The West Virginia Derby is an American Grade III stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred race horses run over a distance of 1+18 miles on the dirt at Mountaineer Race Track in Chester, West Virginia in August.[1] The purse for the event is US$500,000.[1]

West Virginia Derby
Grade III race
LocationMountaineer Park
Chester, West Virginia, United States
Inaugurated1923 (as Huntington Tri-State Park)
Race typeThoroughbred - Flat racing
WebsiteMountaineer Park
Race information
Distance1+18 miles (9 furlongs)
SurfaceDirt
Trackleft-handed
QualificationThree-year-olds
Weight124 lbs. with allowances
Purse$500,000 (since 2018)

History edit

The inaugural running of the event was 21 April 1923, the ninth race day at the newly opened Huntingdon's Tri-State Park.[2] Estimates put the crowd size at 10,000. Huntington's hotel rooms were so solidly booked that 50 people applied at the city jail for lodging. Tender Seth defeated six other entrants as the 6-4 favorite in a time of 1:54 3/5.[3] In 1925 Tri-State Park renamed its premier event to the Huntington Derby over a shorter distance of 1+116 miles.[4] On 17 April 1926 the event was renewed as The West Virginia State Derby and was won by Nine Sixty who defeated the inaugural Florida Derby winner Torcher by 1+12 lengths.[3] Tri-State management were planning a rematch of between Nine Sixty and Torcher four days after this running but a catastrophe ensued with a fire engulfing the Tri-State grandstand on the morning of 20 April.[5] The race meet was canceled and Tri-State Park was never rebuilt.[3]

After a 32-year absence the event was renewed on 23 August 1958 at Wheeling Downs.[6] The event was held three times at Wheeling Downs before being moved to Waterford Park in 1963.[7] The first four winners of the event were all ridden by jockey Floyd Green and trained by local trainer Patsy Santo.[7] Including two fillies, the 1963 winner Etimota who won by twelve lengths and Kerensa in 1966 who were sisters (Rico Monte (ARG) — Too Fussy out of Blue Sword). Both were bred and owned by Frances W. Luro, wife of legendary trainer Horatio Luro at their Old Mill Farm in Carterville, Georgia. Both in reality were trained by Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame trainer Frank H. Merrill Jr., but ran in the name of local trainer Patsy Santo.[8]

The event has been run in split divisions twice - in 1972 and 1981.[9]

The event was discontinued twice for lengthy periods in the 1980s and 1990s.[7]

With influx of racino funds Mountaineer Park management was able to provide higher stakes and with that stability to the event in the 2000s.

In 2002 the event was classified as Grade III and upgraded to Grade II in 2009.[1] However the event was downgraded back to Grade III in 2017.[1]

In 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Mountaineer Park canceled the event.[10]

Records edit

Speed record:

  • 1+18 miles: 1:46:29 - Soto (2003) (Stakes and track record)

Margins:

  • 12 lengths – Etimota (1963)

Most wins by a jockey:

  • 4 - Floyd Green (1963, 1964, 1965, 1966)

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by an owner:

Winners edit

Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref
At ‡Mountaineer Race Track – West Virginia Derby
2023 Red Route One Cristian Torres Steven M. Asmussen Winchell Thoroughbreds 1+18 miles 1:49.49 $500,000 III [11]
2022 Skippylongstocking Edwin Gonzalez Saffie A. Joseph Jr. Daniel Alonso 1+18 miles 1:48.11 $500,000 III [12]
2021 Mr. Wireless Ramon Vazquez W. Bret Calhoun JIL Stable 1+18 miles 1:52.49 $500,000 III [13]
2020 Race not held
2019 Mr. Money Gabriel Saez W. Bret Calhoun Allied Racing Stable 1+18 miles 1:50.28 $500,000 III [14]
2018 Mr Freeze Robby Albarado Dale L. Romans Jim Bakke & Gerald Isbister 1+18 miles 1:47.95 $500,000 III [15]
2017 Colonelsdarktemper Jon Court William H. Fires Anthony J. Foyt Jr. 1+18 miles 1:50.68 $750,000 III [16]
2016 Cupid Rafael Bejarano Bob Baffert Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor 1+18 miles 1:50.54 $750,000 II [17]
2015 Madefromlucky Joe Bravo Todd A. Pletcher Cheyenne Stables & Mac Nichol 1+18 miles 1:51.40 $750,000 II [18]
2014 Tapiture Rosie Napravnik Steven M. Asmussen Winchell Thoroughbreds 1+18 miles 1:50.66 $750,000 II [19]
2013 Departing Robby Albarado Albert Stall Jr. Claiborne Farm & Adele B. Dilschneider 1+18 miles 1:51.47 $750,000 II [20]
2012 Macho Macho Corey Nakatani Steven M. Asmussen Jerry Durant 1+18 miles 1:49.98 $750,000 II [21]
2011 Prayer for Relief Rafael Bejarano Bob Baffert Gerry Aschinger 1+18 miles 1:50.68 $750,000 II [22]
2010 Concord Point Martin Garcia Bob Baffert Kaleem Shah 1+18 miles 1:51.12 $750,000 II [23]
2009 § Soul Warrior Dale V. Beckner Steven M. Asmussen Zayat Stables 1+18 miles 1:51.46 $750,000 II [24]
2008 Ready Set Julien R. Leparoux Michael R. Matz Lael Stables 1+18 miles 1:52.03 $750,000 III [25]
2007 Zanjero Shaun Bridgmohan Steven M. Asmussen Winchell Thoroughbreds 1+18 miles 1:53.04 $750,000 III [26]
2006 Bright One Mark Guidry Dale L. Romans Carolyn S. Bruder & Delmar Daubs 1+18 miles 1:50.08 $750,000 III [27]
2005 Real Dandy Mark Guidry Steven M. Asmussen Cathy & Bob Zollars 1+18 miles 1:50.29 $750,000 III [28]
2004 Sir Shackleton Rafael Bejarano Nicholas P. Zito Tracy Farmer 1+18 miles 1:49.16 $600,000 III [29]
2003 Soto Ramon A. Dominguez Michael W. Dickinson Galopp 1+18 miles 1:46.29 $600,000 III [30]
2002 Wiseman's Ferry Jorge F. Chavez Niall M. O'Callaghan Swifty Farm, Morton Fink & Lee Sacks 1+18 miles 1:49.63 $600,000 III [31]
2001 Western Pride Dana G. Whitney Richard Estvanko Theresa McArthur 1+18 miles 1:47.20 $500,000 Listed [32]
2000 Mass Market Rick Wilson Benjamin W. Perkins Jr. New Farm, Centennial Farm & William S. Farish III 1+18 miles 1:49.94 $300,000 Listed [33]
1999 Stellar Brush Joe Stokes Richard W. Small Robert E. Meyerhoff 1+18 miles 1:49.02 $250,000 Listed [34]
1998 Da Devil Jon Court Forrest Kaelin David Hall, B. Case, C. Glasscock & B. Bleiden 1+18 miles 1:48.84 $200,000 Listed [35]
1991–1997 Race not held
1990 Challenge My Duty Inocencio Becer Ayarza Norman R. Pointer William M. Rickman 1+18 miles 1:49.60 $100,000 [36]
1989 Doc's Leader William I. Fox Jr. Monte Clark Mary Anne Loccissano 1+18 miles 1:50.00 $100,000 [37]
1988 Old Stories Ruben Hernandez Howard M. Tesher Russell L. Reineman 1+18 miles 1:52.20 $100,000 [38]
1982–1987 Race not held
1981 Park's Policy Jeffrey Scott Lloyd Clyde D. Rice Parke L. Lietzel 1+18 miles 1:49.60 $35,000 Division 1[39]
Johnny Dance Frank Lovato Jr. John P. Campo Buckland Farm 1:47.80 $35,000 Division 2[40]
1980 Summer Advocate William L. Floyd Michael B. Ball Donald Ball 1+18 miles 1:50.80 $50,000 [41]
1979 Architect Stanley Spencer Harvey L. Vanier Carl Lauer 1+18 miles 1:51.00 $50,000 [42]
1978 Beau Sham Pat Day Thomas E. Lunneen Chet & Gerry Herringer 1+18 miles 1:48.60 $50,000 [43]
1977 § Best Person Vincent Bracciale Jr. Michael D. Tinker W. Cal Partee 1+18 miles 1:48.60 $50,000 [44]
1976 Wardlaw Jorge Enrique Tejeira David R. Vance Dan Lasater 1+18 miles 1:47.60 $50,000 [45]
1975 At The Front Angel Santiago John P. Campo Buckland Farm 1+18 miles 1:48.60 $50,000 [46]
1974 Park Guard Benny Feliciano Jonathan E. Sheppard Augustin Stable 1+18 miles 1:47.40 $50,000 [47]
1973 Blue Chip Dan Mickey Solomone George Getz Phil Teinowitz 1+18 miles 1:49.20 $32,200 [48]
1972 Family Table Mickey Solomone George Getz Phil Teinowitz 1+18 miles 1:50.60 $20,000 Division 1[49]
Bold Nobleman James Kelley Andrew G. Smithers Mrs. C. H. Sturrock Stable 1:49.40 $20,500 Division 2[50]
1971 Trico O'Erin Thomas De Palo Millard H. Harrell Mrs. Joy Glassberg 1+18 miles 1:52.20 $28,900 [51]
1970 † Two Joy Joseph Imparato Jake Dodson Audley Farms 1+18 miles 1:53.00 $28,050 [52]
1969 Roman Partner Mickey Solomone Kenneth W. Bright James Livesay & Lou Kelley 1+18 miles 1:51.80 $27,375 [53]
1968 Chargertown Raymond Nakama A. O. Cleff Mrs. Walter R. Kelly 1+18 miles 1:54.40 $15,670 [54]
1967 Miracle Hill Robert Gallimore Dewey Smith T. Alie & James E. Grissom 1+18 miles 1:53.20 $8,460 [55]
1966 ƒ Kerensa Floyd Green Patsy Santo Mrs. Horatio Luro 1+18 miles 1:50.40 $8,420 [56]
1965 Pantuity Floyd Green Patsy Santo Andrew G. Smithers 1+18 miles 1:53.00 $8,310 [57]
1964 Peter Le Grand Floyd Green Patsy Santo Mrs. Edward B. Seedhouse 1+18 miles 1:53.00 $5,045 [58]
1963 ƒ Etimota Floyd Green Patsy Santo Mrs. Horatio Luro 1+18 miles 1:52.00 $5,940 [59]
1962 Race not held
At Wheeling Downs
1961 Dip and Whirl Bernie Walt Thurmond Gammon Thurmond Gammon 1+18 miles 1:54.60 $4,020 [60]
1960 Race not held
1959 Redbird Wish Wayne Chambers Marion H. Van Berg Marion H. Van Berg 1+18 miles 1:52.80 $14,620 [61]
1958 Sea Hymn Jose Contraes Ed Barerra Circle K Farms 1+18 miles 1:55.20 $15,000 [6]
1927–1957 Race not held
At Huntington Tri-State Park – West Virginia State Derby
1926 Nine Sixty Louis Pinchon J. L. Brannon Mrs. J. L. Brannon 1+116 miles 1:49.40 $1,500 [62]
Huntington Derby
1925 Belpre Francis Horn O. E. Pons C. G. Talbutt 1+116 miles 1:48.40 $1,500 [63]
West Virginia Derby
1924 ƒ Norah Willy Martin Charles H. Smith Charles H. Smith 1+18 miles 1:54.60 $1,500 [64]
1923 Tender Seth Willy Fronk H. Cavanaugh E. C. Knebelkamp 1+18 miles 1:54.60 $2,265 [65]

Notes:
ƒ Filly or Mare
§ Ran as an entry
‡ When the event was run between 1963 and 1981 the track was known as Waterford Park
† In the 1971 running, Captain Nash was first past the post but was disqualified for interference in the straight and Two Joy was declared the winner

See also edit

List of American and Canadian Graded races

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d "Stakes Profile - West Virginia Derby". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  2. ^ "Huntington Charts (1923 West Virginia Derby – race 5: held 21 April 1925)" (PDF). Daily Racing Form. 22 April 1924. Retrieved 28 July 2021 – via University of Kentucky Archives.
  3. ^ a b c Mooney, Bill (4 August 2016). "West Virginia's Original Derby: The Saga of Tri-State Fair Grounds". PaulickReport.com. Blenheim Publishing. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  4. ^ "Huntington Charts (1925 Huntington Derby – race 6: held 11 April 1925)" (PDF). Daily Racing Form. 12 April 1925. Retrieved 28 July 2021 – via University of Kentucky Archives.
  5. ^ "Fire Destroys Huntington Grandstand -- Meeting Declared Off" (PDF). Daily Racing Form. 21 April 1926. Retrieved 28 July 2021 – via University of Kentucky Archives.
  6. ^ a b "Sea Hymn Pulls Upset At Wheeling (1958 West Virginia Derby – race 8: held 23 August 1958)". Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph. 24 August 1958. p. 9. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  7. ^ a b c "WEST VIRGINIA DERBY - MULTIPLE TRACKS". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  8. ^ "Different Flowers from the Same Garden". Fillies First. A Blog About Horse Racing's Great Fillies and Mares. 2 August 2011. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  9. ^ "WEST VIRGINIA DERBY (2ND. DIV.) - MULTIPLE TRACKS". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  10. ^ BloodHorse Staff (14 July 2020). "Mountaineer Park Cancels Aug. 1 West Virginia Derby". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  11. ^ "2023 West Virginia Derby Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 6 August 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  12. ^ "2022 West Virginia Derby Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 6 August 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  13. ^ "2021 West Virginia Derby Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 7 August 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  14. ^ "2019 West Virginia Derby Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 3 August 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  15. ^ "2018 West Virginia Derby Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 4 August 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  16. ^ "2017 West Virginia Derby Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 5 August 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  17. ^ "2016 West Virginia Derby Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 6 August 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  18. ^ "2015 West Virginia Derby Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 1 August 2015. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  19. ^ "2014 West Virginia Derby Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 2 August 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  20. ^ "2013 West Virginia Derby Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  21. ^ "2012 West Virginia Derby Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 4 August 2012. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  22. ^ "2011 West Virginia Derby Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 6 August 2011. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  23. ^ "2010 West Virginia Derby Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 7 August 2010. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  24. ^ "2009 West Virginia Derby Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 1 August 2009. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
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  26. ^ "2007 West Virginia Derby Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 4 August 2007. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  27. ^ "2006 West Virginia Derby Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 6 August 2006. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  28. ^ "2005 West Virginia Derby Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 14 August 2005. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  29. ^ "2004 West Virginia Derby Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 7 August 2004. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  30. ^ "2003 West Virginia Derby Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 9 August 2003. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  31. ^ "2002 West Virginia Derby Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 10 August 2002. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
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  33. ^ "2000 West Virginia Derby Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 12 August 2000. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  34. ^ "1999 West Virginia Derby Listed - (race 9)". Equibase. 14 August 1999. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  35. ^ "1998 West Virginia Derby Listed - (race 9)". Equibase. 15 August 1998. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
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  45. ^ Black, Bob (24 August 1976). "Wardlaw Captures W. Virginia Derby (1976 West Virginia Derby – race 9: held 23 August 1976)". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 37. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
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  53. ^ "At Waterford; Roman Partner Derby winner (1969 West Virginia Derby – race 9: held 15 August 1969)". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 16 August 1969. p. 9. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
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  58. ^ "Odds-On Pick Wins Derby At Waterford; Peter Le Grand Scores By Length Over A. J.'s Winn (1964 West Virginia Derby – race 8: held 21 August 1964)". Pittsburgh Press. 23 August 1964. p. 68. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  59. ^ "Etimota Wins Waterford's W. Va. Derby; Victor Returns $5, $4,60 And $3; Count John 2nd (1963 West Virginia Derby – race 10: held 27 July 1963)". Pittsburgh Press. 28 July 1963. p. 68. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  60. ^ "Etimota Wins Waterford's W. Va. Derby; Victor Returns $5, $4,60 And $3; Count John 2nd (1961 West Virginia Derby – race 10: held 15 June 1961)". Pittsburgh Press. 16 June 1961. p. 68. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  61. ^ "Results Waterford Park (1959 West Virginia Derby – race 8: held 19 September 1959)". Uniontown (PA) Morning Herald. 21 September 1959. p. 9. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  62. ^ "Nine Sixty To The Fore; Adds West Virginia State Derby to List of Triumphs - Record Attendance of Meeting Present (1926 West Virginia State Derby – race 6: held 17 April 1926)" (PDF). Daily Racing Form. 18 April 1926. p. 16. Retrieved 27 July 2021 – via University of Kentucky Archives.
  63. ^ "Belpre Wins Derby Proze At Huntington (1925 Huntington Derby – race 6: held 11 April 1925)". Pittsburgh Daily Post. 12 April 1925. p. 32. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  64. ^ "Huntington Charts (1924 West Virginia Derby – race 5: held 12 April 1924)" (PDF). Daily Racing Form. 13 April 1924. p. 9. Retrieved 27 July 2021 – via University of Kentucky Archives.
  65. ^ "W. Virginia Derby Captured By Tender Seth (1923 West Virginia Derby – race 5: held 21 April 1923)". The Courier-Journal. 22 April 1923. p. 60. Retrieved 27 July 2021.