Kentucky Derby 2012 Post Positions: How Did Historically Great Positions Finish?

In what was a shocking victory, I’ll Have Another shocked the 138th running of the Kentucky Derby by being the first horse out of the 19th post to win the race.

While the importance of post positions has been argued over the years, there is no doubt that a horse’s chance are better the close to the inside rail it is.

That horse needs to be one-of-a-kind amazing, but the post position can play into a third-place finish or a five-length victory. Here are the complete results from the 2012 race and the complete post history of the race.

Complete Results

Finish	Horse	Jockey	Post	Odds
1	I'll Have Another	Mario Gutierrez	19	15-1
2	Bodemeister	Mike Smith	6	4-1
3	Dullahan	Kent Desormeaux	5	12-1
4	Went The Day Well	John Velazquez	13	30-1
5	Creative Cause	Joel Rosario	8	11-1
6	Liaison	Martin Garcia	20	56-1
7	Union Rags	Julien Leparoux	4	5-1
8	Rousing Sermon	Jose Lezcano	7	40-1
9	Hansen	Ramon Dominguez	14	13-1
10	Daddy Nose Best	Garett Gomez	10	14-1
11	Optimizer	Jon Court	2	42-1
12	Alpha	Rajiv Maragh	11	19-1
13	El Padrino	Rafael Bejarano	16	29-1
14	Done Talking	Sheldon Russell	17	39-1
15	Sabercat	Corey Nakatani	18	37-1
16	Gemologist	Javier Castellano	15	18-1
17	Trinniberg	Willie Martinez	19	44-1
18	Prospective	Luis Contreras	12	57-1
19	Take Charge Indy	Calvin Borel	3	11-1
20	Daddy Long Legs	Colm O'Donoghue	1	26-1

In the wild world of sports, there is no such thing as a sure bet. That’s why it’s called gambling.

As great as it was to see I’ll Have Another steal a win from a post spot that has never won a Derby before, it doesn’t buck the trend of winners coming from closer to the rail.

Six of the top 10 finishing horses started from the first 10 posts on Saturday, proving that the closer you are to the No. 1 post without actually being on it is the best.

Only one horse has won from the No. 1 post since 1970.

While there is no predicting the wild underdog stories, putting yourself in the best position to capitalize on a bet means wagering on the spots that have the longest history of winning.

Kentucky Derby Post History (1900-2012)

Position	Wins
1	12
2	9
3	8
4	11
5	12
6	6
7	8
8	10
9	4
10	10
11	3
12	3
13	4
14	2
15	3
16	4
17	0
18	1
19	1
20	2

The Kentucky Derby is one of the oldest races in the world, yet the results always have remained similar. That’s basic science folks; the shorter distance a horse runs, the less time it will take.

While you have to deal with traffic and a horse’s exhaustion, the post that allows the horses to get a start out of the gate that features no turning to the inside at all, just straightaway speed will get the early lead.

As we saw on Saturday, Bodemeister came out of the No. 2 Post and ran to the front of the field. If he had just a bit better stamina, he would have won, and there is no doubt that the post spot helped him get that early lead.

If the people that question the importance of the post positions still disagree, just look at history; it won’t lie.

Check back for more on Horse Racing as it comes, and check out Bleacher Report’s Horse Racing Page to get your fill of all things from the ponies.

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