Kentucky Derby

High school (ages 12+)
Sports & Games

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/kentucky-derby

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How heavy is Kentucky Derby?126 pounds (57 kilograms)
2. What is the location?Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky
3. What is the race distance?1.25 miles (10 furlongs or 2,012 meters)
4. Why do winners get a blanket of roses?The blanket of roses is a special prize that shows the winner’s victory and prestige. It’s why the race is nicknamed "The Run for the Roses."
5. When is the Kentucky Derby held?It is held every year on the first Saturday in May. The event starts a two‑week festival in Louisville before the race.

Thoroughbred: A breed of horse renowned for its speed, agility, and racing performance, specifically bred for equestrian sports.
Triple Crown: A prestigious series of three major Thoroughbred horse races in North America, considered the ultimate test of a three-year-old horse.
Stakes Race: A horse race where the owner of each horse entered must pay a fee (stake) to enter, with the total stakes forming the prize money.
Grade I Race: The highest classification for a Thoroughbred race, indicating the most competitive and prestigious events in the sport.