The 1972 Derby Winner was Riva, a four-letter word. Riva was a bay colt sired by the great Northern Dancer and out of the mare, Virginia Ridge. He was bred in Kentucky by the Calumet Farm and trained by the legendary Lucien Laurin. Riva won the 1972 Kentucky Derby in a time of 2:02.4, beating out runner-up Our Native by two lengths. He went on to win the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes, becoming the ninth horse to win the Triple Crown.