| Kentucky Derby | |
| Grade I stakes race | |
 Count Fleet winning the 1943 Kentucky Derby | |
| Location | Churchill Downs |
|---|---|
| Date | May 1, 1943 |
| Winning horse | Count Fleet |
| Winning time | 2:04 flat |
| Jockey | Johnny Longden |
| Trainer | Gregory Duncan Cameron |
| Owner | Fannie Hertz |
| Conditions | Fast[1] |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Attendance | about 60,000[2] |
The1943 Kentucky Derby, also known as theStreet-car Derby, was the 69th running of theKentucky Derby. The race took place on May 1, 1943, and was won by the heavy favorite,Count Fleet.[3][4]
ColonelMatt Winn lobbied for the Kentucky Derby to be held in 1943 despite many restrictions related to the war effort. Instead, he promised to organize a "street-car Derby", where out-of-state patrons were not allowed to travel to Louisville, and locals had to use the street-car rather than drive to the track.[5]
Count Fleet was the winter-book favorite for the Derby after being named the champion two-year-old colt of 1942. In April 1943, he easily won theWood Memorial Stakes but injured himself during the race. That injury was considered the major obstacle to his winning the Derby. His major contenders were considered to be Ocean Wave, winner of theBlue Grass Stakes, and Blue Swords, second in the Wood Memorial.[5]
Despite the travel restrictions, a crowd of about 60,000 turned out for the Derby. A few hours before the race, Ocean Wave was scratched due to an injured leg, leaving Count Fleet as the 2-5 favorite – the shortest odds in Derby history. Count Fleet battled for the early lead with Gold Shower, then opened a two-length lead around the first turn and into the backstretch. On the far turn, Blue Swords closed to within a length before jockeyJohnny Longden clucked to Count Fleet, who responded to win handily by three lengths.[2]
| Finished | Post | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time / behind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 5 | Count Fleet | Johnny Longden | Gregory Duncan Cameron | Fannie Hertz | 2:04 0/0 |
| 2nd | 1 | Blue Swords | Johnny Adams | Walter A. Kelley | Allen T. Simmons | 3 lengths |
| 3rd | 2 | Slide Rule | Conn McCreary | Cecil Wilhelm | William Boeing | 6 lengths |
| 4th | 7 | Amber Light | Alfred M. Robertson | Jack C. Hodgins | Dixiana | 5 lengths |
| 5th | 6 | Bankrupt | Ferril Zufelt | Howard Wells | Townsend B. Martin | 1⁄2 lengths |
| 6th | 10 | No Wrinkles | Raymond Adair | Roy Waldron | Milky Way Farm Stable | 1+1⁄2 lengths |
| 7th | 4 | Dove Pie | Wendell Eads | Dave Robb McDaniel | J. Warfield Rodgers | head |
| 8th | 9 | Gold Shower | Ted Atkinson | James W. Healy | Vera S. Bragg | 3 lengths |
| 9th | 3 | Modest Lad | Charles Swain | Eddie Coates | Mrs. Henry L. Finch | 10 lengths |
| 10th | 8 | Burnt Cork | Manual Gonzalez | Anthony E. Silver | Eddie Anderson | 8 lengths |
