DERBY
2021 Kentucky Derby: Best photos from Churchill Downs
USA TODAY
![John Velazquez, aboard Medina Spirit, won the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/05/02/USAT/04c91c88-826c-4e74-a94b-161a7dcb3458-2021_derby_medina_spirit_victory.jpg?crop=2502,1828,x0,y127&width=660&height=483&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
John Velazquez, aboard Medina Spirit, won the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.
Michael Clevenger And Christopher Granger/Courier Journal![The 19-horse field leaves the starting gate at Churchill Downs.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/05/01/USAT/8353bf1b-ed73-41c8-91b1-70a7c52b366e-2021_derby_start.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
The 19-horse field leaves the starting gate at Churchill Downs.
Jordan Prather, USA TODAY Sports![The field heads down the track at Churchill Downs.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/05/01/USAT/44dc9927-1441-497c-8b0c-b8e9ba15c86e-2021_derby_start_2.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
The field heads down the track at Churchill Downs.
Jordan Prather, USA TODAY Sports![John Velazquez aboard Medina Spirit leads on the inside rail coming out of the final turn.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/05/01/USAT/0d27b2b4-fcc0-427b-8bd4-c57484998792-2021_derby_inside_rail.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
John Velazquez aboard Medina Spirit leads on the inside rail coming out of the final turn.
Jordan Prather, USA TODAY Sports![John Velazquez aboard Medina Spirit leads on the inside rail coming out of the final turn.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/05/01/USAT/4b573595-503d-4f03-b8fb-9083a26543e8-2021_derby_turn.jpg?width=660&height=392&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
John Velazquez aboard Medina Spirit leads on the inside rail coming out of the final turn.
Jordan Prather, USA TODAY Sports![Competitors come down the final stretch.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/05/02/USAT/1d99899e-5629-48d7-9d4f-846021cc034f-2021_derby_stretch_2.jpg?crop=3339,2285,x0,y382&width=660&height=452&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Competitors come down the final stretch.
Alton Strupp/Courier Journal![John Velazquez, aboard Medina Spirit, leads the field down the stretch.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/05/02/USAT/361a4612-5429-48d8-8c9b-1413bdaa3fd8-2021_derby_stretch.jpg?width=660&height=424&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
John Velazquez, aboard Medina Spirit, leads the field down the stretch.
Michael Clevenger And O'Neil Arnold/Courier Journal![John Velazquez, aboard Medina Spirit, leads the field down the stretch.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/05/02/USAT/0e6fd96b-d198-4ed9-b86a-ff82d04dc430-2021_derby_valezquez.jpg?crop=2290,3000,x0,y0&width=504&height=660&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
John Velazquez, aboard Medina Spirit, leads the field down the stretch.
Michael Clevenger And O'Neil Arnold/Courier Journal![John Velazquez, aboard Medina Spirit, wins the Kentucky Derby.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/05/01/USAT/6751d157-faa1-4504-b050-0f97b4ecff92-2021_derby_medina_wins.jpg?crop=2433,1579,x331,y397&width=660&height=429&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
John Velazquez, aboard Medina Spirit, wins the Kentucky Derby.
Michael Clevenger And Christopher Granger/The Courier Journal![Jockey John Velazquez receives a handshake from Jeff Ruby after his victory.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/05/02/USAT/c4551054-0181-4df8-a86d-95aa72280c3c-2021_derby_handshake.jpg?crop=4643,3139,x9,y0&width=660&height=447&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Jockey John Velazquez receives a handshake from Jeff Ruby after his victory.
Matt Stone, Courier Journal![Trainer Bob Baffert reacts in the Winner's Circle. He picked up his record seventh Kentucky Derby victory with Medina Spirit.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/05/02/USAT/55ef95b2-43bc-4b84-9401-8a1de64b82d1-2021_derby_baffert.jpg?width=660&height=447&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Trainer Bob Baffert reacts in the Winner's Circle. He picked up his record seventh Kentucky Derby victory with Medina Spirit.
Matt Stone/Courier Journal![Jockey John Velazquez raises the trophy after winning the Kentucky Derby.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/05/02/USAT/664c2142-dfed-4be4-ac92-f2c27e0a6a82-2021_derby_celebrate.jpg?crop=4137,2911,x553,y281&width=660&height=465&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Jockey John Velazquez raises the trophy after winning the Kentucky Derby.
Matt Stone/Courier Journal![Jockey John Velazquez holds up four fingers for his four Kentucky Derby victories.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/05/02/USAT/847cc9a4-dc28-413b-bbd2-b2dc876779ec-2021_derby_jockey.jpg?crop=3476,2610,x0,y0&width=660&height=496&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Jockey John Velazquez holds up four fingers for his four Kentucky Derby victories.
Matt Stone/Courier Journal![Fans cheer during race six at Churchill Downs.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/05/01/USAT/4e5fa478-c036-4431-a060-9eff63217751-USATSI_15996909.jpg?width=660&height=441&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Fans cheer during race six at Churchill Downs.
Alton Strupp, Louisville Courier Journal![The field approaches the finish line in the 35th running of the Derby City Distaff.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/05/01/USAT/2e242e47-0433-4d17-8051-5a4f3fc2c38c-USATSI_15996978.jpg?width=660&height=441&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
The field approaches the finish line in the 35th running of the Derby City Distaff.
Jordan Prather, USA TODAY Sports![A young fan watches a horse in the paddock before the race.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/05/01/USAT/c5b21edf-134d-420a-b33c-4d36e93d5b94-USATSI_15996182.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
A young fan watches a horse in the paddock before the race.
Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY Sports![Derby patron Erik Williams wears a money-themed suit at Churchill Downs.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/05/01/USAT/7631f61d-9045-48d0-8d63-c71b268d40c2-USATSI_15997349.jpg?width=660&height=441&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Derby patron Erik Williams wears a money-themed suit at Churchill Downs.
Alton Strupp, Louisville Courier Journal![Spectators in the infield pose with their drinks before the race.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/05/01/USAT/ac7d1743-c5b9-4630-9878-9219412a168e-USATSI_15996054.jpg?width=660&height=441&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Spectators in the infield pose with their drinks before the race.
Jordan Prather, USA TODAY Sports![Phil Mowers of Griffith, Indiana puffs on a cigar.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/05/01/USAT/66f04618-b079-4728-bc36-0a3caefbb449-USATSI_15997347.jpg?width=660&height=463&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Phil Mowers of Griffith, Indiana puffs on a cigar.
Matt Stone, Louisville Courier Journal![Fans head to the infield underneath the track.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/05/01/USAT/04235372-c7b9-4a3a-b526-91e6e565fad9-USATSI_15996242.jpg?width=660&height=477&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Fans head to the infield underneath the track.
Matt Stone, Louisville Courier Journal![Tom Brady arrives before the race.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/05/01/USAT/73e3902a-9274-4005-b565-8568b6022ba6-USATSI_15996462.jpg?width=660&height=448&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Tom Brady arrives before the race.
Timothy D. Easley, Louisville Courier Journal![A patron at Churchill Downs.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/05/01/USAT/eecb467e-f572-4c53-8c73-b223188132d6-USATSI_15996076.jpg?width=660&height=441&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
A patron at Churchill Downs.
Alton Strupp, Louisville Courier Journal![Fans display their fashions before the race.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/05/01/USAT/40e7774a-6bbe-4122-9b34-06e264dd58b0-USATSI_15997664.jpg?width=660&height=495&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Fans display their fashions before the race.
Jim Owens, USA TODAY Sports![Fans display their fashions before the race.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/05/01/USAT/01079c70-fa79-46f1-a570-8e829ccbd98c-USATSI_15997665.jpg?width=660&height=487&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Fans display their fashions before the race.
Jim Owens, USA TODAY SportsFeatured Weekly Ad