The Florida Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses held annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Since 2005, it has been run five weeks before the Kentucky Derby, which is held on the first Saturday in May. Thus the Florida Derby is currently run either at the end of March or the beginning of April. Added to the racing schedule in 1952, the Grade I race is run at 1+18 miles on the dirt. The purse was increased to $1 million in 2011 but was reduced to $750,000 for 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The purse was once again increased to $1 million in 2022.

Florida Derby
Grade I race
LocationGulfstream Park
Hallandale Beach, Florida, USA
Inaugurated1952
Race typeThoroughbredFlat racing
Websitewww.floridaderby.com
Race information
Distance1+18 miles (9 furlongs)
SurfaceDirt
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationThree-year-olds
Weight122 lbs (55.3 kg)
Purse$1,000,000[1]

History

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The Florida Derby was first run in 1952. It has long been a prestigious prep race for the Kentucky Derby and since 2013 has been part of the official Road to the Kentucky Derby.

The race was originally run in early to mid-March and Kentucky Derby hopefuls would then run in another major prep race in April. In 2005, Gulfstream Park shifted its scheduling to run the race five weeks before the Kentucky Derby. This was originally believed to be a liability, as the preferred spacing of races is typically three to four weeks.[2] When Barbaro won the 2006 Kentucky Derby,[3] the five-week spacing began to be viewed as a potentially positive feature, allowing a horse to come into the Kentucky Derby well rested.[4]

In 1977, a large field resulted in the race being run in two divisions.

Between 1926 and 1937, the Flamingo Stakes was known as the Florida Derby.

Triple Crown Classic Winners

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In total, 21 winners of the Florida Derby have gone on to win one or more Triple Crown Classics (Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes).

Kentucky Derby Winners: Needles (1956), Tim Tam (1958), Carry Back (1961), Northern Dancer (1964), Forward Pass (1968), Spectacular Bid (1979), Swale (1984), Unbridled (1990), Thunder Gulch (1995), Monarchos (2001), Barbaro (2006), Big Brown (2008), Orb (2013), Nyquist (2016), and Always Dreaming (2017).

  • In 1968, Florida Derby winner Forward Pass was promoted to first place in the Kentucky Derby after the original winner, Dancer's Image, was disqualified due to a medication violation.
  • In 2019, Florida Derby winner Maximum Security crossed the finish line first in the Kentucky Derby, but was disqualified due to interference.

Preakness Stakes Winners: Nashua (1955), Tim Tam (1958), Bally Ache (1960), Carry Back (1961), Candy Spots (1963), Northern Dancer (1964), Forward Pass (1968), Spectacular Bid (1979), Snow Chief (1986), and Big Brown (2008).

Belmont Stakes Winners: Nashua (1955), Needles (1956), Swale (1984), Thunder Gulch (1995), Empire Maker (2003), and Tiz the Law (2020).

Records

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Speed Record:

  • 1:46.80 – Gen. Duke (1957), equaled the world record for 1+18 miles at the time.

Most wins by an owner:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Largest margin of victory:

  • 13+12 lengths – Fierceness (2024)[5]

Shortest priced winners:

  • $2.10 (1/20 on) – Honest Pleasure (1976), Spectacular Bid (1979)[6]

Longest priced winner:

  • $183.60 (~91/1) – Williamstown Kid (1966)[6]

Winners

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Year
Winner
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Time
Purse
Gr.
2024 Fierceness John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Repole Stable 1:48.22 $1,000,000 G1
2023 Forte Irad Ortiz Jr. Todd A. Pletcher Repole Stable & St. Elias Stable 1:49.37 $1,000,000 G1
2022 White Abarrio Tyler Gaffalione Saffie A. Joseph Jr. C2 Racing Stable & La Milagrosa Stable 1:50.64 $1,000,000 G1
2021 Known Agenda Irad Ortiz Jr. Todd A. Pletcher St. Elias Stable 1:49.45 $750,000 G1
2020 Tiz the Law Manny Franco Barclay Tagg Sackatoga Stable 1:50.00 $750,000 G1
2019 Maximum Security Luis Saez Jason Servis Mary & Gary West 1:48.86 $1,000,000 G1
2018 Audible John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners, Starlight Racing & WinStar Farm 1:49.48 $1,000,000 G1
2017 Always Dreaming John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Brooklyn Boyz Stables, Teresa Viola Racing Stable, Siena Farm, West Point Thoroughbreds, MeB Racing & St. Elias Stable 1:47.47 $1,000,000 G1
2016 Nyquist Mario Gutierrez Doug O'Neill Reddam Racing 1:49.11 $1,000,000 G1
2015 Materiality John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Alto Racing 1:52.30 $1,000,000 G1
2014 Constitution Javier Castellano Todd A. Pletcher Winstar Farm 1:49.17 $1,000,000 G1
2013 Orb John Velazquez Claude. R. McGaughey III Stuart S. Janney III & Phipps Stable 1:50.87 $1,000,000 G1
2012 Take Charge Indy Calvin Borel Patrick B. Byrne Chuck & Maribeth Sandford 1:48.79 $1,000,000 G1
2011 Dialed In Julien Leparoux Nick Zito Robert V. LaPenta 1:50.74 $1,000,000 G1
2010 Ice Box Jose Lezcano Nick Zito Robert V. LaPenta 1:49.19 $750,000 G1
2009 Quality Road John Velazquez James A. Jerkens Edward P. Evans 1:47.72 $750,000 G1
2008 Big Brown Kent Desormeaux Richard E. Dutrow Jr. IEAH Stables & Paul Pompa Jr. 1:48.16 $1,000,000 G1
2007 Scat Daddy Edgar Prado Todd A. Pletcher James Scatuorchio & Michael Tabor 1:49.00 $1,000,000 G1
2006 Barbaro Edgar Prado Michael Matz Lael Stables 1:49.01 $1,000,000 G1
2005 High Fly Jerry Bailey Nick Zito Live Oak Plantation 1:49.43 $1,000,000 G1
2004 Friends Lake Richard Migliore John C. Kimmel Chester & Mary Broman 1:51.38 $1,000,000 G1
2003 Empire Maker Jerry Bailey Robert Frankel Juddmonte Farms 1:49.05 $1,000,000 G1
2002 Harlan's Holiday Edgar Prado Kenneth McPeek Starlight Stable (Jack & Laurie Wolf) 1:48.80 $1,000,000 G1
2001 Monarchos Jorge Chavez John T. Ward Jr. John C. Oxley 1:49.95 $1,000,000 G1
2000 Hal's Hope Roger Velez Harold J. Rose Rose Family Stable 1:51.49 $1,000,000 G1
1999 Vicar Shane Sellers Carl Nafzger James B. Tafel 1:50.83 $750,000 G1
1998 Cape Town[a] Shane Sellers D. Wayne Lukas Overbrook Farm 1:49.21 $750,000 G1
1997 Captain Bodgit Alex Solis Gary Capuano Team Valor 1:50.60 $750,000 G1
1996 Unbridled's Song Mike Smith James T. Ryerson Paraneck Stable 1:47.85 $750,000 G1
1995 Thunder Gulch Mike Smith D. Wayne Lukas Michael Tabor 1:49.70 $500,000 G1
1994 Holy Bull Mike Smith Warren A. Croll Jr. Warren A. Croll Jr. 1:47.66 $500,000 G1
1993 Bull Inthe Heather Wigberto Ramos Howard M. Tesher Arthur Klein 1:51.38 $500,000 G1
1992 Technology Jerry Bailey Hubert Hine Scott C. Savin 1:50.72 $500,000 G1
1991 Fly So Free José A. Santos Scotty Schulhofer Tommy Valando 1:50.44 $500,000 I
1990 Unbridled Pat Day Carl Nafzger Genter Stable 1:52.00 $500,000 G1
1989 Mercedes Won Earlie Fires Arnold Fink Christopher Spencer 1:49.60 $500,000 G1
1988 Brian's Time Randy Romero John M. Veitch James W. Phillips 1:49.80 $500,000 G1
1987 Cryptoclearance José A. Santos Scotty Schulhofer Phil Teinowitz 1:49.60 $500,000 G1
1986 Snow Chief Alex Solis Melvin F. Stute Carl Grinstead & Ben Rochelle 1:51.80 $500,000 G1
1985 Proud Truth Jorge Velásquez John M. Veitch Darby Dan Farm 1:50.00 $500,000 G1
1984 Swale Laffit Pincay Jr. Woody Stephens Claiborne Farm 1:47.60 $300,000 G1
1983 Croeso Frank Olivares Stephen A. DiMauro Cardiff Stud Farm, Jerry Fowler & Roy Fowler 1:49.80 $300,000 G1
1982 Timely Writer Jeffrey Fell Dominic Imprescia Peter Martin & Francis Martin 1:49.60 $250,000 G1
1981 Lord Avie Chris McCarron Daniel Perlsweig David Simon 1:50.40 $250,000 G1
1980 Plugged Nickle Buck Thornburg Thomas J. Kelly John M. Schiff 1:50.20 $250,000 G1
1979 Spectacular Bid Ronnie Franklin Bud Delp Hawksworth Farm (Harry & Teresa Meyerhoff) 1:48.80 $200,000 G1
1978 Alydar Jorge Velásquez John M. Veitch Calumet Farm 1:47.00 $200,000 G1
1977 Div 2 Ruthie's Native Craig Perret Eugene Jacobs Ruth A. Perlmutter 1:50.20 $125,000 G1
1977 Div 1 Coined Silver Buck Thornburg George T. Poole III Cornelius V. Whitney 1:48.80 $125,000 G1
1976 Honest Pleasure Braulio Baeza LeRoy Jolley Bertram R. Firestone 1:47.80 $125,000 G1
1975 Prince Thou Art Braulio Baeza Lou Rondinello Darby Dan Farm 1:50.40 $150,000 G1
1974 Judger Laffit Pincay Jr. Woody Stephens Claiborne Farm 1:49.00 $150,000 G1
1973 Royal and Regal Walter Blum Warren A. Croll Jr. Aisco Stable 1:47.40 $130,000
1972 Upper Case Ron Turcotte Lucien Laurin Meadow Stable 1:50.00 $130,000
1971 Eastern Fleet Eddie Maple Reggie Cornell Calumet Farm 1:47.40 $125,000
1970 My Dad George Ray Broussard Frank J. McManus Raymond M. Curtis 1:50.80 $125,000
1969 Top Knight Manuel Ycaza Raymond F. Metcalf Steven B. Wilson 1:48.40
1968 Forward Pass Don Brumfield Henry Forrest Calumet Farm 1:49.00
1967 In Reality Earlie Fires Melvin Calvert Frances A. Genter 1:50.20
1966 Williamston Kid[b] Robert Stevenson James Bartlett Paul F. Ternes & James Bartlett 1:50.60
1965 Native Charger John L. Rotz Raymond F. Metcalf Warner Stable 1:51.20
1964 Northern Dancer Bill Shoemaker Horatio Luro Windfields Farm 1:50.80
1963 Candy Spots Bill Shoemaker Mesh Tenney Rex C. Ellsworth 1:50.60
1962 Ridan Manuel Ycaza LeRoy Jolley Mrs. Moody Jolley, Ernest Woods, John L. Greer 1:50.40
1961 Carry Back Johnny Sellers Jack A. Price Katherine Price 1:48.80
1960 Bally Ache Bobby Ussery Jimmy Pitt Edgehill Farm (Leonard D. & Morris Fruchtman) 1:47.60
1959 Easy Spur Bill Hartack Paul L. Kelley Spring Hill Farm 1:47.20
1958 Tim Tam Bill Hartack Horace A. Jones Calumet Farm 1:49.20
1957 Gen. Duke Bill Hartack Horace A. Jones Calumet Farm 1:46.80
1956 Needles David Erb Hugh L. Fontaine D & H Stable (Jack Dudley & Bonnie Heath) 1:48.60
1955 Nashua Eddie Arcaro Jim Fitzsimmons Belair Stud 1:53.20
1954 Correlation Bill Shoemaker Noble Threewitt Robert S. Lytle 1:55.20
1953 Money Broker Alfred Popara Vester R. Wright G. & G. Stable (T. Alie Grissom & Edward Grosfield) 1:53.80
1952 Sky Ship Ronnie Nash Preston M. Burch Brookmeade Stable 1:50.80
  1. ^ Lil's Lad finished 1st but was disqualified to 2nd
  2. ^ Abe's First finished 1st but was disqualified to 4th

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Florida Derby Profile". Equibase. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
  2. ^ "Florida Derby stars bucking history". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
  3. ^ "Scat Daddy Wins in Florida; Next Stop Is Kentucky Derby". The New York Times. 1 April 2007. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
  4. ^ Hoppert, Melissa (1 April 2016). "A Showdown Between Mohaymen and Nyquist Before the Kentucky Derby". The New York Times. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
  5. ^ "$1 MILLION CURLIN FLORIDA DERBY (G1) PRESENTED BY HILL 'N' DALE FARM AT XALAPA QUOTES | Hallandale Beach, Florida". gulfstreampark.com. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  6. ^ a b Moore, Christina (27 March 2017). "Florida Derby by the Numbers". TJ Media Ventures. Retrieved 30 March 2017.