Arkansas Derby

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 9 furlongs on dirt.

Arkansas Derby
Grade I race
LocationOaklawn Park Race Track
Hot Springs, Arkansas, United States
Inaugurated1936
Race typeThoroughbred
Websitewww.oaklawn.com
Race information
Distance1 18 miles (9 furlongs)
SurfaceDirt
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationThree-year-olds
WeightColt/Gelding: 126 lbs (57.2 kg)
Filly: 121 lbs. (54.9 kg)
PurseUS$1,000,000

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 current Arkansas Derby champion is Magnum Moon.

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 – Althea (1984)

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by an owner:

Winners of the Arkansas Derby since 1936

Year
Winner
Age
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Distance
(Miles)
Time
Grade
2020
(Div. 2)
Nadal 3 Joel Rosario Bob Baffert Bolton, Hoyeau, Lipman, Mathiesen 1 18 1:48.34 I
2020
(Div. 1)
Basin1 3 Ricardo Santana Jr. Steve Asmussen Jackpot Farm 1 18 1:48.49 I
2019 Omaha Beach 3 Mike E. Smith Richard E. Mandella Fox Hill Farms 1 18 1:49.91 I
2018 Magnum Moon 3 Luis Saez Todd Pletcher Robert and Lawana Low 1 18 1:49.86 I
2017 Classic Empire 3 Julien Leparoux Mark E. Casse John C. Oxley 1 18 1:48.93 I
2016 Creator 3 Ricardo Santana Jr. Steve Asmussen WinStar Farm 1 18 1:50.14 I
2015 American Pharoah 3 Victor Espinoza Bob Baffert Zayat Stables 1 18 1:48.52 I
2014 Danza 3 Joe Bravo Todd Pletcher Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners 1 18 1:49.68 I
2013 Overanalyze 3 Rafael Bejarano Todd Pletcher Repole Stable 1 18 1:51.94 I
2012 Bodemeister 3 Mike E. Smith Bob Baffert Zayat Stables 1 18 1:48.71 I
2011 Archarcharch 3 Jon Court William H. Fires Robert & Loval Yagos 1 18 1:49.34 I
2010 Line of David 3 Jon Court John W. Sadler Ike & Dawn Thrash 1 18 1:49.37 I
2009 Papa Clem 3 Rafael Bejarano Gary Stute Bo Hirsch 1 18 1:49.00 II
2008 Gayego 3 Mike E. Smith Paulo Lobo Cubanacan Stables 1 18 1:49.63 II
2007 Curlin 3 Robby Albarado Steve Asmussen Midnight Cry Stables et al. 1 18 1:50.00 II
2006 Lawyer Ron 3 John McKee Robert E. Holthus James T. Hines Jr. 1 18 1:51.38 II
2005 Afleet Alex 3 Jeremy Rose Tim Ritchey Cash Is King Stable 1 18 1:48.80 II
2004 Smarty Jones 3 Stewart Elliott John Servis Roy & Patricia Chapman 1 18 1:49.41 II
2003 Sir Cherokee 3 Terry J. Thompson Michael Tomlinson Domino Stud 1 18 1:48.39 II
2002 Private Emblem 3 Donnie Meche Steve Asmussen James Cassels/Bob Zollars 1 18 1:50.20 II
2001 Balto Star 3 Mark Guidry Todd Pletcher Anstu Stables 1 18 1:49.00 II
2000 Graeme Hall 3 Robby Albarado Todd Pletcher Eugene & Laura Melnyk 1 18 1:49.00 II
1999 Certain2 3 Kent Desormeaux Leo Azpurua Jr. B.& J.Williams 1 18 1:49.20 II
1998 Victory Gallop 3 Alex Solis W. Elliott Walden Prestonwood Farm 1 18 1:49.80 II
1997 Crypto Star 3 Pat Day Wayne Catalano Darrell & Evelyn Yates 1 18 1:49.20 II
1996 Zarb's Magic 3 Ronald Ardoin W. Bret Thomas Foxwood Plantation 1 18 1:49.20 II
1995 Dazzling Falls 3 Garrett Gomez Chuck Turco Chateau Ridge Farm 1 18 1:50.60 II
1994 Concern 3 Garrett Gomez Richard W. Small Robert E. Meyerhoff 1 18 1:48.00 II
1993 Rockamundo 3 Calvin Borel Oris J. Glass Jr. Gary & Mary West 1 18 1:48.00 II
1992 Pine Bluff 3 Jerry D. Bailey Thomas Bohannan Loblolly Stable 1 18 1:49.40 II
1991 Olympio 3 Ed Delahoussaye Ron McAnally V.H.W. Stables 1 18 1:47.60 II
1990 Silver Ending 3 Gary Stevens Ron McAnally R. McAnally & A. Costanzo 1 18 1:48.00 II
1989 Dansil 3 Larry Snyder Frank L. Brothers John A. Franks 1 18 1:49.20 II
1988 Proper Reality 3 Jerry D. Bailey Robert E. Holthus Mrs. James A. Winn 1 18 1:48.40 I
1987 Demons Begone 3 Pat Day Philip Hauswald Loblolly Stable 1 18 1:47.60 I
1986 Rampage 3 Pat Day Gary A. Thomas Nancy & John Reed 1 18 1:48.20 I
1985 Tank's Prospect 3 Gary Stevens D. Wayne Lukas Eugene V. Klein 1 18 1:48.40 I
1984 Althea 3 Pat Valenzuela D. Wayne Lukas Helen C. Alexander et al. 1 18 1:46.80 I
1983 Sunny's Halo 3 Ed Delahoussaye David C. Cross Jr. David J. Foster 1 18 1:49.40 I
1982 Hostage 3 Jeffrey Fell Willard C. Freeman Helen Hertz Hexter 1 18 1:51.60 I
1981 Bold Ego 3 John Lively Jack Van Berg Double B. Ranch/J. Kidd 1 18 1:50.40 I
1980 Temperence Hill 3 Darrell Haire Joseph B. Cantey Loblolly Stable 1 18 1:50.60 II
1979 Golden Act 3 Sandy Hawley Loren Rettele W. H. Oldknow & R. W. Phipps 1 18 1:50.00 II
1978 Esops Foibles 3 Chris McCarron Loren Rettele Jerry Frankel 1 18 1:52.20 II
1977 Clev Er Tell 3 Ray Broussard Homer C. Pardue J. R. Straus/I. Proler 1 18 1:50.60 II
1976 Elocutionist 3 John Lively Paul T. Adwell Eugene C. Cashman 1 18 1:49.20 II
1975 Promised City 3 David E. Whited Larry Spraker Big I. Farm 1 18 1:51.80 II
1974 J.R.'s Pet 3 Darrel McHargue Harold Tinker W. Cal Partee 1 18 1:50.60 II
1973 Impecunious 3 Jorge Velásquez George R. Handy Mrs. R. L. Feinberg 1 18 1:49.60 II
1972 No Le Hace 3 Phil Rubbicco Homer C. Pardue Joseph W. Strauss 1 18 1:48.80
1971 Twist The Axe 3 Garth Patterson George T. Poole Pastorale Stable 1 18 1:49.20
1970 Herbalist 3 Jimmy Nichols Roy J. Gillem Greentree Stable 1 18 1:50.20
1969 Traffic Mark 3 Phil I. Grimm Ronnie Warren M/M Robert F. Roberts 1 18 1:50.60
1968 Nodouble 3 William McKeever J. Bert Sonnier Verna Lea Farm 1 18 1:50.00
1967 Monitor 3 Jimmy Nichols Harry Trotsek Claiborne Farm 1 18 1:48.60
1966 Better Sea 3 Johnny Sellers Blaine Heap Scottdale Farm 1 18 1:49.20
1965 Swift Ruler 3 Larry Spraker Gin L. Collins Earl Allen 1 18 1:52.20
1964 Prince Davelle 3 Charlie Burr Douglas M. Davis Jr. George M. Holtsinger 1 18 1:51.40
1963 Cosmic Tip 3 Robert Mundorf E. Mahoney River Divide Farm 1 18 1:50.40
1962 Areopolis 3 Robert L. Baird Harold Tinker August Muckler 1 18 1:49.60
1961 Light Talk 3 Robert Nono Steve Ippolito Jacnot Stable 1 18 1:50.20
1960 Spring Broker 3 Eugene Curry Marion Van Berg Marion Van Berg 1 18 1:54.40
1960 Persian Gold 3 Jimmy Combest Monte D. Parke Jones-Tuckahoe Farm 1 18 1:53.00
1959 Al Davelle 3 Ronnie Baldwin Dan Howell Smith/Moulder/Oldham 1 18 1:48.80
1958 Count Deblanc 3 Johnny Sellers Charles C. Norman C. & J. Riedinger 1 18 1:53.80
1957 Kentucky Roman 3 John Delahoussaye Norman A. McMaster R. Lowe 1 18 1:49.60
1956 Johns Chic 3 John L. Rotz Logan Fischer Mrs. E. Muckler 1 18 1:51.20
1955 Trim Destiny 3 Lois C. Cook Cecil Locklear G. White 1 18 1:49.60
1954 Timely Tip 3 Howard Craig Reid Armstrong A. L. Birch 1 18 1:49.80
1953 Curragh King 3 John H. Adams James Wallace E. Goemans 1 18 1:49.60
1952 Gushing Oil 3 Alfred Popara Joe Jansen Sam E. Wilson Jr 1 18 1:49.20
1951 Ruhe 3 Job Dean Jessop Robert McGarvey Emil Denemark 1 18 1:51.00
1950 Big Ike 3 Harold Keene Cecil Locklear C. Buckley 1 18 1:52.00
1949 Cacomo 3 Billie Fisk A. Williams Endovina & Kontos 1 18 1:54.60
1948 Fertile Lands 3 Paul Glidewell Marian Barton Grissom & Sherman 1 18 1:51.00
1947 Fleetridge 3 Arthur Craig Roy J. Gillem Mrs. K. Maxwell 1 18 1:51.40
1946 Bob Murphy 3 Wendell Eads Charles Sanborn D. Ferguson 1 18 1:51.80
1945 No Race - No Race No Race No Race no race 0:00.00
1944 Challenge Me 3 Anthony Skoronski Dan Cataldo Brolite Farm 1 18 1:50.20
1943 Seven Hearts 3 John H. Adams W. Graves Sparks Brown Hotel Stable 1 18 1:52.20
1942 With Regards 3 Johnny Longden T. D. Grimes T. D. Grimes 1 18 1:50.00
1941 He Rolls 3 Preston Mills Victor P. Noyes Victor P. Noyes 1 18 1:52.60
1940 Super Chief 3 Jack Richard Dave Womeldorff Mrs. Emil Denemark 1 18 1:52.20
1939 Ariel Toy 3 Lee Hardy Hugh W. Jackson Hugh W. Jackson 1 18 1:52.40
1938 Tiger 3 Alfred Robertson Robert McGarvey Milky Way Farm Stable 1 18 1:50.80
1937 Eastport 3 Ray Hightshoe E. Russell Mrs. V. Wyse 1 18 1:50.80
1936 Holl Image 3 Herb Fisher Jack Carter Jack Carter 1 18 1:53.40

1 In 2020's first division, Charlatan originally finished first but was later disqualified due to a medication violation. Charlatan's trainer, Bob Baffert, intends to appeal the stewards' ruling.[3]

2 In 1999, Valhol originally finished first but was relegated to last place following a Stewards' Inquiry.

See also

References

  1. "ESPN.com – Triple Crown 2004 – Oaklawn owner insured bonus two days before Derby". espn.go.com. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  2. "Arkansas Derby Among Three New Grade I Stakes". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  3. Angst, Frank; King, Byron (15 July 2020). "Baffert Suspended, Horses DQ'd After Drug Positives". The BloodHorse. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
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