[1][2] The race carried a purse of $152,500 of which winner Swaps received $108,400, a then record.
Swap's became the first "All-California" colt to win the Kentucky Derby.
Swaps then ended up winning the title of United States Horse of the Year in 1956 with the assistance of Mesh Tenney.
Mesh Tenney was known for the night before the 1955 Kentucky Derby because he slept in Swap's stall.
(Courier journal)[4] Swaps established a steady pace for the beginning of the race, Eddie Arcaro and Nashua started to stalk in the third and moved on the outside of Swaps.