Longines Honors Justify’s Kentucky Derby Victory

Press Release

Longines Honors Justify’s Kentucky Derby Victory

As the Official Timekeeper and Watch of the Kentucky Derby, the Swiss watch brand Longines was proud to celebrate the victory of Justify in the 144th running of the event. To mark their remarkable victory against a field of impressive contenders, the brand awarded Justify’s owner, trainer and jockey with Longines timepieces at the winner’s party. The event was just the latest in Longines’ rich tradition of precision sports timekeeping.

Known as “the most exciting two minutes in sports,” the 144th edition did not disappoint. Justify narrowly edged out Good Magic and Audible to take the coveted prize money and the wreath of roses. The elegance of the spectacle culminated with the presentation of watches to jockey, Mike Smith, trainer, Bob Baffert, and owners WinStar Farm LLC, China Horse Club, Starlight Racing, and Head of Plains Partners LLC by Mr. Pascal Savoy, Longines US Brand Manager, before an engaged crowd of spectators beneath the twin spires of Churchill Downs.
 

The Derby race represented the pinnacle of an exciting weekend of sport and elegance, with many highlights on and off the track. Earlier on Saturday, the Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile race was claimed by Proctor's Ledge and John Velazquez, who established a lead over On Leave and Jose Ortiz, close behind.
 

The day before, Longines served as the Title Partner of the Longines Kentucky Oaks, with an exciting win from Monomoy Girl and Florent Geroux. The annual Longines Prize for Elegance also made for an elegant spectacle from the most fashionably attired attendees at Churchill Downs, who worked the pink carpet in their finery, vying for the coveted Longines Prize for Elegance and the chance to win a Longines watch. Meghana Rajadhyaksha claimed the prize with their elegant ensemble and captivating hat.
 

Presenting the Official Watches of the Kentucky Derby Week

The winning participant of the Longines Prize for Elegance received the Official Watch of the 2018 Longines Kentucky Oaks, a 25mm watch model from The Longines Master Collection. The elegant watch made a fittingly sophisticated gift for the prize winner, with its contemporary Longines blue dial, diamond indexes, and polished stainless-steel bracelet. Its self-winding movement and power reserve also ensure this Swiss-made Longines watch’s elegance is matched only by its precision and quality.

The Official Watch of the 144th Kentucky Derby is the Conquest V.H.P. “Very High Precision”. This new model from Longines represents a new achievement in the field of quartz, combining great precision, high technicality, and a sporty look, marked by the brand’s unique elegance. This timepiece houses an exclusive movement, renowned for its high degree of precision for an analog watch (± 5 seconds/year) and its ability to reset its hands after an impact or exposure to a magnetic field. These attractive features are likely responsible for its exceptional movement status, to which a very long battery life and a perpetual calendar must be added.