Arkansas Derby
| Grade I race | |
| Location | Oaklawn Park Race Track Hot Springs, Arkansas, United States |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1936 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred |
| Website | www |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1+1⁄8 miles (9 furlongs) |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds |
| Weight | Colt/Gelding: 126 lbs (57.2 kg) Filly: 121 lbs. (54.9 kg) |
| Purse | US$1,250,000 (2022) |
The Arkansas Derby is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held annually in April at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas. It is currently a Grade I race run over a distance of 1 1/8 miles (9 furlongs) on dirt.
In 2004, to celebrate its 100th anniversary, Oaklawn Park offered a $5 million bonus to any horse that could sweep its three-year-old graded stakes, the Rebel Stakes and the Arkansas Derby, and then take the Kentucky Derby. Smarty Jones's collected the bonus.[1] The exposure from Smarty Jones subsequent run at the Triple Crown helped increase participation from the top three-year-olds in the country to the point where the American Graded Stakes Committee made the Arkansas Derby a Grade I race in 2010.[2]
Past winners of the race have gone on to win legs of horse racing's Grand Slam. Sunny's Halo won the 1983 Kentucky Derby, as did Smarty Jones in 2004 and American Pharoah in 2015. Elocutionist (1976), Tank's Prospect (1985), Pine Bluff (1992), Smarty Jones (2004), Afleet Alex (2005), Curlin (2007), and American Pharoah (2015) all won the Preakness Stakes. 1980 winner Temperence Hill, 1998's Victory Gallop, 2005's Afleet Alex, and 2015's American Pharoah all went on to capture the Belmont Stakes, as did Creator in 2016. The 1994 winner, Concern, won that year's Breeders' Cup Classic.
The most celebrated Arkansas Derby champion is American Pharoah, who became the 12th Triple Crown winner and the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years. He is the first Arkansas Derby champion to win the Triple Crown. Like Smarty Jones, he too swept the Rebel and Arkansas Derby before winning the Kentucky Derby. The 2021 Arkansas Derby champion is .
Prior to American Pharoah's 2015 Triple Crown, Curlin had been the most decorated Arkansas Derby Winner, after winning races that included the 2007 Preakness Stakes, the 2007 Breeders' Cup Classic, and the 2008 Dubai World Cup. For his efforts, Curlin won the Eclipse Award in both 2007 and 2008 for American Horse of the Year, the highest honor given in American thoroughbred horse racing. Curlin was later admitted to thoroughbred racing's National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.
The inaugural Arkansas Derby in 1936 offered a total purse of $5,000. The first winner was Holl Image, who was owned and trained by Jack Carter.
The race was run in two divisions in 1960, and again in 2020. The 2020 race was moved to May because of the coronavirus pandemic, as the Kentucky Derby had been moved to September. Both races will pay identical points towards Kentucky Derby eligibility.
Records[]
Speed record:
- 1:46.80 – (1984)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 3 – Pat Day (1986, 1987, 1997)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 5 – Todd Pletcher (2000, 2001, 2013, 2014, 2018)
Most wins by an owner:
- 3 – Loblolly Stable (1980, 1987, 1992)
Winners of the Arkansas Derby since 1936[]
| Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Distance (Miles) |
Time |
Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3 | Ricardo Santana Jr. | Steve Asmussen | Erv Woolsey & Keith Asmussen | 1+1⁄8 | 1:50.92 | I | |
| 2020 (Div. 2) |
Nadal | 3 | Joel Rosario | Bob Baffert | Bolton, Hoyeau, Lipman, Mathiesen | 1+1⁄8 | 1:48.34 | I |
| 2020 (Div. 1) |
Charlatan1 | 3 | Martin Garcia | Bob Baffert | SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Hertrich, Fielding, Golconda Stables | 1+1⁄8 | 1:48.49 | I |
| 2019 | Omaha Beach | 3 | Mike E. Smith | Richard E. Mandella | Fox Hill Farms | 1+1⁄8 | 1:49.91 | I |
| 2018 | Magnum Moon | 3 | Luis Saez | Todd Pletcher | Robert & Lawana Low | 1+1⁄8 | 1:49.86 | I |
| 2017 | Classic Empire | 3 | Julien Leparoux | Mark E. Casse | John C. Oxley | 1+1⁄8 | 1:48.93 | I |
| 2016 | Creator | 3 | Ricardo Santana Jr. | Steve Asmussen | WinStar Farm | 1+1⁄8 | 1:50.14 | I |
| 2015 | American Pharoah | 3 | Victor Espinoza | Bob Baffert | Zayat Stables | 1+1⁄8 | 1:48.52 | I |
| 2014 | Danza | 3 | Joe Bravo | Todd Pletcher | 1+1⁄8 | 1:49.68 | I | |
| 2013 | 3 | Rafael Bejarano | Todd Pletcher | Repole Stable | 1+1⁄8 | 1:51.94 | I | |
| 2012 | Bodemeister | 3 | Mike E. Smith | Bob Baffert | Zayat Stables | 1+1⁄8 | 1:48.71 | I |
| 2011 | 3 | Jon Court | William H. Fires | Robert & Loval Yagos | 1+1⁄8 | 1:49.34 | I | |
| 2010 | 3 | Jon Court | John W. Sadler | Ike & Dawn Thrash | 1+1⁄8 | 1:49.37 | I | |
| 2009 | Papa Clem | 3 | Rafael Bejarano | Bo Hirsch | 1+1⁄8 | 1:49.00 | II | |
| 2008 | Gayego | 3 | Mike E. Smith | Cubanacan Stables | 1+1⁄8 | 1:49.63 | II | |
| 2007 | Curlin | 3 | Robby Albarado | Steve Asmussen | Midnight Cry Stables et al. | 1+1⁄8 | 1:50.00 | II |
| 2006 | Lawyer Ron | 3 | Robert E. Holthus | James T. Hines Jr. | 1+1⁄8 | 1:51.38 | II | |
| 2005 | Afleet Alex | 3 | Jeremy Rose | Tim Ritchey | Cash Is King Stable | 1+1⁄8 | 1:48.80 | II |
| 2004 | Smarty Jones | 3 | Stewart Elliott | John Servis | Roy & Patricia Chapman | 1+1⁄8 | 1:49.41 | II |
| 2003 | 3 | Terry J. Thompson | Domino Stud | 1+1⁄8 | 1:48.39 | II | ||
| 2002 | 3 | Donnie Meche | Steve Asmussen | James Cassels/Bob Zollars | 1+1⁄8 | 1:50.20 | II | |
| 2001 | Balto Star | 3 | Mark Guidry | Todd Pletcher | Anstu Stables | 1+1⁄8 | 1:49.00 | II |
| 2000 | 3 | Robby Albarado | Todd Pletcher | Eugene & Laura Melnyk | 1+1⁄8 | 1:49.00 | II | |
| 1999 | Certain2 | 3 | Kent Desormeaux | B.& J.Williams | 1+1⁄8 | 1:49.20 | II | |
| 1998 | Victory Gallop | 3 | Alex Solis | W. Elliott Walden | Prestonwood Farm | 1+1⁄8 | 1:49.80 | II |
| 1997 | 3 | Pat Day | Wayne Catalano | Darrell & Evelyn Yates | 1+1⁄8 | 1:49.20 | II | |
| 1996 | 3 | Ronald Ardoin | Foxwood Plantation | 1+1⁄8 | 1:49.20 | II | ||
| 1995 | 3 | Garrett Gomez | Chateau Ridge Farm | 1+1⁄8 | 1:50.60 | II | ||
| 1994 | Concern | 3 | Garrett Gomez | Richard W. Small | 1+1⁄8 | 1:48.00 | II | |
| 1993 | 3 | Calvin Borel | Gary & Mary West | 1+1⁄8 | 1:48.00 | II | ||
| 1992 | Pine Bluff | 3 | Jerry D. Bailey | Thomas Bohannan | Loblolly Stable | 1+1⁄8 | 1:49.40 | II |
| 1991 | 3 | Ed Delahoussaye | Ron McAnally | V.H.W. Stables | 1+1⁄8 | 1:47.60 | II | |
| 1990 | 3 | Gary Stevens | Ron McAnally | R. McAnally & A. Costanzo | 1+1⁄8 | 1:48.00 | II | |
| 1989 | 3 | Larry Snyder | Frank L. Brothers | John A. Franks | 1+1⁄8 | 1:49.20 | II | |
| 1988 | 3 | Jerry D. Bailey | Robert E. Holthus | Mrs. James A. Winn | 1+1⁄8 | 1:48.40 | I | |
| 1987 | 3 | Pat Day | Loblolly Stable | 1+1⁄8 | 1:47.60 | I | ||
| 1986 | 3 | Pat Day | Nancy & John Reed | 1+1⁄8 | 1:48.20 | I | ||
| 1985 | Tank's Prospect | 3 | Gary Stevens | D. Wayne Lukas | Eugene V. Klein | 1+1⁄8 | 1:48.40 | I |
| 1984 | 3 | Pat Valenzuela | D. Wayne Lukas | et al. | 1+1⁄8 | 1:46.80 | I | |
| 1983 | Sunny's Halo | 3 | Ed Delahoussaye | David C. Cross Jr. | David J. Foster | 1+1⁄8 | 1:49.40 | I |
| 1982 | 3 | Jeffrey Fell | Willard C. Freeman | Helen Hertz Hexter | 1+1⁄8 | 1:51.60 | I | |
| 1981 | Bold Ego | 3 | John Lively | Jack Van Berg | Double B. Ranch/J. Kidd | 1+1⁄8 | 1:50.40 | I |
| 1980 | Temperence Hill | 3 | Loblolly Stable | 1+1⁄8 | 1:50.60 | II | ||
| 1979 | Golden Act | 3 | Sandy Hawley | & | 1+1⁄8 | 1:50.00 | II | |
| 1978 | 3 | Chris McCarron | Jerry Frankel | 1+1⁄8 | 1:52.20 | II | ||
| 1977 | 3 | Ray Broussard | Homer C. Pardue | Joseph R. Straus Sr. & Izzie Proler | 1+1⁄8 | 1:50.60 | II | |
| 1976 | Elocutionist | 3 | John Lively | Paul T. Adwell | Eugene C. Cashman | 1+1⁄8 | 1:49.20 | II |
| 1975 | 3 | Big I. Farm | 1+1⁄8 | 1:51.80 | II | |||
| 1974 | 3 | Darrel McHargue | Harold Tinker | 1+1⁄8 | 1:50.60 | II | ||
| 1973 | 3 | Jorge Velásquez | Mrs. R. L. Feinberg | 1+1⁄8 | 1:49.60 | II | ||
| 1972 | No Le Hace | 3 | Homer C. Pardue | Joseph W. Strauss | 1+1⁄8 | 1:48.80 | ||
| 1971 | Twist The Axe | 3 | Pastorale Stable | 1+1⁄8 | 1:49.20 | |||
| 1970 | Herbalist | 3 | Jimmy Nichols | Greentree Stable | 1+1⁄8 | 1:50.20 | ||
| 1969 | Traffic Mark | 3 | M/M Robert F. Roberts | 1+1⁄8 | 1:50.60 | |||
| 1968 | Nodouble | 3 | J. Bert Sonnier | Verna Lea Farm | 1+1⁄8 | 1:50.00 | ||
| 1967 | Monitor | 3 | Jimmy Nichols | Harry Trotsek | Claiborne Farm | 1+1⁄8 | 1:48.60 | |
| 1966 | Better Sea | 3 | Johnny Sellers | Scottdale Farm | 1+1⁄8 | 1:49.20 | ||
| 1965 | Swift Ruler | 3 | Earl Allen | 1+1⁄8 | 1:52.20 | |||
| 1964 | Prince Davelle | 3 | Charlie Burr | George M. Holtsinger | 1+1⁄8 | 1:51.40 | ||
| 1963 | Cosmic Tip | 3 | E. Mahoney | River Divide Farm | 1+1⁄8 | 1:50.40 | ||
| 1962 | Areopolis | 3 | Robert L. Baird | Harold Tinker | August Muckler | 1+1⁄8 | 1:49.60 | |
| 1961 | Light Talk | 3 | Jacnot Stable | 1+1⁄8 | 1:50.20 | |||
| 1960 | Spring Broker | 3 | Marion Van Berg | Marion Van Berg | 1+1⁄8 | 1:54.40 | ||
| 1960 | Persian Gold | 3 | Jimmy Combest | Jones-Tuckahoe Farm | 1+1⁄8 | 1:53.00 | ||
| 1959 | Al Davelle | 3 | Dan Howell | Smith/Moulder/Oldham | 1+1⁄8 | 1:48.80 | ||
| 1958 | Count Deblanc | 3 | Johnny Sellers | C. & J. Riedinger | 1+1⁄8 | 1:53.80 | ||
| 1957 | Kentucky Roman | 3 | R. Lowe | 1+1⁄8 | 1:49.60 | |||
| 1956 | Johns Chic | 3 | John L. Rotz | Mrs. E. Muckler | 1+1⁄8 | 1:51.20 | ||
| 1955 | Trim Destiny | 3 | G. White | 1+1⁄8 | 1:49.60 | |||
| 1954 | Timely Tip | 3 | A. L. Birch | 1+1⁄8 | 1:49.80 | |||
| 1953 | Curragh King | 3 | John H. Adams | E. Goemans | 1+1⁄8 | 1:49.60 | ||
| 1952 | Gushing Oil | 3 | Sam E. Wilson Jr | 1+1⁄8 | 1:49.20 | |||
| 1951 | Ruhe | 3 | Job Dean Jessop | Robert McGarvey | Emil Denemark | 1+1⁄8 | 1:51.00 | |
| 1950 | Big Ike | 3 | C. Buckley | 1+1⁄8 | 1:52.00 | |||
| 1949 | Cacomo | 3 | Endovina & Kontos | 1+1⁄8 | 1:54.60 | |||
| 1948 | Fertile Lands | 3 | Grissom & Sherman | 1+1⁄8 | 1:51.00 | |||
| 1947 | Fleetridge | 3 | Arthur Craig | Mrs. K. Maxwell | 1+1⁄8 | 1:51.40 | ||
| 1946 | Bob Murphy | 3 | Wendell Eads | D. Ferguson | 1+1⁄8 | 1:51.80 | ||
| 1945 | No Race | - | No Race | No Race | No Race | no race | 0:00.00 | |
| 1944 | Challenge Me | 3 | Anthony Skoronski | Brolite Farm | 1+1⁄8 | 1:50.20 | ||
| 1943 | Seven Hearts | 3 | John H. Adams | Brown Hotel Stable | 1+1⁄8 | 1:52.20 | ||
| 1942 | With Regards | 3 | Johnny Longden | 1+1⁄8 | 1:50.00 | |||
| 1941 | He Rolls | 3 | 1+1⁄8 | 1:52.60 | ||||
| 1940 | Super Chief | 3 | Mrs. Emil Denemark | 1+1⁄8 | 1:52.20 | |||
| 1939 | Ariel Toy | 3 | Lee Hardy | 1+1⁄8 | 1:52.40 | |||
| 1938 | Tiger | 3 | Alfred Robertson | Robert McGarvey | Milky Way Farm Stable | 1+1⁄8 | 1:50.80 | |
| 1937 | Eastport | 3 | E. Russell | Mrs. V. Wyse | 1+1⁄8 | 1:50.80 | ||
| 1936 | Holl Image | 3 | Jack Carter | 1+1⁄8 | 1:53.40 |
1Charlatan was originally disqualified from his win due to a medication violation.[3] The disqualification was later overturned on appeal.[4]
2 In 1999, Valhol originally finished first but was relegated to last place following a Stewards' Inquiry.
See also[]
References[]
- ^ "ESPN.com – Triple Crown 2004 – Oaklawn owner insured bonus two days before Derby". espn.go.com. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
- ^ "Arkansas Derby Among Three New Grade I Stakes". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
- ^ Angst, Frank; King, Byron (15 July 2020). "Baffert Suspended, Horses DQ'd After Drug Positives". The BloodHorse. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
- ^ Angst, Frank; King, Byron (20 April 2021). "Arkansas Regulator Restores Wins by Charlatan, Gamine". The BloodHorse. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
External links[]
- Horse races in Arkansas
- Oaklawn Park
- Flat horse races for three-year-olds
- Triple Crown Prep Races
- Grade 1 stakes races in the United States
- Graded stakes races in the United States
- Recurring sporting events established in 1936
- 1936 establishments in Arkansas