1955 Kentucky Derby

{{Infobox horse race

| name = 81st Kentucky Derby

| class = Grade I stakes race

| horse race = Kentucky Derby

| image =

| caption =

| location = Churchill Downs

| date = May 7, 1955

| distance = 1 1/4 miles

| winning horse = Swaps

| winning time = 2:01 4/5

| final odds = 2.80-1

| winning jockey = Bill Shoemaker

| winning trainer = Mesh Tenney

| winning owner = Rex C. Ellsworth

| conditions = Three-year-olds

| surface = Dirt

| attendance =

| previous = 1954

| next = 1956

}}

The 1955 Kentucky Derby was the 81st running of the Kentucky Derby. The race took place on May 7, 1955.{{cite web|url=http://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/horses/triple/derby/2015/02/10/countdown-kentucky-derby-remembering-winner-swaps/23141143/ |title=Countdown to the Kentucky Derby {{pipe}} Remembering 1955 winner Swaps |publisher=Courier-journal.com |date=2015-02-10 |access-date=2016-06-17}}{{cite web|url=https://www.kentuckyderby.com/history/year/1955 |title=1955 |publisher=Kentuckyderby.com |access-date=2016-06-17}} The race carried a purse of $152,500 of which winner Swaps received $108,400, a then record.{{cite web|url=https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1950s/drf1955050901/drf1955050901_1_5 |title=Swaps Wins Kentucky Derby as Nashua Finishes Second |publisher=Daily Racing Form at University of Kentucky Archives |date=1955-05-09 |access-date=2018-11-26}}

Winner of the Kentucky Derby

Swaps was a California bred American thoroughbred racehorse. Swap's became the first "All-California" colt to win the Kentucky Derby. Known as the "California Comet", this not being the only nickname he had many other nicknames. His second most popular one was the "California Cripple." This name was given because of how many injuries he had and still ended up winning the Kentucky derby.

Trainer of Swaps

Swaps was trained by Meshach (Mesh) Tenney. Tenney was born on November 16, 1907, and worked with Swaps. Swaps then ended up winning the title of United States Horse of the Year in 1956 with the assistance of Mesh Tenney. Mesh Tenney was known for the night before the 1955 Kentucky Derby because he slept in Swap's stall.

Race description

The 2-year-old champion (Nashua) and Swaps were some of the biggest competitors and "brought one of the biggest East-West showdowns in Derby history." (Courier journal){{Cite web|last=Rees|first=Jennie|title=Derby countdown {{!}} Swaps, 1955|url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/horses/triple/derby/2015/02/10/countdown-kentucky-derby-remembering-winner-swaps/23141143/|access-date=2021-12-01|website=The Courier-Journal|language=en-US}} Swaps established a steady pace for the beginning of the race, Eddie Arcaro and Nashua started to stalk in the third and moved on the outside of Swaps. Swaps ended up speeding up and winning by 1 1/2 lengths. Swaps covered the last-quarter mile with the time of {{frac|49|2|5}} seconds.

Full results

1955 Kentucky Derby Charts{{cite web|url=https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1950s/drf1955050901/drf1955050901_10_1 |title=Official Racing Charts: Churchill Downs |publisher=Daily Racing Form at University of Kentucky Archives |date=1955-05-09 |access-date=2018-11-26}}

class="wikitable"
Finished ! Post ! Horse ! Jockey ! Trainer ! Owner ! Time / behind (lengths)
1st \| 7 \| Swaps \| Bill Shoemaker \| Mesh Tenney \| Rex C. Ellsworth \| align=center\|2:01 4/5
2nd \| 5 \| Nashua \| Eddie Arcaro \| James E. Fitzsimmons \| Belair Stud \| align=center\|{{frac\|1\|1\|2}}
3rd \| 9 \| Summer Tan \| Eric Guerin \| Sherrill W. Ward \| Dorothy Bryan Firestone Galbreath \| align=center\|{{frac\|6\|1\|2}}
4th \| 1A \| Racing Fool \| Henry Moreno \| Loyd Gentry Jr. \| Cain Hoy Stable \| align=center\|4
5th \| 8 \| Jean's Joe \| Steve Brooks \| William B. Finnegan \| Murcain Stable \| align=center\|{{frac\|1\|2}}
6th \| 1 \| Flying Fury \| Conn McCreary \| Loyd Gentry, Jr. \| Cain Hoy Stable \| align=center\|{{frac\|1\|1\|2}}
7th \| 4 \| Honeys Alibi \| William Harmatz \| Joe Inzelone \| W-L Ranch Co. \| align=center\|{{frac\|3\|4}}
8th \| 2 \| Blue Lem \| Chris Rogers \| Harvey C. Fruehauf \| Harvey C. Fruehauf \| align=center\|{{frac\|3\|1\|2}}
9th \| 3 \| Nabesna \| John H. Adams \| John W. Clark \| Clifford Mooers \| align=center\|{{frac\|1\|1\|2}}
10th \| 6 \| Trim Destiny \| Lois C. Cook \| Cecil Locklear \| G. Rollie White \| align=center\|10

class="wikitable"

Finished

! Post

! Horse

! Jockey

! Trainer

! Owner

! Time / behind
(lengths)

1st

| 7

| Swaps

| Bill Shoemaker

| Mesh Tenney

| Rex C. Ellsworth

| align=center|2:01 4/5

2nd

| 5

| Nashua

| Eddie Arcaro

| James E. Fitzsimmons

| Belair Stud

| align=center|{{frac|1|1|2}}

3rd

| 9

| Summer Tan

| Eric Guerin

| Sherrill W. Ward

| Dorothy Bryan Firestone Galbreath

| align=center|{{frac|6|1|2}}

4th

| 1A

| Racing Fool

| Henry Moreno

| Loyd Gentry Jr.

| Cain Hoy Stable

| align=center|4

5th

| 8

| Jean's Joe

| Steve Brooks

| William B. Finnegan

| Murcain Stable

| align=center|{{frac|1|2}}

6th

| 1

| Flying Fury

| Conn McCreary

| Loyd Gentry, Jr.

| Cain Hoy Stable

| align=center|{{frac|1|1|2}}

7th

| 4

| Honeys Alibi

| William Harmatz

| Joe Inzelone

| W-L Ranch Co.

| align=center|{{frac|3|4}}

8th

| 2

| Blue Lem

| Chris Rogers

| Harvey C. Fruehauf

| align=center|{{frac|3|1|2}}

9th

| 3

| Nabesna

| John H. Adams

| John W. Clark

| Clifford Mooers

| align=center|{{frac|1|1|2}}

10th

| 6

| Trim Destiny

| Lois C. Cook

| Cecil Locklear

| G. Rollie White

| align=center|10

Payouts

$2.00 wager returns $7.60 profit, therefore $5.60 profit.

The win, place and show payoffs are based on a $2.00 bet.{{Cite web|title=ViewerJS|url=https://drf.uky.edu//scripts/ViewerJS/#../../catalog/1950s/drf1956050502/0517_4.pdf|access-date=2021-12-01|website=drf.uky.edu}}

Extra information

Winning Breeder: Rex C. Ellsworth; (CA)
Track rating: Fast

References

Category:1955 in Louisville, Kentucky