Curator picks Top 5 unforgettable moments that shaped Kentucky Derby history

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB)-- At a place steeped in history, finding the moments that mean the most can be tough.

"The year that I got to see Winning Colors win," said Louisville native Angie Blume.

"Secretariat with the Triple Crown, that was pretty cool," added Mike Mitchell, visiting from North Carolina.

A guy who studies it, Kentucky Derby Museum Curator Chris Goodlett, is going to try.

Below are his top 5 Derby moments:

#5: The 1996 Run for the Roses

"Grindstone came on at the end, to beat Cavonnier by a nose," Goodlett explained.

The storyline that would start to play out back at the barns also made this one for the history books.

D. Wayne Lukas was the trainer of the winner, and a young Bob Baffert trained Cavonnier.

"The '90s was kind of like defined by D. Wayne Lukas and you have Bob Baffert who we didn't know at that point, but he was a contemporary of Lukas," Goodlett said.

#4: An exciting finish, except for one jockey

This happened during the 1957 Kentucky Derby.

"Bill Shoemaker stands up briefly, at the 16th pole. If you're watching the video, he stands up just a little bit. He misjudged the finish," Goodlett explained.

There was still a little ways to go.

"Many people think that is one of the reasons that Iron Liege overcame Galant Man at the finish of that race."

#3: One for the girls--Regret's victory at the 1915 Kentucky Derby

"She is the first filly to win the Kentucky Derby, the first of three," Goodlett explained. "At that time in our country's history, the East Coast has most of the great races."

When Regret's owner called the Derby "the greatest race of all time," it made the industry start to shift its focus to Kentucky.

#2: Triple Crown drought ends

It was 2015, and there were rumblings about a 2 year-old champ, who ran some solid races in Arkansas.

"It had been 37 years since we had a Triple Crown winner," Goodlett said.

Fans wondered if it would ever happen in their lifetime, and Pharoah did it.

"People were just elated," Goodlett added.

#1: The horse many call the GOAT

"I have to put Secretariat at number 1 in 1973."

The thoroughbred that ran all three legs of the Triple Crown the fastest.

"People know about the greatness of Secretariat, but they might not be aware of the fan base that he has, and the love that a lot people have for him, and how much he is revered in the sport of thoroughbred racing."