Digging Into Derby Day

What science has to say about America’s most popular horse race.

By Lacy Schley
May 8, 2018 5:00 AMNov 15, 2019 2:57 PM
DSC-CR0518_02.jpg
Some horses love to lead right out of the gate, and others trail first and surge ahead later on, but there’s a benefit to sticking with the pack. A study published in The Royal Society Biology Letters in 2012 analyzed roughly 3,300 races and found that horses that stay back just a bit and let other horses cut their wind resistance, or draft, can decrease their aerodynamic drag by 13 percent. Drafting for 75 percent of the race could conserve enough energy to help the horse finish three to four places higher than horses that don’t draft. | Jamie Rhodes/USA TODAY Sports/Reuters

Newsletter

Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news
 

The first Saturday in May might be an excuse to indulge in a few mint juleps, but the 1.25-mile Kentucky Derby is a major athletic event. For the 20 horse-and-rider teams, and everyone from owners to trainers, there’s a $2 million purse — and a lot of prestige — on the line. So naturally, experts have dissected nearly every aspect of the race to try to figure out a winning formula.

0 free articles left
Want More? Get unlimited access for as low as $1.99/month

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

0 free articlesSubscribe
Discover Magazine Logo
Want more?

Keep reading for as low as $1.99!

Subscribe

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

Stay Curious

Sign up for our weekly newsletter and unlock one more article for free.

 

View our Privacy Policy


Want more?
Keep reading for as low as $1.99!


Log In or Register

Already a subscriber?
Find my Subscription

More From Discover
Stay Curious
Join
Our List

Sign up for our weekly science updates.

 
Subscribe
To The Magazine

Save up to 40% off the cover price when you subscribe to Discover magazine.

Copyright © 2025 LabX Media Group