Birthday Boys: Dates of Birth Vary for Derby Contenders

All horses foaled in the Northern Hemisphere have the universal birth date of Jan. 1 as their official age of racing, but not all of this year's Kentucky Derby (gr. I) contenders are actually 3-year-olds as of yet. Who's the oldest? Who's the youngest? Whose birth date is actually Derby day, May 7?

Of this year's 21 Derby possible entrants, Wilko is the oldest and the only January baby, having been foaled Jan. 14, 2002 in Kentucky. There are two runners, Consolidator, foaled May 17 in Kentucky, and Afleet Alex, foaled May 10 in Florida, that won't actually be three until after the Run for the Roses.

As for the colt who will celebrate his birthday on Derby day? That horse is Flower Alley, who was foaled May 7, 2002 in Kentucky.

Of this year's group, one is a January foal; there are three February foals; six March foals; seven April foals; and four May foals.

Of the last five Derby winners, three were foaled in February: Smarty Jones (Feb. 28), War Emblem (Feb. 20), and Monarchos (Feb. 9). The other two were April foals: Funny Cide (April 20), and Fusaichi Pegasus (April 12).

Below are the Derby contenders and their 2002 date of birth. For those who will be looking at their horoscopes on Derby day, Wilko is the lone Capricorn. Those foaled Jan. 20-Feb. 18 are under the sign of Aquarius; Pisces babies were foaled Feb. 19-March 20; Aries runners were born March 21-April 19; Taurus' sign runs from April 20-May 20.

Horse (State foaled) - Date of Birth

Afleet Alex (FL) - May 10
Andromeda's Hero (KY) - March 12
Bandini (KY) - May 4
Bellamy Road (FL) - April 6
Buzzards Bay (FL) - February 18
Closing Argument (FL) - April 5
Coin Silver (KY) - April 28
Consolidator (KY) - May 17
Don't Get Mad (KY) - April 25
Flower Alley (KY) - May 7
Giacomo (KY) - February 17
Going Wild (KY) - April 20
Greater Good (KY) - April 2
Greeley's Galaxy (KY) - March 4
High Fly (KY) - March 13
High Limit (KY) - March 1
Noble Causeway (KY) - March 23
Sort It Out (NY) - April 1
Spanish Chestnut (FL) - March 16
Sun King (KY) - February 1
Wilko (KY) - January 14