Some of the last places on earth that one would expect murder, mysterious deaths and foul play have become the latest and greatest locations for those deranged and demented individuals seeking some type of notoriety, revenge or both. Whoever thought that we would need to worry about our children, when they went to school Will they be alive to return home this evening? Yet another location at which people tend to feel safe, unless of course you consider the loss of their entire fortune unsafe, is the horse races. Churchill Downs is no exception to this rule. That said however, there have been a scattering of strange occurrences at the Kentucky Derby that amount to both simple conundrums and crimes, such as homicide and other mysterious behavior.

10 of the Strangest, Most Mysterious Kentucky Derby Occurrences

Here we will take a look, at some Kentucky Derby mysteries that have gone down in history. Some solved some not.

• I'll Have Another had won the race the day before when , 4 stalls away, a horse groomer/trainer lifeless body was discovered in the wee hours of the morning. The record attendance at the Derby the day before topped 165,000, yet seemingly, no one had noticed anything out of the ordinary. Yet 48-year-old Adan Fabian Perez, reportedly exchanged possibly fatal, heated words with another race attendant, at around midnight a mere five hours before he would be found dead. Though a specific cause of death was not immediately announced, police were quick to announce that they did suspect foul play, due to the condition of the body. This would become known as the mystery of the body in the barn.



• Perhaps Sasquatch got lost. Maybe there was a werewolf on the loose. But in December 2012, something was attacking animals in the area near/around Churchill Downs. Reportedly, it lived in the woods. Donkey ears, far too close in proximity to horses for some, seemed to be only one of the creature's favorite tasty tidbits, as well as goats and calves. Experts, in their infinite wisdom, denied any type of creature even bordering on mythical. They also ruled out large cats or coyotes. Eventually, it was thought that a neighbourhood dog, domestic in nature, had been mistakenly let loose but eventually corralled by its owner. Or was it?

• The number 27 pops up in everything, from significant math equations of worldwide importance to celebrity deaths, sports, music, nature, religion and television. Many horse racing enthusiasts remember Barbaro and his sad, heartbreaking tale. When the magnificent animal managed to reign supreme amongst 20 horses, he did so by winning by seven lengths (20+7=27). Sadly of course Barbaro was not to continue his record-breaking performances. A fractured ankle cut what could've been a splendid career drastically short. In an effort to salvage this beautiful creature, no less than 27 screws were put in by an expert in veterinary care, but alas to no avail.

• The bluegrass conspiracies, as they would become known, were reportedly committed by Sponger William McCandless. Supposedly he was involved in the 1977 stealing of Fanfreluche. McCandless whereabouts after 1998 have yet to be discovered.

• When a horse favored to win a race doesn't, there can be any number of reasons and excuses. Occasionally, there will even be rumors that somehow, someway, the animal was doped. One such assumption was made by many, as a result of the shocking loss of a horse named Holy Bull in 1994. Years later his owner still questioned why security was uncharacteristically lax, around his horse. Why was his horse Holy Bull never tested for drugs after the race, particularly considering that he was a decided favorite? We will never know.

• Another drugging was not only suspected, but proven, resulting in the disqualification of Kentucky Derby race horse Dancer Image. No one seemed to know where the drug found in the horse, which was a violation, originally had come from or how it got introduced to the horses system.

• Few horse racing enthusiasts aren't aware of the name Citation. This horse did what many horses have failed to do, to win the Triple Crown. But his original, contracted jockey was not the person to ride him into history. The reason being that along with a couple of friends, former Jackie Snider disappeared into thin air from his sizable yacht, in the Gulf of Mexico. Not only were the bodies gone, but any sign of habitation aboard the yacht was completely and totally nonexistent. Was this foul play? Was this just a horrible accident surrounded by mysterious circumstances? Though weather was thought to be a possible contributing factor, the mystery still remains.

• Any number of writers are fond of utilizing the Kentucky Derby in some of their stories. Here are just a few: Derby Rotten Scoundrels, Low Down and Derby, Murder at the Kentucky Derby, Snip, Silent Partner, Intercept, Murder at the Races and Triple Cross.

• And, just one of life's little mysteries, particularly to men, is why women wear those outrageous hats at the Kentucky Derby. Not that they don't look fabulous in them because, of course they do. Particularly after a few mint juleps, even the horses would look good in those hats. Reportedly it has something to do with the spectacular fanfare of the social event at its very beginnings.

Lastly of course, for many of us, is the simple mystery which will forever be, where on earth they get some of the names, for the horses running in the Kentucky Derby and other famous horse races? One can only wonder, in awe what someone was thinking, when they came up with these titles. Though not of any kind of sinister or deadly nature, where these seemingly mysterious and baffling, out of nowhere names come from, does tickle the imagination, at times.