Secretariat won a virtual Kentucky Derby on Saturday against 12 fellow Triple Crown winners, 47 years after the chestnut colt won the real race at Churchill Downs. The 1 1/4-mile race featuring computer-generated imagery was held the same day the 146th Derby had been scheduled until it was postponed by the pandemic. The Derby has been reset for September 5th.Secretariat was the 7-2 favorite, although there was no wagering. Instead, fans selecting the winning horse online were entered to win a VIP experience at the Derby this fall. Churchill Downs pledged to match $1 million in fan donations to COVID-19 relief.
Meanwhile on the track, Charlatan romped to victory by six lengths in the first division of the Arkansas Derby and Nadal won the second division by three lengths, giving Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert a sweep Saturday. No fans were allowed because of the pandemic on a day that would have been the biggest of the season at Oaklawn.