Kentucky Derby winner a Brooklyn native

When New Yorkers think of the Kentucky Derby, the streets of Brooklyn are not usually the first thing to come to mind.

That may have changed on Saturday, May 6, however, as Always Dreaming, a horse owned by Brooklyn-native Anthony Bonomo, took first place at the 143rd iteration of the derby.

“The latest kings of the ‘sport of kings’ are a couple of guys from the county of Kings. I congratulate the ‘Brooklyn Boyz’ stable and their horse Always Dreaming for winning in the 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby,” said Borough President Eric Adams, referring to the name of Bonomo’s stable. “This is the latest chapter written in our borough’s long and storied horse racing history, dating back to the days of the world-class tracks across southern Brooklyn at the turn of the 20th century.”

The 59-year-old Bonomo, who hails from Williamsburg, was introduced to the sport of horse racing by his wife, Mary Ellen, in 2005. She is also responsible for the naming of several of Bonomo’s horses over the years, including last year’s derby-hopeful Greenpointcrusader.

Time will tell if Always Dreaming can continue his success at the Preakness Stakes on May 20, as well as the Belmont Stakes on June 10.