It’s a well-known fact that Ford is into horsepower. Yes, that kind of horsepower, but also, literally. Horse. Power. Ford is the exclusive automotive sponsor of Churchill Downs Racetrack and the famous Kentucky Derby hosted at the location through 2029.

Why Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby, specifically? The Blue Oval (that would be Ford) has a deep affinity for the Bluegrass state (that would be Kentucky)—Ford is the largest vehicle assembler in Kentucky, building both the Super Duty and Expedition at Ford’s Louisville-based Kentucky Truck Plant. Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Truck Plant are 20 miles apart. The Kentucky Derby is allegedly the most-attended and most-watched horse race in the United States. Churchill Downs holds about 170,000 people.

Ford Bets Big On First Turn Club

It’s marketing genius, really. Fans attending the Kentucky Derby can see Ford’s lineup of vehicles (including the Bronco, Mustang Mach-E, Expedition, and F-Series Super Duty) and engage in various Ford-themed activities before experiencing the upscale amenities of the Ford First Turn Club. After winning big at the races, Ford will be fresh on their minds. Wanting thoroughbreds of their own, they’ll be itching to buy Ford Super Duties.

“The Kentucky Derby is built on tradition and long-standing partnerships. We look forward to continuing to work together to deliver unforgettable experiences for Derby fans and attendees,” comments Casey Ramage, vice president of marketing and partnerships at Churchill Downs.

The 151^st running of the Kentucky Derby 2025—dubbed the Greatest Two Minutes in Sports—will occur on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at the Churchill Downs Racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky. The Kentucky Derby is the first of the Triple Crown races, followed by the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes.

A record-setting horse named Secretariat ran the 10-furlong race (that’s 1.25 miles, of course) in 1:59.4 in 1973. According to Motor Trend, an 8,000-pound  2023 Ford F-250 Super Duty with the 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel pushing 500 hp and 1,200 lb-ft of torque clocked a quarter-mile time of 14.8 seconds at 95.4 mph. Our unofficial calculations indicate that the Super Duty easily out-horsepowers the quickest Triple Crown horse, but a real-world test might be spicy.

The Ford Super Duty was redesignd for model-year 2023, receiving new front-end styling, enhanced technology, and other functional improvements. Model-year 2025 brings new exterior paint colors (Ruby Red Metallic and Avalanche), a new Platinum Plus package, expanded trailering technology, and some trim-level interior upgrades. Trim levels include XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, and Platinum.