Kentucky 1938
Jack and Sally, young lovers from rival Kentucky families, each strive to enter a horse in the 1938 Kentucky Derby. Their bond is tested by a deep‑seated feud rooted in the Civil War, where her family backed the South and his the North, and by Uncle Peter’s refusal to deal with Jack’s side.
Does Kentucky have end credit scenes?
No!
Kentucky does not have end credit scenes. You can leave when the credits roll.
Where to Watch Kentucky
See current US streaming, rental, and purchase options for Kentucky (1938) via JustWatch.
Meet the Full Cast and Actors of Kentucky
Explore the complete cast of Kentucky, including both lead and supporting actors. Learn who plays each character, discover their past roles and achievements, and find out what makes this ensemble cast stand out in the world of film and television.
Walter Brennan
Peter Goodwin
Karen Morley
Mrs. Goodwin - 1861
Robert Allen
Man Dancing with Sally (uncredited)
Moroni Olsen
John Dillon - 1938
Loretta Young
Sally Goodwin
Leona Roberts
Grace Goodwin
Charles Middleton
Southerner
Matthew Beard
Black Child
Charles Trowbridge
Doctor
David Butler
Charles Waldron
Thad Goodwin - 1938
Margaret Irving
Woman with Man at Race Track
Charles Lane
Auctioneer
Eddie Kane
Mustached Bettor at Race Track
Willard Robertson
Bob Slocum
Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson
Groom
Douglass Dumbrille
John Dillon - 1861
Cyril Ring
Dancer
Sam Harris
Dancer
Douglas Wood
Race Track Patron
Eddie Arcaro
Kentucky Derby Jockey
Robert Lowery
Sally's Partner at Ball
Walter Miller
Cavalry Sergeant
James C. Morton
Bartender
Tom Chatterton
Man at Race Track
Madame Sul-Te-Wan
Lily
Howard Hickman
Banker
Eddie Dunn
Moving Man
Larry Steers
Thaddeus' Friend
Frederick Burton
Presiding Officer
Blue Washington
Bill
John Hiestand
Derby Radio Announcer
Eugene Jackson
Jimmy
Harry Myers
Dancer
Edward Earle
Man with Woman at Race Track
Edwin Stanley
Banker
Russell Hicks
Thad Goodwin Sr. - 1861
Charles R. Moore
Stable Swipe
James Conaty
Dance Extra
Harold Miller
Dancer
John Dilson
Man at Race Track
Stanley Andrews
Presiding Judge
John Nesbitt
Commentator (voice)
George H. Reed
Ben
I. Stanford Jolley
Kentucky Derby Patron
Joan Valerie
Lucy Pemberton
Buster Slaven
Newsboy
Harry Hayden
Racing Secretary
Henry Roquemore
Betting Parlor Patron
Sherry Hall
Chalker
Frank Jaquet
Martin
John Elliott
Cal
Lee Shumway
Sergeant
Dudley Dickerson
Chauffeur
Edward Keane
Man at Race Track
Cliff Clark
Melish
James Adamson
Stable Swipe
James Eagles
Jockey Involved in Disqualification
Richard Greene
Jack Dillon
Landers Stevens
Man at RAce Track
Harrison Greene
Betting Parlor Manager
Chick Chandler
Betting Parlor Clerk
Hal K. Dawson
Auction Clerk
Robert Middlemass
Track Official
Mildred Gover
Cleo
Lee Murray
Palisades' Jockey
Lillian Yarbo
Magnolia
Bobs Watson
Peter Goodwin - 1861
Darby Jones
Duckfoot
Carol Adams
Girl
Thaddeus Jones
Zeb
Delmar Watson
Thad Goodwin Jr. - 1861
Bernice Pilot
African-American Servant
John Henry Allen
Stable Swipe
Daisy Lee Mothershed
Louella
Billy McClain
Zeke
Meredith Howard
Susie May
Willie Saunders
Postman's Jockey
Bobbie Thomson
Blue Grass' Jockey
External Links and Streaming Options
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Full Plot Summary and Ending Explained for Kentucky
Read the complete plot summary of Kentucky, including all major events, twists, and the full ending explained in detail. Explore key characters, themes, hidden meanings, and everything you need to understand the story from beginning to end.
During the Civil War, Thad Goodwin Sr. of Elmtree Farm, a local horse breeder, resists Captain John Dillon and a company of Union soldiers who try to confiscate his prize horses. He is killed by Dillon, and his youngest son, Peter Goodwin, weeps as the soldiers ride off with the horses.
Seventy-five years later, in 1938, Peter Goodwin, now a crotchety old man, remains on Elmtree Farm and continues to raise horses with his niece, Sally Goodwin. Sally’s life takes a turn when Dillon’s grandson, Jack Dillon, enters her world, and she is unaware that he is part of the Dillon family. Her father, Thad Goodwin Jr., dies when his cotton speculation collapses, leaving the Goodwins in a precarious position.
With their finances dwindling, the Goodwins are forced to auction off nearly all their horses, and Jack offers his services as a trainer for their last prize horse. The goal centers on a two-year-old on Dillon’s farm, chosen by Sally only after her uncle’s insistence—she selects the hopeful Blue Grass over the favorite Postman, and Jack trains him for the Derby. As the weeks unfold, she discovers Jack’s true identity and fires him as trainer, creating tension between them even as the season’s stakes rise.
Across the track, Blue Grass runs neck and neck with Postman, but the horse’s speed and Jack’s tactful guidance push Blue Grass to victory. Sally’s feelings for Jack bloom in the aftermath, even as Peter collapses and dies. At his funeral, the mood lingers on the fading Old American Turf, and Dillon pays tribute to a life deeply woven into the country’s racing heritage.
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Kentucky Themes and Keywords
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