| Kentucky Derby | |
| Location | Churchill Downs |
|---|---|
| Date | May 20, 1879 |
| Winning horse | Lord Murphy |
| Jockey | Charlie Shauer |
| Surface | Dirt |
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The 1879 Kentucky Derby was the 5th running of the Kentucky Derby. The race took place on May 20, 1879. The winning horse Lord Murphy set a new Derby record with a winning time of 2:37.00.