In the storied history of the Kentucky Derby, a race synonymous with champions and legends, few tales are as dramatic or improbable as the Horse Rich Strike Story. On the first Saturday in May 2022, the world of horse racing was turned upside down by a chestnut colt who wasn’t even supposed to be in the race. With staggering 80-1 odds, Rich Strike delivered one of the greatest upsets in sports history, a victory that seemed plucked from a Hollywood script. It was a moment that reminded everyone that in horse racing, and in life, the impossible can happen. This is the story of that unbelievable day.
His triumph is now considered one of the most famous horse stories of the modern era, capturing the hearts of millions who had never even watched a race before.
The Unlikely Contender: Who Was Rich Strike?
Before he was a Derby champion, Rich Strike was a modest contender with a humble background. Bred at the historic Calumet Farm in Kentucky, he was sired by Keen Ice, a horse known for his own stunning upset over Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. Despite this pedigree, Rich Strike’s early career was unremarkable. In a pivotal moment, trainer Eric Reed claimed him for owner Rick Dawson of RED TR-Racing for just $30,000 in a maiden claiming race.
Reed, a veteran trainer who had faced immense personal and professional adversity, including a tragic barn fire that killed 23 of his horses years earlier, saw potential in the colt. Together with jockey Sonny Leon, a rider who primarily competed on smaller circuits in Ohio, they formed a team of underdogs. No one, not even his own connections, initially dreamed he would be a Kentucky Derby horse.
A Stroke of Luck: The Road to the Kentucky Derby
Rich Strike’s journey to the starting gate at Churchill Downs was nothing short of a miracle. He did not initially have enough qualifying points to make the 20-horse field. He was the first horse on the “also-eligible” list, needing another horse to scratch just to get a spot. Hope seemed to fade as the deadline approached.
Then, just minutes before the deadline on Friday morning, the day before the race, a horse named Ethereal Road was scratched. Owner Rick Dawson received the news with only 30 seconds to spare, and just like that, Rich Strike was in. He drew the far outside post position, number 20, and was given odds of 80-1, making him the second-biggest longshot to ever win the race. For trainer Eric Reed, just getting into the Derby felt like a victory in itself.
The Race of a Lifetime: The 2022 Kentucky Derby
As the 148th Kentucky Derby began, the favorites set a blistering, unsustainable pace up front. Jockey Sonny Leon, riding in his first-ever Derby, settled Rich Strike far back in the pack, conserving energy and staying out of trouble. He was 18th in the 20-horse field for much of the race, a position from which victory seemed impossible.
But as the leaders tired and the field fanned out on the final turn, a miraculous path began to open. Leon guided Rich Strike with incredible skill and courage, weaving through traffic and surging along the rail. In the final electrifying furlong, he flew past the dueling favorites, Epicenter and Zandon, to hit the wire first by three-quarters of a length. The crowd of over 147,000 at Churchill Downs was left in stunned silence, then erupted in a roar of disbelief. Trainer Eric Reed was so overwhelmed he fell to the ground and didn’t even see his horse cross the finish line.
“I didn’t think he would win the race,” owner Rick Dawson later admitted. “I thought he could win the race… I grab my dad and I shake him, I said, ‘Dad, we just won the Kentucky Derby.'”
After the Roses: What Happened to Rich Strike?
Following the monumental victory, Rich Strike’s connections made the controversial but calculated decision to skip the Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown, to give the colt more recovery time. They focused instead on the Belmont Stakes, the longest and most grueling of the three races.
In the Belmont, Rich Strike ran a respectable race but could not replicate his Derby magic, finishing sixth. He continued to compete in several other major stakes races but never found his way back to the winner’s circle. His career after the Derby was a solid, if not spectacular, effort that underscored just how special and perfectly executed his victory at Churchill Downs truly was. He was eventually retired from racing to begin a new chapter as a stallion.
The Legacy of an Underdog: Why the Rich Strike Story Matters
The horse Rich Strike story transcends sports. It is a powerful testament to perseverance, hope, and the belief that anything is possible. In a sport often dominated by multi-million dollar operations, Rich Strike’s victory was a win for the “little guy”—the small-time owner, the journeyman trainer who rebuilt his life after tragedy, and the unheralded jockey who delivered the ride of a lifetime. It was more than just a race; it was a true story horse moment that captured the imagination of the world.
His win brought a surge of positive attention to horse racing, reminding fans of the pure, unscripted drama that makes the sport so compelling. Unlike the grand narratives sometimes found in a mystic horse story, this was a real-life fairy tale. The story of the $30,000 claimer who beat the odds to win America’s greatest race will be told for generations, a timeless example of an underdog’s dream coming true on the grandest stage.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What were the odds for Rich Strike to win the Kentucky Derby?
Rich Strike won the 2022 Kentucky Derby at 80-1 odds, making him the second-biggest longshot to ever win the race, behind only Donerail in 1913, who won at 91-1 odds.
Who was the jockey for Rich Strike?
Sonny Leon was the jockey who guided Rich Strike to his historic Kentucky Derby victory. It was Leon’s first time riding in the Derby, and his masterful ride from the back of the pack is considered one of the best in the race’s history.
Did Rich Strike race after the Kentucky Derby?
Yes, Rich Strike raced again after the Derby. His connections chose to skip the Preakness Stakes and ran him in the Belmont Stakes, where he finished sixth. He competed in several other graded stakes races before being retired.
Why was Rich Strike’s win so surprising?
His win was a massive surprise due to his 80-1 odds, the fact he only entered the race at the last minute from the also-eligible list, and his modest racing record prior to the Derby. His victory over heavily favored horses was a historic upset.
How did Rich Strike get into the Kentucky Derby?
Rich Strike was on the also-eligible list and only drew into the 20-horse field the morning before the race when another horse, Ethereal Road, was scratched, freeing up a spot for him to run.
