The unexpected victory of Mage at the 2023 Kentucky Derby last year has put him in the running for a Triple Crown this year. Mage won the 149th derby by a length last weekend on a sunny day in Louisville, Kentucky, where he outlasted Two Phil’s and Angel of Empire, who placed second and third, respectively.

Mage came from behind and charged into the lead as the horses were making their final turn around the track. Two Phil’s held the inside position, but Mage dug hard to stay in front down the final stretch. Mage, who ran out of the eighth post, is trained by Gustavo Delgado and jockeyed by Javier Castellano.

A-MAGE-ing#KyDerby pic.twitter.com/3gB2LLQUcB

— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) May 7, 2023

Mage’s win was following the withdrawal of Forte, the previously anticipated champion, due to a bruised foot the morning of the race. Forte is a descendant of the legendary racehorse Secretariat, whose 50th anniversary of his Triple Crown sweep in 1973 is being celebrated this year. Secretariat’s iconic runs 50 years ago are being honoured in exhibits in the Triple Crown cities of Louisville, Baltimore and Elmont.

Triple Crown, in American horse racing, is a Championship attributed to a three-year-old Thoroughbred that in a single season wins the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes. It has long been considered one of the most coveted and prestigious achievements in all of sports, but with the sharp decline of horse racing’s popularity by the beginning of the 21st century, the Triple Crown became less prestigious in the eyes of the general sporting public.

The disenchantment with the sport has increased in the recent years due to the publicity around the deaths of horses. This year seven horses died at the Derby, some on the track during races or training, and others from euthanasia following serious injuries. Incidents like this raise questions about the welfare of the animals, and the ethics of the sport itself. Horse racing is trying its best to redeem its image, and preserve the welfare of its horses, with the recent reforms to antidoping and medication rules.

After being scratched from the Kentucky Derby, Forte was placed by Kentucky racing officials on a mandatory 14-day veterinary list that may require the colt to pass a soundness test in Maryland in order to race in the Preakness. We hope to see Forte recovering and doing well, but on the other hand, his absence from the Preakness may increase Mage’s chances of winning a Triple Crown sweep.

What. A. Thrill.#KyDerby pic.twitter.com/2igIWcg9Np

— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) May 7, 2023