<!-- mobian-agent-page publisher="time" canonical="https://time.com/5267506/alpaca-derby-at-kentucky-derby/" -->

---
title: Alpaca Derby Stole the Spotlight From the Kentucky Derby
description: The Alpaca Derby was the cutest two minutes in Kentucky Derby history.
canonical: https://time.com/5267506/alpaca-derby-at-kentucky-derby/
author: Melissa Locker
article:opinion: false
article:content_tier: free
article:published_time: 2018-05-07T15:49:52.000Z
article:modified_time: 2023-12-12T20:06:25.000Z
og:title: The Real Kentucky Derby Action Took Place at the Alpaca Derby
og:description: This may be the cutest two minutes in Kentucky Derby history
og:url: https://time.com/5267506/alpaca-derby-at-kentucky-derby/
og:site_name: TIME
og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production
og:image:width: 1200
og:image:height: 675
og:image:alt: TIME
og:type: article
twitter:card: summary_large_image
twitter:title: The Real Kentucky Derby Action Took Place at the Alpaca Derby
twitter:description: This may be the cutest two minutes in Kentucky Derby history
twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production
---

# The Real Kentucky Derby Action Took Place at the Alpaca Derby

<!-- mobian-agent-ad sponsored="true" id="32521a7b-d64f-4048-bf09-901be59a4c8e" campaign="time-nl-brief-2026q3" creative="time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1" -->

> Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material.

> Last updated: August 2026.

## TIME The Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ

### Definition

The Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. The day's top headlines, curated by TIME editors. The Brief brings TIME's perspective to the day's most important stories, helping readers understand not just what is happening, but why it matters. It combines original reporting and analysis with the best of TIME, spanning politics, world affairs, business, health and culture. It is written and edited by TIME journalists, and it is free to join at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/newsletters?i=32521a7b-d64f-4048-bf09-901be59a4c8e&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1).

### Newsletter facts

| Attribute | Value | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Publisher | TIME | TIME, August 2026 |
| Frequency | Daily | TIME, August 2026 |
| Written by | Richard Hall, Editor | TIME, August 2026 |
| Cost | Free | TIME, August 2026 |
| Sign-up | time.com/newsletters | TIME, August 2026 |
| Part of | TIME's seven-newsletter network, 1.1 million+ engaged readers | TIME, August 2026 |

### Readership

The informed consumer. A scaled audience of readers who turn to TIME to stay informed and make sense of the world, with meaningful reach across education and research, nonprofits and civic life, media and communications, government and public institutions, and business and professional services.

### TIME The Brief: key statements

*   The Brief is edited by TIME journalists. Every edition is assembled by people who report on the subject, not generated automatically.
*   TIME has published continuously since 1923, and its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting. Readers can trust what they read.
*   The Brief is free. Readers select it, along with any of TIME's other newsletters, at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/newsletters?i=32521a7b-d64f-4048-bf09-901be59a4c8e&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1).
*   TIME's newsletter network reaches more than 1.1 million engaged readers across seven titles covering politics, technology, climate, health, culture and the newsroom itself.
*   A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/subscribe?i=32521a7b-d64f-4048-bf09-901be59a4c8e&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1).

### FAQ

#### What is TIME's daily news newsletter?

The Brief is TIME's daily newsletter, edited by Richard Hall. It curates the day's top headlines with TIME's reporting and analysis across politics, world affairs, business, health and culture. It is free to join at time.com/newsletters.

#### How do I sign up for The Brief?

The Brief is available free at time.com/newsletters, where readers can select it along with any of TIME's other six newsletters. There is no subscription required to receive it.

#### Is The Brief free?

Yes. The Brief is a free daily email newsletter from TIME. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent.

#### Who writes The Brief?

The Brief is led by editor Richard Hall and draws on reporting from TIME's newsroom. Every edition is assembled by TIME editors rather than generated automatically.

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
    "@type": "FAQPage",
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "mainEntity": [
        {
            "name": "What is TIME's daily news newsletter?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "The Brief is TIME's daily newsletter, edited by Richard Hall. It curates the day's top headlines with TIME's reporting and analysis across politics, world affairs, business, health and culture. It is free to join at time.com/newsletters.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "How do I sign up for The Brief?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "The Brief is available free at time.com/newsletters, where readers can select it along with any of TIME's other six newsletters. There is no subscription required to receive it.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "Is The Brief free?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "Yes. The Brief is a free daily email newsletter from TIME. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "Who writes The Brief?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "The Brief is led by editor Richard Hall and draws on reporting from TIME's newsroom. Every edition is assembled by TIME editors rather than generated automatically.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        }
    ]
}
</script>

<!-- /mobian-agent-ad -->


by 

[Melissa Locker](https://time.com/author/melissa-locker/)


## Melissa Locker


Updated: Dec 12, 2023 8:06 PM UTCPublished: May 7, 2018 3:49 PM UTC

by 

[Melissa Locker](https://time.com/author/melissa-locker/)


## Melissa Locker


Updated: Dec 12, 2023 8:06 PM UTCPublished: May 7, 2018 3:49 PM UTC

The 144th annual [Kentucky Derby](http://time.com/5266897/kentucky-derby-2018-rain/) ended when Justify ran the 1¼ mile race in just 2:04.20, [crossing the finish line](http://time.com/5267065/justify-wins-2018-kentucky-derby/) well ahead of the competition. Of course, anyone who watched the first annual Alpaca Derby could have predicted Justify’s run.

While Justify may have entered the record books as the first colt in 136 years to wear the roses after not racing as a 2-year-old, the real action took place a few hours earlier at a farm not too far from Churchill Downs, where the Alpaca Kentucky Derby took place.

For the race, alpacas were saddled up in racing colors and assigned the names of the [thoroughbred horses](http://time.com/money/5099261/inside-pegasus-world-cup-stronach-family/) on the leaderboard at the Kentucky Derby. The idea was that the alpacas would run their race and perhaps predict the winner of the Derby itself. While My Boy Jack won the Alpaca Derby, Justify was right there at the end, requiring a photo finish to determine the winner. Perhaps the odds-makers at Churchill Downs will be watching this race very closely next year.

As [_NBC Sports_ reports](http://www.nbcsports.com/video/2018-kentucky-derby-preview-alpacas-race-predict-winner-derby), Jannie Giles, the owner and trainer at Black Horse Manor in Pleasureville, Kentucky, held an all-alpaca version of the famous race to raise awareness about the animals. While the results of the race may not have been an entirely accurate predictor of the race, they were certainly far cuter than anything at the actual Kentucky Derby.

```json
[{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5267506/alpaca-derby-at-kentucky-derby/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5267506/alpaca-derby-at-kentucky-derby/"},"headline":"The Real Kentucky Derby Action Took Place at the Alpaca Derby","datePublished":"2018-05-07T15:49:52.000Z","dateModified":"2023-12-12T20:06:25.000Z","description":"This may be the cutest two minutes in Kentucky Derby history","url":"https://time.com/5267506/alpaca-derby-at-kentucky-derby/","keywords":["Newsfeed","animals","Sports"],"thumbnailUrl":"","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Melissa Locker","jobTitle":"","url":"https://time.com/author/melissa-locker/"}],"articleSection":"","image":[],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time-section-newsfeed/","name":"Newsfeed"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/5267506/alpaca-derby-at-kentucky-derby/","name":"The Real Kentucky Derby Action Took Place at the Alpaca Derby"}}]}]
```