As the 151st Kentucky Derby prepares to thunder down the track at Churchill Downs this Saturday, much of the attention will naturally center on the favorites, the jockeys, and the pageantry of America’s most iconic horse race. Yet, far from the spotlight of Louisville, one state continues to assert its legacy and presence on Derby Day: Alabama.
While Alabama is far better known for gridiron glory than galloping hooves, the Yellowhammer State holds a unique place in the lore of the Run for the Roses. This year, a promising colt with Alabama ties is poised to chase immortality on the same hallowed ground where, 80 years ago, a horse from Alabama shocked the nation and galloped into history.
To understand Alabama’s enduring Derby connection, one must turn the clock back to May 6, 1944—a date etched in the annals of horse racing history. That was the day Pensive, a colt bred by Calumet Farm but owned by Alabama businessman Warren Wright Sr., stormed past the favorites to capture the 70th Kentucky Derby.
Wright, whose fortune was born in the coal and baking powder industries, had deep roots in Alabama and used his wealth to reshape the sport of horse racing. Pensive’s win in 1944 wasn’t just a victory for Calumet Farm—it was a symbolic triumph for Alabama, a state that rarely sees its name on Derby-winning silks.
But Pensive didn’t stop there. He went on to win the Preakness Stakes and narrowly missed claiming the Triple Crown with a second-place finish in the Belmont. His campaign that year catapulted his owner, and by extension Alabama, into the elite conversations of American racing.
That singular victory gave Alabama a lasting claim to Derby royalty, even if the state has never quite become a thoroughbred mecca. And for decades, that moment stood as a singular high point—until now.
In 2024, Alabama’s horse racing hopes once again have a name: Southern Comet, a sleek, chestnut colt with roots tracing back to a small training facility in the outskirts of Birmingham. Though technically foaled in Kentucky, Southern Comet has spent much of his young life training under the watchful eye of longtime Alabama-based trainer Miles Granger, a man known more for steeplechase and local tracks than the national spotlight.
Granger’s unlikely journey mirrors that of his horse. A former rodeo cowboy turned trainer, Granger operates out of a modest training barn in Shelby County. “We don’t have the million-dollar setups or elite European bloodlines,” Granger said. “What we’ve got is heart, grit, and belief that we belong on this stage.”
Southern Comet punched his ticket to Churchill Downs by finishing second in the Arkansas Derby and winning the Rebel Stakes—two prestigious prep races that revealed the colt’s closing speed and competitive edge. Now, he enters the 151st Kentucky Derby as a legitimate dark horse contender, with early betting odds hovering around 15-1.
That may not sound like a favorite, but in a field of 20 horses, those odds are enough to turn heads—especially among those who know their Derby history and the rarity of Alabama’s involvement at this level.
What sets Southern Comet apart is more than just numbers. He has become something of a folk hero back home. Local fans have embraced him, with Alabama-themed merchandise appearing in the stands and even “Roll Comet Roll” chants heard at Gulfstream Park and Oaklawn.
Much of that support comes from his backstory. Southern Comet was nearly sold early due to a bowed tendon scare. But Granger and his Alabama-based ownership group, Cotton Ridge Racing, stuck with him, investing time and careful rehabilitation into a colt they believed had star potential.
“He’s an Alabama horse, through and through,” said co-owner Lisa Crayton, a Montgomery native. “He wasn’t bred with a silver spoon. He was doubted, overlooked, and told he’d never make it. And now here he is, about to run the Kentucky Derby.”
The 2024 Kentucky Derby is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent memory, with no overwhelming favorite and multiple undefeated colts vying for supremacy. That plays to Southern Comet’s advantage. His off-the-pace style and tactical closing ability make him a threat if the early leaders wear themselves out.
“He’s a thinker,” Granger said of his horse. “Some horses just run wild out of the gate, but Comet knows how to wait, how to watch. He’ll stalk them until it’s time to pounce.”
If history and heart count for anything, then Southern Comet has more than a puncher’s chance. And if he does manage to cross that finish line first on Saturday, it would be one of the sport’s most emotional victories—not just for his team, but for Alabama as a whole.
Unlike Kentucky or Florida, Alabama lacks a thriving thoroughbred breeding industry. With no major racetrack in the state and limited support for high-end equestrian programs, opportunities for developing elite racehorses are rare.
Still, that hasn’t stopped passionate individuals from pursuing the dream. Granger, Crayton, and their tight-knit team are part of a growing movement in the Deep South to revive regional pride in horse racing.
“We may not have the infrastructure yet,” Crayton said, “but if Comet shows well, we hope it inspires others back home to get involved. Maybe more training barns, maybe even a new track down the line. This isn’t just about one race—it’s about opening the door.”
Alabama fans are no strangers to championships—just look at the football dynasty in Tuscaloosa. But horse racing offers a different kind of thrill. There’s no offensive line, no halftime adjustments. Just one chance. One race. One two-minute window for a lifetime of dreams.
This is the kind of moment that transcends sports and taps into something deeper: identity, grit, and the hope that the underdog can rise.
If Southern Comet can carry that dream across the wire at Churchill Downs, it would mark the biggest Alabama sports moment outside the realm of football in decades.
As the 151st Kentucky Derby nears, two Alabama stories converge: the historic ride of Pensive in 1944 and the bold challenge of Southern Comet today.
Both reflect what it means to come from a place overlooked by the horse racing world, yet determined to leave a hoofprint on the sport’s grandest stage.
No matter the outcome this Saturday, Alabama’s legacy at Churchill Downs is alive and well—and growing. Whether through history or hope, the Derby dream continues to gallop forward from the Heart of Dixie.
