Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Munfordville native Simon Bolivar Buckner , born in 1823. Our 30th governor fought in the Mexican-American War and the Civil War as a Confederate. He spent most of his term trying to curb violence in Eastern Kentucky.
Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Thompsonville native James Thomas Cotton Noe , born in 1864 in Washington County. In 1926; he became Kentucky’s Poet Laureate.
May 2, 1882, Louisville native Pete Browning made his MLB debut with the Louisville Eclipse.
May 2, 1903, Judge Himes won the 29th Kentucky Derby for Charles R. Ellison, jockey Harold Booker, and trainer John P. Mayberry in 2:09.00 for 1 ¼ to earn $4,850. Churchill used a web barrier to start the race, an elastic tape four inches wide that stretched across the track. The starter pressed a button to release two iron arms holding the tape in place. In 1930 the track implemented a starting gate.
Monday, May 2, 1904, Elwood won the 30th Kentucky Derby for Mrs. Lasca Durnell , jockey Frank Prior, and trainer Charles E. Durnell. The Missouri bred ran in 2:08.50 and earned $4,850. Ms. Durnell became the 1st woman to breed and own a Derby winner. In 1904, the red rose became the official flower of the Kentucky Derby; however, Churchill began using roses in 1896.
Wednesday, May 2, 1906, Sir Huon won the 32nd Kentucky Derby for Bashford Manor Stable with jockey Roscoe Troxler, and trainer Peter Coyne. In 1887, George Long purchased Bashford Manor in Louisville and developed it into a leading Thoroughbred horse farm where they bred three Derby winners. The winning time of 2:08 4/5 earned $4,850.
On May 2, 1929, representatives of garden clubs and garden departments throughout the state assembled on UK’s campus for the annual garden day sponsored by the Kentucky Botanical Garden. The meeting concluded with tea at Maxwell Place with UK’s President Dr. McVey and his wife.
May 2, 1936, Bold Venture won the 62nd Kentucky Derby for Morton L. Schwartz, jockey Ira Hanford, and trainer Max Hirsch. Max won his 1st of three Derbies in 2:03.60. Witnesses described the start as the roughest in Derby history.
On May 2, 1937, a Gypsy conned a 77-year-old Covington woman out of $3,015. The advisor promised to cure an ailment if she withdrew the money, put it in a belt, and tied it around her waist . The next day the Gypsy woman told her it didn’t work and to place the money under her pillow. Unfortunately, the money went missing that day.
May 2, 1942, Shut Out won the 68th Kentucky Derby for Greentree Stable , jockey Wayne D. Wright, and trainer John M. Gaver Sr. in 2:04. 4/5. Eddie Arcaro, a two-time Derby winner at the time no doubt would have won a record six Derbies, instead of five, had he not chosen Devil Diver, Shut Out’s stablemate.
May 2, 1953, Dark Star won the 79th Kentucky Derby for Cain Hoy Stable with jockey Henry Moreno and trainer Eddie Hayward . Native Dancer ruled this Derby until he didn’t. Dark Star handed “The Grey Ghost” his only defeat in 22 starts. The winning time of 2:02 earned $90,050.
On May 2, 1956, President D. Eisenhower and scores of plain people paid a final tribute to Senator and ex-V.P. Alben W. Barkley . The front pews of the Foundry Methodist Church contained cabinet members, supreme court justices, senators, and diplomats. The body returned to Paducah on a special train the same day.
May 2, 1959, Tomy Lee won the 85th Kentucky Derby for Mr. & Mrs. Fred Turner Jr., Bill Shoemaker, and trainer Frank E. Childs, the winning time of 2:02 1/5 earned $119,650. The Shoe survived Bill Boland’s foul claim that Tomy Lee bumped Sword Dancer rounding for home. The stewards deliberated a staggering 17 minutes. From London, Tomy Lee became the 2nd and last foreign-born Derby winner.
May 2, 1960, UK suspended five Delta Tau Delta members for hazing . The University found out about the incident after the pledge ended up in the hospital after they made him eat and smoke several cigarettes.
May 2, 1964, Blue Grass Stakes winner Northern Dancer won the 90th Kentucky Derby for Winfields Farms. Jockey Bill Hartack won his 4th of five Derbies. The great trainer Horatio Luro won his 2nd Derby in three tries. The 2:00 winning time set a new Churchill Downs record. The Canadian bred received $114,300 for the win.
May 2, 1967, Army PFC Roy A. Robertson from Danville in Boyle County died in the Vietnam War.
May 2, 1968, Marine Corps PVT Jerry Fields from Lexington died in the Vietnam War.
May 2, 1969, Marine Corps 1LT Gary E. Holtzclaw from Corbin County , Army SGT Jerry R. Meadows from Regina in Pike County , Marine Corps LCPL Troy E. Powell from Newport in Campbell County, and Army 1LT Edward C. Powers from Knox , all died in the Vietnam War.
On May 2, 1970, Diane Crump became the 1st woman to ride in the Kentucky Derby ; she finished 15th aboard Fathom. Illinois bred Dust Commander won the 96th edition in 2:03.40 for owner Robert E. Lehmann, trainer Don Combs, and jockey Mike Manganello. The winning connections earned $127,800.
On May 2, 1973, Transylvania President Lunger announced a new type of four-year program – the first for Kentucky – Hotel and Restaurant Management to accommodate the 4th largest industry in the world.
May 2, 1980, Anita Madden, right, was joined by Las Vegas designer Suzy Creamcheese during the Madden’s Derby Eve party. Suzy designed many of Anita’s elaborate gowns over the years.
May 2, 1981, Pleasant Colony won the 107th Kentucky Derby for Thomas Mellon Evans’s Buckland Farm. Trainer John P. Campo and jockey Jorge Velásquez got the colt across the finish line in 2:02.00 to earn $317,200. Mr. Evan was an original corporate raider.
May 2, 1982, Louisville native Greg Page retained the USBA belt with a unanimous decision over Jimmy Young .
May 2, 1987, Alysheba won his 1st stakes race in the 113th Kentucky Derby for Dorothy & Pamela Scharbauer, trainer Jack Van Berg, and jockey Chris McCarron in 2:03.40 to earn $618,600. He won the Blue Grass Stakes, but the stewards took him down for interference in the stretch. The 5th Kentucky Derby winner bred by Preston Madden’s Hamburg Stud, Alysheba captured the Preakness but finished 4th in the Belmont.
May 2, 1990, former Ashland Oil Chairman Orin E. Atkins told a federal grand jury how he stole 100s of confidential documents before leaving his job, with help from a current V.P. He wanted to sell the records to an Iranian oil company that had sued Ashland Oil. Atkins wanted Iran to have the upper hand in exchange for cash.
On May 2, 1992, Pat Day won his 1st and only Kentucky Derby on Lil E. Tee. The 118th Derby hosted Arzi, who, at 4-5, had captured the hearts of racing fans worldwide. He finished 8th , the worst finish in Derby history by a favorite who was odds-on or less. Click to see M.C. Hammer in the paddock; his horse, Dance Floor, finished 3rd . The time of 2:03.04 earned $724,800. Russian citizens watched the Derby for the 1st time on television; some say they influenced the outcome. An estimated 200 million people watched the 4th women’s jockey ride for the Roses, Julie Krone, who finished 14th .
On May 2, 1995, Governor W. Wilkinson played a governor’s aide, and Dave Thomas played the Kentucky governor in a Hollywood movie filmed at Churchill Downs . Derby told the story of a woman who reluctantly returned to take over the Kentucky family horse farm. In 2004, Wallace declared bankruptcy after stealing $35 million from Dave and other high-profile friends.
May 2, 1998, Real Quiet won the 124th Kentucky Derby for McDonald franchise owner Mike Pegram, his friend Bob Baffert, and their friend jockey Kent Desormeaux. The winning time of 2:02.38 received $738,800. Real Quiet, a true rags-to-riches story, sold for $17,000 at the 1996 Keeneland September yearling sale.
May 2, 1999, Cigar, the two-time Horse of the Year winner whose 16-race winning streak was among the top feats in racing history, kicked up his heels after arriving at his new home at the Kentucky Horse Park after earning more than any other thoroughbred.
On May 2, 2002, a judge told Martha Wilkinson, 60, she would be responsible for $115 million of her husband’s debts , 15 months after Wallace declared bankruptcy. Her lawyers claimed she faced “utter financial ruin.”
On May 2, 2003, M. McConnell frantically delivered a 25-page plea to the U.S. Supreme Court , claiming the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law constituted a “frontal assault” on the First Amendment. Eight months later, the High Court ruled against Mitch. However, McConnell had the last laugh in Citizens United v. FEC in 2010 and McCutcheon v. FEC in 2014. The money flows freely, like college athletics.
On May 2, 2005, Visa ended its deal with Triple Crown Productions after 10 years and signed with Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby for five years. They used “proud sponsor” of the Derby instead of adding its name to the race. At the time, Visa offered a $5 million bonus for a TC winner but never had to pay it.
May 2, 2009, Mine That Bird, paid $103.20 when he won the 135th Kentucky Derby in 2:02.66 to earn his connections $1,417,200 . A masterful ride on the rail by Calvin Borel gave Double Eagle Ranch et al. and trainer “Chip” Woolley Jr., the time of their lives.
On May 2, 2011, President Barack Obama, the Central Intelligence Agency with the Navy SEALs Team of Six, killed Osama bin Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden in Pakistan. It took the most powerful military in the world ten years to find enemy #1.
On May 2, 2015, American Pharoah won the 141st Kentucky Derby for Zayat Stable’s homebred. Bob Baffert “earned” his 5th out of six Derbies. Victor Espinoza guided the Lexington-bred colt home in 2:03.02 for $1,418,800. He won the 1st TC 36 years, nine months, and 27 days after Affirmed won his.
May 2, 2016, UK’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environment planted the 1st plot of hemp on Ashland, the historic Henry Clay Estate since the late 19th Century.
On May 2, 2017, while Briana Driskell gave birth to two boys and three girls in four minutes at UK’s Chandler Hospital, UK’s athletic department sold out to Kroger and changed the name of Commonwealth Stadium for $1.85 million per year for 12 years.
Saturday, May 2, 2020, no horses turned for home to win the Kentucky Derby for the 1st time in 75 years. Meanwhile, five sitting lawmakers and hundreds of others gathered closely together at the Capitol to protest the governor’s economic restrictions to slow down the virus, all without masks. The governor called it “reckless.”
Sunday, May 2, 2021, one day after the Derby, “I don’t know, but he’s the Derby winner and that’s all that matters.” Bob Baffert
Thomas Massie’s May 2, 2022, Tweet came true three years later. President Trump has made it clear he wants Massie, “kicked out of the Republican party.” Trump has also asked for someone to primary Massie in 2026; so far, there have been no takers. Massie shrugs it off by doing a great Trump impersonation.
On May 2, 2023, Kentucky recognized teachers and Foster Care families as frontline heroes.
On May 2, 2024, Andy Barr did what he did best: advocated for banking deregulation. Barr knows bankers have certain unalienable rights, among them are “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”