loved Him, and loved see his daddy in Ocala

[@britishladproductions5920]

How in the world did point given waves

[@nandhana99]

Was there @ Infield it was great fun out there as there were some restrictions post 9/11, my 🐎 Dollar bill lost

[@anthonygualtieri8423]

Not as fast as Secretariat. Secretariat ran 1:59.2

[@lindabrahler5093]

Anthony Gualtier

[@4orrcountry]

@Chris Calo Weak.

[@kennywest3300]

If Secretariat ran on that fast a track he would have run a 1:58 and something. Probably a 1:58.2

[@deepthreat]

@Kevin Michael The announcer said the 1973 Derby track was fast but not blazingly fast. Congaree ran on a blazingly fast track. Check out the other race times that day.

[@foots-qt4pk]

@Kevin Michael To avoid contention, don't use the qualifying term "Blazingly" as you did in your previous comment. Bottom line, no one has beaten ANY of Secretariats triple crown records in 47 years.

[@ahmedbaig7279]

This was 1981 when millions and millions saw the event of Diana marriage. This was NBC. In 2002 I saw this race. And again NBC was there. Again in 2021 the broadcaster successfully broadcast the event. I want to share my research with NBC and print it.

[@sherylejeffers9491]

R.I.P Inky....love you always...

[@DanielSong39]

Invisible Ink got unlucky, Point Given came out and Monarchos came in and he got pinched. They horses were coming around the turn so it's not a matter of Monarchos running sideways. If Invisible Ink had gotten alongside Point Given coming around the turn I think he would've been clear but he just didn't have the explosion

[@retroguy3733]

I'v been betting the derby for 20yrs and this was the first exacta i've ever hit. $1229.00 and i tipped the teller 20bucks. If Monarchos hadn't cut INK off, he might have won the whole damn thing.

[@bg147]

retroguy I keyed Invisible Ink but I cannot agree it cost him the win. Monarchos was loaded at that point and Invisible Ink was just grinding away, picking up the pieces. It could have cost him 2nd but didn't. Congaree earned my respect this race.

[@DanielSong39]

He got squeezed by Monarchos and Point Given, they both only moved half a lane. The hole closed, that's racing

[@rugger104]

Congrats on the win 🤑

[@WSBT960]

Miss Charlsie Cantey, she was a wealth of knowledge.

[@MikePike5]

can you do the 2002 broadcast of the kentucky derby?

[@kennethnero2011]

rip Monarchos

[@adotintheshark4848]

The early speed beat Point Given, who would go on to win the Preakness and Belmont.

[@willieloveless7419]

They were stablemates. I play them both as a couple at Gulfstream.

[@taylorcooke3775]

RIP Monarchos

[@Caroni100]

Monarchos´ time in Kentucky Derby was 1:59:97 for 1 1/4 miles. The second best time in Derby history behind Secretariat´s one (1973): 1:59 2/5. He won 4 races in 10 starts: almost 50% effective! We will never forget him. Greetings from Venezuela.

[@ebbets1965]

Other than Big Brown this was the last time I bet the winner of this race. Yes, I held off on California Chrome, American Pharoah and Nyquist, even betting against the latter. As 2001 showed, not always is the race won by the best horse(in this case Point Given). Monarchos never won another race.

[@seanallheart]

hello big Bob Costas!! =D ah, remember when we worked at NBC together, you doing the old really Late Night show - me a young, naive college intern =D GoSEAN.org !!! damn sure relished the opportunity to be around the SNL crew then and David Letterman, not to mention breakfast every morning. When the Gulf War broke out, being behind the curtains at NBC-TV HQ was intense ... watching the plaza tree being setup and illuminated as our dear Liza (Arthur!) wishes everyone a merry christmas... Hello NY

[@jm1657]

What a thriller!!

[@nickyd.4695]

I had him that day, talk about a dark horse!!!

[@a305crack]

good karma monarchos owner was donating a piece of the purse to the jockeys fund . ! awesome

[@foots-qt4pk]

No, he was NOT as fast as Secretariat. Secretariat won the Derby in 1:59 2/5.

[@robertlosasso4222]

Yeah and the record still holds in 2024 .

[@charlesmonti4120]

The announcer could stand to bring it down about 10 notches

[@ebbets1965]

+Charles Monti Not as bad as Trevor Denman who only just a minute ago acknowledged that Mine that Bird was in front in the 2009 Kentucky Derby.

[@RedCard94]

Considering this was his first time calling the Kentucky Derby, Tom Durkin I thought did a great job calling it

[@salicemccool9268]

+steven cooke And then exclaimed, "Mine That BIRD has won the Kentucky Der!!"

[@claudeciancio1933]

Why would you "bring it down?' Should he keep something in reserve for the important races? Maybe when there are more people watching?

[@michaelpflug394]

Lol Durkin made a great call, but my fondest memories will always be Dave Johnson and his trademark and down the stretch they come. Best decade of my life in my triple crown results the 1980’s, and Dave made them all the more special.

[@WSBT960]

High School Prom Night started well, my pick won the Derby....lol then half my party got arrested and sent to jail for the night for underage drinking. I wasn't one of them btw.

[@CagneyLamaze]

3 human interest stories in the first 20 minutes. I miss those days.

[@dave1283]

Secretariat - 1:59 2/5 =1:59.40 Monarchos - 1:59.97 NOT as fast as Secretariat!

[@ahmedbaig7279]

I had seen this race on television. I Iiked the way the way it won this race. But he was not able to win triple crown.

[@mrbigshot1986]

really gutted for point given surely he his one of the best never not to win the triple crown a truely remarkable beast - think stevens had him maybe a bit too close to the sprint fractions early but i dont think the horse was ever really going in that race

[@davidthornton5433]

Point given threw 2 shoes in the race.

[@jeffmejia3556]

Track management was too ambitious. The times prior to the Derby were blazing fast. The 7f stakes race before the Derby produced record splits with the speed holding. There was chatter amongst the horseman before the Derby was run that there may be a record set. Close. I remember commenting “The last time a horse ran a sub 2:00 Derby he went on to dominate the Triple Crown and become one of the best ever “. Monarchos proved not to be in the same class as Secretariat.

[@andrewcarpenter687]

Point given and congaree were better colts to be there at the end...monarchos had perfect set up...but that's racing back then on the suicide splits...it's becoming calmer under the new setup..

[@victorsuarez6130]

2019 the Derby first DQ in history.

[@DanielSong39]

Monarchos came in while Point Given came out and Invisible Ink got squeezed, just bad luck. No obvious interference by either horse, they only moved half a lane each.

[@TravisVOX]

I believe it's by David Arkenstone.

[@Mattessj]

best horse names ever to run in the derby

[@hitman9t92]

what a clown this reporter is, cant just wait for the call to end and talk to the jockeys like a real person

[@StFidjnr]

3:35 CUE THE MUSIC

[@deuce4off]

That was impressive

[@feystongal]

grande cavallo ' bravissimo fantino'' lo ha tenuto nascosto 'eha fatto una passarela ai 200 finali'' drito e senza menarlo' come il povero secondo'' che il suo fantino dormiva ' e forse e' arivato anche terzo

[@lynnzick4317]

announcer thinks .97 of the 1:59.97 is 4/5ths of a second

[@robertlosasso4222]

In horse racing it is .

[@regisandrews4495]

2nd place @ 50-1 hugh!

[@gregrice1532]

Point given and smarty Jones were the best horses not to win the triple crown

[@robertlosasso4222]

Not necessarily so, Shams time would be better than either one of those two .

[@a305crack]

chop chop !

[@beast13284]

monarchos never won another race. ouch!

[@yoshibax]

Bitchin! Awesome! Great! What a race!

[@hoisingshum6534]

3, 4, 16,

[@megatmegat4893]

🤔👍the best

[@megatmegat4893]

🤔👍🏻

[@GeorgeFitness-yo8bl]

Monarchos got smoked by Point Given!

[@robertlosasso4222]

Not in the Derby he didn’t.