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American Derby


FieldValue
surfaceTurf
classListed
horse raceAmerican Derby
locationChurchill Downs
Kentucky, United States
inaugurated1884 (at Washington Park Race Track)
race typeThoroughbred – Flat racing
websiteAmerican Derby
distance1+1/16 mi
trackLeft-handed
qualificationThree-year-olds
weightAssigned
purse$100,000

Kentucky, United States The American Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race first run at Chicago's old Washington Park Race Track on the city's South Side and raced there until 1905 when the facility was closed following the state's ban on gambling, and horse racing and the track was demolished. 1893's American Derby was the 2nd richest race in the U.S. during the 19th century.

There was no racing in Chicago in 1895, 1896, 1897, 1899, and again in 1905 and 1906. The effect would be that the American Derby was not run from 1905 through 1925, except for 1916 when it was hosted by the Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney, Illinois.

Revived in 1926, it evolved to become one of the important events of the American racing season that drew some of the very best horses from all over the country. It was run at the new Washington Park Race Track in Homewood, Illinois, in 1926 and 1927 and then was held at the Arlington Park course in 1928 before returning to the new Washington Park in 1929 where it remained through 1957. From 1958 until its closure in 2021, the race was run at Arlington Park. In 2022, the race took place at Churchill Downs. The following year it was hosted by Ellis Park Race Course the in 2024 returned to Churchill Downs.

Since 1992 the American Derby has been run on turf. Previously, it had been raced on the turf course from 1955 through 1957 and from 1970 through 1976. Over the years, the distance has varied:

  • 1+1/2 mi: 1884–1904, 1926, 1927, 1958–1961, 1966–1974, 1976
  • 1+1/4 mi: 1928–1951, 1962–1965, 1977–1991
  • 1+3/16 mi: 1916, 1955–1957, 1992–2014
  • 1+1/8 mi: 1952–1954, 1958–1961, 1966–1974, 1976, 2015–2018
  • 1+1/16 mi: 1975, 2019–2021
  • 1 mile: 1952–1954, 1958–1961

Records

Most wins by a jockey:

  • 5 – Bill Shoemaker
  • 5 – Eddie Arcaro
  • 4 – Isaac Burns Murphy

Hall of Fame jockey George Woolf won the race three years in a row from 1942 to 1944.

Most wins by a trainer:

  • 3 – Ben A. Jones (1941, 1949, 1952)
  • 3 – Horace A. Jones (1947, 1948, 1961)
  • 3 – Dermot K. Weld (2000, 2003, 2004)
  • 3 – William I. Mott (2005, 2006, 2007)

Most wins by an owner:

  • 8 – Calumet Farm
  • 4 – Lucky Baldwin

Winners

Year
Winner
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
DistanceTime
2025Minaret StationCristian A. TorresWilliam WaldenOXO Equine LLC1+1/16 mi1:44.29
2024Brilliant BertiBrian J. Hernandez Jr.Cherie DeVauxKlein Racing (Richard Klein)1+1/16 mi1:41.92
2023WadsworthFlorent GerouxBrad H. CoxGodolphin, LLC1+1/16 mi1:40.96
2022Rattle N RollBrian Hernandez Jr.Kenneth G. McPeekLucky Seven Stable1+1/16 mi1:43.27
2021Tango Tango TangoDeclan CannonJack SistersonCalumet Farm1+1/16 mi1:43.58
2019Faraway KittenAdam BeschizzaMichael MakerKenneth and Sarah Ramsey1+1/16 mi1:41.72
2018Real StoryJoe BravoIgnacio Correas, VIJeffery S. Amling, and Merriebelle Stables, LLC1+1/8 mi1:47.61
2017Sonic BoomJulien LeparouxIan WilkesLothenbach Stables, Inc. (Bob Lothenbach)1+1/8 mi1:49.90
2016One Mean ManJose LezcanoBernard S. FlintL. T. B., Inc. & Hillerich Racing, Inc.1+1/8 mi1:48.86
2015World ApprovalJose LezcanoMark CasseLive Oak Plantation Stable (Charlotte Weber)1+3/16 mi1:52.92
2014Divine OathFlorent GerouxTodd PletcherLet's Go Stable (Kevin Scatuorchio & Bryan Sullivan)Miles1:56.50
2013Infinite MagicChanning HillRichard C. MetteeTeam Valor International1+3/16 mi1:55.41
2012CozzettiShaun BridgmohanDale L. RomansAlbaugh Family Stable1+3/16 mi1:57.42
2011Willcox InnRobby AlbaradoMichael StidhamAll In Stable1+3/16 mi1:54.56
2010Workin For HopsFrancisco TorresMichael StidhamEstorance, LLC1+3/16 mi1:55.47
2009RebJulien LeparouxGeorge Arnold IIAshbrook Farm1+3/16 mi1:56.09
2008TizdejavuRené DouglasGreg FoxCooper/Ziebarth1+3/16 mi1:59.88
2007LatticeRobby AlbaradoWilliam I. MottClaiborne Farm1+3/16 mi1:54.85
2006Union AvenueLarry MelanconWilliam I. MottWinStar Farm1+3/16 mi1:57.20
2005Gun SaluteCornelio VelásquezWilliam I. MottBrant M. Laue1+3/16 mi1:55.31
2004Simple ExchangePat SmullenDermot K. WeldMoyglare Stud1+3/16 mi1:54.93
2003Evolving TacticsPat SmullenDermot K. WeldMoyglare Stud1+3/16 mi1:59.04
2002Mananan McLirRené DouglasWallace DollaseM. Jarvis/G. Margolis et al.1+3/16 mi1:57.11
2001Fan Club's MisterRandy MeierRickey B. HarrisP. Miessler & C. Raber1+3/16 mi2:03.27
2000Pine DanceEddie AhernDermot K. WeldHighland Farms et al.1+3/16 mi1:55.46
No race 1998–1999
1997Honor GlideGarrett GomezJim DayRobert Schaedle III1+3/16 mi1:55.94
1996Jaunatxo ‡Juvenal DiazLouie J. Roussel IIILouie J. Roussel III1+3/16 mi1:55.82
1995Gold And SteelAaron GryderJean-Claude RougetGary A. Tanaka1+3/16 mi1:55.02
1994Overbury ††Shane SellersDavid LoderSheikh Mohammed1+3/16 mi1:55.29
1994Vaudeville ††Aldaberto LopezFordell FierceRon Crockett1+3/16 mi1:55.29
1993Explosive RedShane SellersDaniel J. VellaFrank Stronach1+3/16 mi1:59.92
1992The Name's JimmyPat DayCharles R. StuttsMount Joy Stables, Inc. (Brian & Jan Burns)1+3/16 mi1:59.41
1991OlympioEddie DelahoussayeRon McAnallyVerne Winchell1+1/4 mi2:00.99
1990Real CashPat ValenzuelaD. Wayne LukasLukas & Overbrook1+1/4 mi2:02.00
1989Awe InspiringCraig PerretC. R. McGaughey IIIOgden Mills Phipps1+1/4 mi2:02.40
No race 1988
1987Fortunate MomentEarlie FiresHarvey L. VanierJerry Pinkley1+1/4 mi2:03.80
No race 1986
1985Creme FraicheEddie MapleWoody StephensBrushwood Stable1+1/4 mi2:01.60
1984At The Threshold †Pat DayLynn S. WhitingW. Cal Partee1+1/4 mi2:04.00
1984High Alexander †Gerland GallitanoJim LevtichJ. M. Levitch Sr.1+1/4 mi2:04.00
1983Play FellowPat DayHarvey L. VanierVanier, Lauer, Victor1+1/4 mi2:04.00
1982Wolfie's RascalRuben HernandezHoward M. TesherSidney L. Port et al.1+1/4 mi2:05.60
1981Pocket ZipperRay SibilleRichard HazeltonMr. & Mrs. Robert F. Bensinger1+1/4 mi2:03.80
1980Hurry Up BlueGerland GallitanoJoseph M. BolleroRussell L. Reineman1+1/4 mi2:04.40
1979SmartenSam MapleWoody StephensRyehill Farm1+1/4 mi2:05.20
1978Nasty And BoldJean-Luc SamynPhilip G. JohnsonMeadowhill Farm1+1/4 mi2:03.40
1977Silver SeriesLarry SnyderOscar Dishman Jr.Archie R. Donaldson1+1/4 mi2:02.40
1976Fifth MarineRon TurcotteSidney Watters Jr.Pamela H. Firman1+1/8 mi1:49.20
1975Honey MarkGarth PattersonLarry Robideaux Jr.Mr. & Mrs. F. Roberts1+1/16 mi1:44.40
1974Determined KingDaryl MontoyaEugene JacobsHerbert A. Allen Sr.1+1/8 mi1:47.80
1973BemoWilliam PassmoreJohn W. MurphyHickory Tree Stable1+1/8 mi1:49.60
1972DubassoffJacinto VásquezThomas J. KellyJohn M. Schiff1+1/8 mi1:50.00
1971Bold ReasonLaffit Pincay Jr.Angel Penna Sr.William A. Levin1+1/8 mi1:50.00
1970The PrunerBraulio BaezaEdward A. NeloyOgden Phipps1+1/8 mi1:47.00
1969Fast HilariousLaffit Pincay Jr.Joseph M. BolleroDorothy C. Rigney1+1/8 mi1:48.00
1968Forward PassIsmael ValenzuelaHenry ForrestCalumet Farm1+1/8 mi1:48.00
1967DamascusBill ShoemakerFrank Y. Whiteley Jr.Edith W. Bancroft1+1/8 mi1:46.80
1966BuckpasserBraulio BaezaEdward A. NeloyOgden Phipps1+1/8 mi1:47.00
1965Tom RolfeBill ShoemakerFrank Y. Whiteley Jr.Powhatan Stables1+1/4 mi2:00.60
1964Roman BrotherFernando AlvarezBurley ParkeHarbor View Farm1+1/4 mi2:01.40
1963Candy SpotsBill ShoemakerMesh TenneyRex C. Ellsworth1+1/4 mi2:02.00
1962Black SheepJohnny LongdenCharlie WhittinghamC. R. Mac Stable1+1/4 mi2:01.00
1961Beau PrinceSteve BrooksHorace A. JonesCalumet Farm1+1/8 mi1:51.00
1960T. V. LarkJohnny SellersPaul K. ParkerPreston W. Madden1+1/8 mi1:47.20
1959DunceLois C. CookMoody JolleyClaiborne Farm1+1/8 mi1:49.00
1958NadirManuel YcazaMoody JolleyClaiborne Farm1+1/8 mi1:51.00
1957Round TableBill ShoemakerWilliam MolterKerr Stable1+3/16 mi1:55.00
1956Swoon's SonEddie ArcaroLex WilsonE. Gay Drake1+3/16 mi1:59.00
1955SwapsBill ShoemakerMesh TenneyRex C. Ellsworth1+3/16 mi1:54.60
1954Errard KingSam Boulmetis Sr.Thomas J. BarryJoseph Gavegnano1+1/8 mi1:49.00
1953Native DancerEddie ArcaroWilliam C. WinfreyAlfred G. Vanderbilt II1+1/8 mi1:48.40
1952Mark-Ye-WellEddie ArcaroBen A. JonesCalumet Farm1+1/8 mi1:49.00
1951Hall of FameTed AtkinsonJohn M. Gaver Sr.Greentree Stable1+1/4 mi2:01.00
1950Hill PrinceEddie ArcaroCasey HayesChristopher Chenery1+1/4 mi2:01.20
1949PonderSteve BrooksBen A. JonesCalumet Farm1+1/4 mi2:00.00
1948CitationEddie ArcaroHorace A. JonesCalumet Farm1+1/4 mi2:01.60
1947FerventDouglas DodsonHorace A. JonesCalumet Farm1+1/4 mi2:00.00
1946Eternal RewardR. CampbellChester J. HallAugustus & Nahm1+1/4 mi2:02.00
1945Fighting StepG. SouthCharles C. NormanMurlogg Farm1+1/4 mi2:02.00
1944By JimminyGeorge WoolfJames W. SmithAlfred P. Parker1+1/4 mi2:03.00
1943AskmenowGeorge WoolfKenneth OsborneHal Price Headley1+1/4 mi2:07.00
1942AlsabGeorge WoolfSarge SwenkeAlbert Sabath1+1/4 mi2:06.60
1941WhirlawayAlfred RobertsonBen A. JonesCalumet Farm1+1/4 mi2:04.00
1940MiolandJohn H. AdamsTom SmithCharles S. Howard1+1/4 mi2:05.00
No race 1938–1939
1937Dawn PlayLester BalaskiMax HirschKing Ranch1+1/4 mi2:05.00
No race 1936
1935Black HelenDon MeadeBill HurleyEdward R. Bradley1+1/4 mi2:01.40
1934CavalcadeMack GarnerRobert A. SmithBrookmeade Stable1+1/4 mi2:04.00
1933Mr. KhayyamPete WallsMatthew Peter BradyCatawba Farm Stable (Madelaine H. Austin)1+1/4 mi2:04.00
1932GustoSilvio CoucciMax HirschMorton L. Schwartz1+1/4 mi2:10.00
1931MateGeorge EllisJames W. HealyAlbert C. Bostwick Jr.1+1/4 mi2:04.00
1930Reveille BoyWillie FronkJohn L. PaulJohn A. Best1+1/4 mi2:04.00
1929Windy CityLawrence McDermottJake LowensteinFred M. Grabner1+1/4 mi2:10.00
1928ToroEddie AmbroseJohn F. SchorrEdward Beale McLean1+1/4 mi2:05.00
1927HydromelLawrence McDermottDaniel E. StewartJohnson N. Camden Jr.1+1/2 mi2:29.00
1926Boot to BootAlbert JohnsonBill HurleyIdle Hour Stock Farm1+1/2 mi2:30.00
No race 1917–1925
1916DodgeFrank MurphyJohn S. WardWeber & Ward1+3/16 mi2:04.00
No race 1905–1915
1904HighballGrover FullerJohn W. MayWalter M. Scheftel1+1/2 mi2:33.00
1903The PicketAlbert B. HelgesenCarroll B. ReidMiddleton & Jungbluth1+1/2 mi2:33.00
1902WyethLucien LyneEnoch WishardJohn A. Drake1+1/2 mi2:40.00
1901Robert WaddellJohn BullmanTheodore F. ColesMrs. R. Bradley1+1/2 mi2:33.00
1900Sidney LucasJohn BullmanR. S. ThompsonThompson Bros.1+1/2 mi2:40.25
No race 1899
1898Pink CoatW. MartinPatrick DunneWoodford & Buckner1+1/2 mi2:42.00
No race 1895–1897
1894Rey el Santa AnitaEugene Van KurenHenry McDanielLucky Baldwin1+1/2 mi2:36.00
1893BoundlessEdward H. GarrisonWilliam McDanielJohn E. Cushing & John W. Orth1+1/2 mi2:36.00
1892CarlsbadRobert "Tiny" WilliamsC. PorterRobert A. Swigert1+1/2 mi3:04.25
1891StrathmeathGeorge CovingtonGreen B. MorrisGreen B. Morris1+1/2 mi2:49.25
1890Uncle BobThomas KileyB. J. JohnsonChicago Stable1+1/2 mi2:55.75
1889SpokaneThomas KileyJohn RodegapNoah Armstrong1+1/2 mi2:41.25
1888Emperor of NorfolkIsaac Burns MurphyRobert W. ThomasLucky Baldwin1+1/2 mi2:40.50
1887C. H. ToddAnthony HamiltonJames B. A. HagginJames B. A. Haggin1+1/2 mi2:36.50
1886Silver CloudIsaac Burns MurphyAlbert CooperLucky Baldwin1+1/2 mi2:37.25
1885VolanteIsaac Burns MurphyAlbert CooperLucky Baldwin1+1/2 mi2:49.50
1884ModestyIsaac Burns MurphyJohn W. RogersEdward Corrigan1+1/2 mi2:42.00

† Dead Heat in 1984

†† Dead Heat in 1994

‡ In 1996, the first-place finisher Trail City was disqualified and placed second

Notes

References

  1. Reiss, Steven A., ''Horse Racing'', Eds. Grossman, James R., Keating, Ann Durkin, and Reiff, Janice L., 2004 ''The Encyclopedia of Chicago'', pp. 390-1. The University of Chicago Press, {{ISBN. 0-226-31015-9
  2. "Stephen Foster Day – Jul 02, 2022".
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