Historic 150th Kentucky Derby: Mystik Dan's dramatic victory

The 150th Kentucky Derby delivered high drama and a historic spectacle, culminating in a three-way photo finish where Mystik Dan narrowly beat Sierra Leone and Forever Young, marking one of the closest finishes in Derby history.

The race not only showcased the unpredictable thrill and tradition of the Run for the Roses but also highlighted milestones such as a rare Oaks-Derby double by trainer Kenny McPeek and jockey Brian Hernandez Jr., last achieved in 1952. The event broke records for both attendance and wagering.

Significantly, Forever Young became the first Japanese-bred horse to hit the Derby board, reflecting the global growth of the sport.

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

Mystik Dan with Brian Hernandez, Jr. up (3), right, wins the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., on Saturday, May 4, 2024. By Alex Slitz

NO. 1: MYSTIK DAN WINS HISTORIC 2024 KENTUCKY DERBY IN THREE-WAY PHOTO FINISH AT CHURCHILL DOWNS

Mystik Dan emerged from a field of 20 horses to win the historic 150th Kentucky Derby in a photo finish on Saturday night at Churchill Downs. | Published May 4, 2024 | Read Full Story by Cameron Drummond

Trainer Kenneth McPeek celebrates winning the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby with Mystik Dan and Brian Hernandez, Jr. at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky, Saturday, May 4, 2024. By Silas Walker

NO. 2: ‘I BELIEVE IN MOJO.’ LEXINGTON TRAINER EARNS RARE DOUBLE IN THRILLING DERBY PHOTO FINISH.

Lexington native Kenny McPeek and jockey Brian Hernandez pull off a Kentucky Derby/Kentucky Oaks double with Mystik Dan’s win at Churchill Downs. | Published May 5, 2024 | Read Full Story by John Clay

Mystik Dan with Brian Hernandez, Jr. up (3), celebrates after winning the Kentucky Derby 150 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., Saturday, May 4, 2024. By Amy Wallot

NO. 3: KENTUCKY DERBY 2024 COMPLETE ORDER OF FINISH AND PAYOFFS AT CHURCHILL DOWNS

The final official numbers from Saturday’s 150th Kentucky Derby horse race in Louisville. | Published May 5, 2024 | Read Full Story

The field of horses runs down the front stretch for the first time around during the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, on May 4, 2024. By Bryan Woolston

NO. 4: WHAT HAPPENED TO FIERCENESS, WEST SARATOGA AND ALL THE OTHER 2024 KENTUCKY DERBY ALSO-RANS?

The favorite was in contention early but did not factor in the photo finish in the 150th Kentucky Derby. | Published May 5, 2024 | Read Full Story by Jon Hale

Lance Gasaway, one of Mystik Dan’s owners, hoists the trophy and celebrates with the Kentucky Derby winner’s connections. Owners, trainers and staff of Mystik Dan with Brian Hernandez, Jr. up celebrate after wining the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby day at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky, Saturday, May 4, 2024. By Silas Walker

NO. 5: OWNER OF KENTUCKY DERBY 2024 WINNER MYSTIK DAN DEDICATES VICTORY TO HIS LATE FATHER

Before Lance Gasaway saw Mystik Dan win the 2024 Kentucky Derby, he visited the grave of his father back in Arkansas. | Published May 5, 2024 | Read Full Story by John Clay

Brian Hernandez Jr. celebrates after winning the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby aboard Mystik Dan at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., on Saturday, May 4, 2024. By Alex Slitz

NO. 6: BRIAN HERNANDEZ JR., LONG AN UNDERAPPRECIATED JOCKEY, RIDES AN UNFORGETTABLE KENTUCKY DERBY

With a bold, rail-hugging ride out of the Calvin Borel school, Hernandez guides Mystik Dan to a photo-finish win in the 150th Kentucky Derby. | Published May 5, 2024 | Read Full Story by Mark Story

Spectators overlook the paddock before the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., on Saturday, May 4, 2024. By Alex Slitz

NO. 7: FOR KENTUCKY DERBY FIRST-TIMERS, SPECTACLE AND FASHION MAKE BUCKET LIST TRIPS COMPLETE

The 150th running of the Kentucky Derby brought tens of thousands of spectators to Louisville’s iconic Churchill Downs, where bourbon and fashion rounded out the experience. | Published May 4, 2024 | Read Full Story by Tessa Duvall

Brian Hernandez, Jr. atop Mystik Dan (3) before winning the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., on Saturday, May 4, 2024. By Alex Slitz

NO. 8: SEE THE BEST PHOTOS, VIDEOS FROM 2024 KENTUCKY DERBY: MYSTIK DAN’S WIN, FASHION, CELEBRITIES

Relive all the pageantry and spectacle of the 2024 Kentucky Derby with our best photos and videos from Churchill Downs. | Published May 5, 2024 | Read Full Story by Dennis Varney

Mystik Dan with Brian Hernandez, Jr. up (3) wins the 150th Ky Derby , Saturday May 4, 2024 in Louisville, Ky. By Mark Mahan

NO. 9: HOW ARE PHOTO FINISHES LIKE THE ONE AT KENTUCKY DERBY 2024 JUDGED? WHAT WE KNOW.

Racing fans have technology to thank for the race results. | Published May 5, 2024 | Read Full Story by Karla Ward

Jockey Brian Hernandez, Jr. celebrates winning the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby on Mystik Dan at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky, Saturday, May 4, 2024. By Silas Walker

NO. 10: CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT PHOTO FINISH? REACTIONS TO MYSTIK DAN’S KENTUCKY DERBY WIN

See the best online reactions to the colt’s iconic 2024 Kentucky Derby victory. | Published May 5, 2024 | Read Full Story by Caroline Makauskas

The 2024 Kentucky Derby photo finish, which saw Mystik Dan defeat Sierra Leone and Forever Young (JPN), was the first Derby decided by a nose margin since 1996.

NO. 11: HOW DOES A THREE-HORSE PHOTO IN THE KENTUCKY DERBY RANK? HERE ARE THE CLOSEST FINISHES EVER.

Mystik Dan won the 2024 Kentucky Derby in a three-way photo finish. It was the closest Derby finish in almost 30 years. | Published May 5, 2024 | Read Full Story by Cameron Drummond

Brian Hernandez, Jr. atop Mystik Dan (3) wins the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., on Saturday, May 4, 2024. By Alex Slitz

NO. 12: FOR THE FIRST TIME, A JAPANESE HORSE HIT THE BOARD IN THE KY. DERBY. A WIN WILL COME SOON.

At least one Japanese horse has competed in each of the last three Kentucky Derbys. | Published May 6, 2024 | Read Full Story by Cameron Drummond

Mystik Dan with Brian Hernandez Jr. (3) celebrates after winning the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, on May 4, 2024. By Bryan Woolston

NO. 13: WHO IS UP AND WHO IS DOWN AFTER AN UNFORGETTABLE 2024 KENTUCKY DERBY

The thrilling 150th renewal of the Run for the Roses yielded surprising winners and losers. | Published May 6, 2024 | Read Full Story by Mark Story

Sierra Leone with Tyler Gafflione (2) and Forever Young with Ryusei Sakai (11) battle as they approach the finish line during the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, on May 4, 2024. By Bryan Woolston

NO. 14: KENTUCKY DERBY STRETCH DUEL RESULTS IN FINE FOR JOCKEY TYLER GAFFALIONE, BUT NO SUSPENSION

Jockey of Kentucky Derby second-place finisher Sierra Leone fined for making contact with third-place Forever Young during stretch battle. | Published May 10, 2024 | Read Full Story by Cameron Drummond

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.