Arkansas Derby

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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$1,250,000 (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.[3][4] 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 Super Stock.[5][6]

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 2, 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic,[7] as the Kentucky Derby had been moved to September. Both races will pay identical points towards Kentucky Derby eligibility.[8]

Records[edit]

Speed record:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by an owner:

Winners of the Arkansas Derby since 1936[edit]

Year
Winner
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Distance
Time
Grade
2023 Angel of Empire Flavien Prat Brad H. Cox Albaugh Family Stables 1+18 1:49.68 I
2022 Cyberknife Florent Geroux Brad H. Cox Gold Square LLC 1+18 1:50.42 I
2021 Super Stock Ricardo Santana Jr. Steven M. Asmussen Erv Woolsey & Keith Asmussen 1+18 1:50.92 I
2020
(Div. 2)
Nadal Joel Rosario Bob Baffert Bolton, Hoyeau, Lipman, Mathiesen 1+18 1:48.34 I
2020
(Div. 1)
Charlatan1 Martin Garcia Bob Baffert SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Fredrick Hertrich III, John Fielding, Golconda Stables 1+18 1:48.49 I
2019 Omaha Beach Mike E. Smith Richard E. Mandella Fox Hill Farms 1+18 1:49.91 I
2018 Magnum Moon Luis Saez Todd A. Pletcher Robert Low & Lawana Low 1+18 1:49.86 I
2017 Classic Empire Julien Leparoux Mark E. Casse John C. Oxley 1+18 1:48.93 I
2016 Creator Ricardo Santana Jr. Steven M. Asmussen WinStar Farm 1+18 1:50.14 I
2015 American Pharoah Victor Espinoza Bob Baffert Zayat Stables 1+18 1:48.52 I
2014 Danza Joe Bravo Todd A. Pletcher Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners 1+18 1:49.68 I
2013 Overanalyze Rafael Bejarano Todd A. Pletcher Repole Stable 1+18 1:51.94 I
2012 Bodemeister Mike E. Smith Bob Baffert Zayat Stables 1+18 1:48.71 I
2011 Archarcharch Jon Court William H. Fires Robert Yagos & Loval Yagos 1+18 1:49.34 I
2010 Line of David Jon Court John W. Sadler Ike Trash & Dawn Thrash 1+18 1:49.37 I
2009 Papa Clem Rafael Bejarano Gary Stute Bo Hirsch 1+18 1:49.00 II
2008 Gayego Mike E. Smith Paulo Lobo Cubanacan Stables 1+18 1:49.63 II
2007 Curlin Robby Albarado Steven M. Asmussen Midnight Cry Stables & Stonestreet Stables 1+18 1:50.00 II
2006 Lawyer Ron John McKee Robert E. Holthus James T. Hines Jr. 1+18 1:51.38 II
2005 Afleet Alex Jeremy Rose Tim Ritchey Cash Is King Stable 1+18 1:48.80 II
2004 Smarty Jones Stewart Elliott John Servis Roy & Patricia Chapman 1+18 1:49.41 II
2003 Sir Cherokee Terry J. Thompson Michael Tomlinson Domino Stud 1+18 1:48.39 II
2002 Private Emblem Donnie Meche Steven M. Asmussen James Cassels & Bob Zollars 1+18 1:50.20 II
2001 Balto Star Mark Guidry Todd A. Pletcher Anstu Stables 1+18 1:49.00 II
2000 Graeme Hall Robby Albarado Todd A. Pletcher Eugene Melnyk & Laura Melnyk 1+18 1:49.00 II
1999 Certain2 Kent Desormeaux Leo Azpurua Jr. B.& J.Williams 1+18 1:49.20 II
1998 Victory Gallop Alex Solis W. Elliott Walden Prestonwood Farm 1+18 1:49.80 II
1997 Crypto Star Pat Day Wayne Catalano Darrell & Evelyn Yates 1+18 1:49.20 II
1996 Zarb's Magic Ronald Ardoin W. Bret Thomas Foxwood Plantation 1+18 1:49.20 II
1995 Dazzling Falls Garrett Gomez Chuck Turco Chateau Ridge Farm 1+18 1:50.60 II
1994 Concern Garrett Gomez Richard W. Small Robert E. Meyerhoff 1+18 1:48.00 II
1993 Rockamundo Calvin Borel Oris J. Glass Jr. Gary & Mary West 1+18 1:48.00 II
1992 Pine Bluff Jerry D. Bailey Thomas Bohannan Loblolly Stable 1+18 1:49.40 II
1991 Olympio Ed Delahoussaye Ron McAnally V.H.W. Stables 1+18 1:47.60 II
1990 Silver Ending Gary Stevens Ron McAnally Ron McAnally & Angelo Costanzo 1+18 1:48.00 II
1989 Dansil Larry Snyder Frank L. Brothers John A. Franks 1+18 1:49.20 II
1988 Proper Reality Jerry D. Bailey Robert E. Holthus Mrs. James A. Winn 1+18 1:48.40 I
1987 Demons Begone Pat Day Philip Hauswald Loblolly Stable 1+18 1:47.60 I
1986 Rampage Pat Day Gary A. Thomas Nancy Reed & John Reed 1+18 1:48.20 I
1985 Tank's Prospect Gary Stevens D. Wayne Lukas Eugene V. Klein 1+18 1:48.40 I
1984 Althea Pat Valenzuela D. Wayne Lukas Helen C. Alexander, David Aykroyd, & Helen Groves 1+18 1:46.80 I
1983 Sunny's Halo Ed Delahoussaye David C. Cross Jr. David J. Foster 1+18 1:49.40 I
1982 Hostage Jeffrey Fell Willard C. Freeman Helen Hertz Hexter 1+18 1:51.60 I
1981 Bold Ego John Lively Jack Van Berg Double B. Ranch & Dr. Joseph Kidd 1+18 1:50.40 I
1980 Temperence Hill Darrell Haire Joseph B. Cantey Loblolly Stable 1+18 1:50.60 II
1979 Golden Act Sandy Hawley Loren Rettele W. H. Oldknow & R. W. Phipps 1+18 1:50.00 II
1978 Esops Foibles Chris McCarron Loren Rettele Jerry Frankel 1+18 1:52.20 II
1977 Clev Er Tell Ray Broussard Homer C. Pardue Joseph R. Straus Sr. & Izzie Proler 1+18 1:50.60 II
1976 Elocutionist John Lively Paul T. Adwell Eugene C. Cashman 1+18 1:49.20 II
1975 Promised City David E. Whited Larry Spraker Big I. Farm 1+18 1:51.80 II
1974 J.R.'s Pet Darrel McHargue Harold Tinker W. Cal Partee 1+18 1:50.60 II
1973 Impecunious Jorge Velásquez George R. Handy Mrs. R. L. Feinberg 1+18 1:49.60 II
1972 No Le Hace Phil Rubbicco Homer C. Pardue Joseph W. Strauss 1+18 1:48.80
1971 Twist The Axe Garth Patterson George T. Poole Pastorale Stable 1+18 1:49.20
1970 Herbalist Jimmy Nichols Roy J. Gillem Greentree Stable 1+18 1:50.20
1969 Traffic Mark Phil I. Grimm Ronnie Warren M/M Robert F. Roberts 1+18 1:50.60
1968 Nodouble William McKeever J. Bert Sonnier Verna Lea Farm 1+18 1:50.00
1967 Monitor Jimmy Nichols Harry Trotsek Claiborne Farm 1+18 1:48.60
1966 Better Sea Johnny Sellers Blaine Heap Scottdale Farm 1+18 1:49.20
1965 Swift Ruler Larry Spraker Gin L. Collins Earl Allen 1+18 1:52.20
1964 Prince Davelle Charlie Burr Douglas M. Davis Jr. George M. Holtsinger 1+18 1:51.40
1963 Cosmic Tip Robert Mundorf E. Mahoney River Divide Farm 1+18 1:50.40
1962 Areopolis Robert L. Baird Harold Tinker August Muckler 1+18 1:49.60
1961 Light Talk Robert Nono Steve Ippolito Jacnot Stable 1+18 1:50.20
1960 Spring Broker Eugene Curry Marion Van Berg Marion Van Berg 1+18 1:54.40
1960 Persian Gold Jimmy Combest Monte D. Parke Jones-Tuckahoe Farm 1+18 1:53.00
1959 Al Davelle Ronnie Baldwin Dan Howell J.Smith, E.Moulder & J.Oldham 1+18 1:48.80
1958 Count Deblanc Johnny Sellers Charles C. Norman C. & J. Riedinger 1+18 1:53.80
1957 Kentucky Roman John Delahoussaye Norman A. McMaster R. Lowe 1+18 1:49.60
1956 Johns Chic John L. Rotz Logan Fischer Mrs. E. Muckler 1+18 1:51.20
1955 Trim Destiny Lois C. Cook Cecil Locklear G. White 1+18 1:49.60
1954 Timely Tip Howard Craig Reid Armstrong A. L. Birch 1+18 1:49.80
1953 Curragh King John H. Adams James Wallace E. Goemans 1+18 1:49.60
1952 Gushing Oil Alfred Popara Joe Jansen Sam E. Wilson Jr 1+18 1:49.20
1951 Ruhe Job Dean Jessop Robert McGarvey Emil Denemark 1+18 1:51.00
1950 Big Ike Harold Keene Cecil Locklear C. Buckley 1+18 1:52.00
1949 Cacomo Billie Fisk A. Williams Endovina & Kontos 1+18 1:54.60
1948 Fertile Lands Paul Glidewell Marian Barton Grissom & Sherman 1+18 1:51.00
1947 Fleetridge Arthur Craig Roy J. Gillem Mrs. K. Maxwell 1+18 1:51.40
1946 Bob Murphy Wendell Eads Charles Sanborn D. Ferguson 1+18 1:51.80
1945 Race Not Ran
1944 Challenge Me Anthony Skoronski Dan Cataldo Brolite Farm 1+18 1:50.20
1943 Seven Hearts John H. Adams W. Graves Sparks Brown Hotel Stable 1+18 1:52.20
1942 With Regards Johnny Longden T. D. Grimes T. D. Grimes 1+18 1:50.00
1941 He Rolls Preston Mills Victor P. Noyes Victor P. Noyes 1+18 1:52.60
1940 Super Chief Jack Richard Dave Womeldorff Mrs. Emil Denemark 1+18 1:52.20
1939 Ariel Toy Lee Hardy Hugh W. Jackson Hugh W. Jackson 1+18 1:52.40
1938 Tiger Alfred Robertson Robert McGarvey Milky Way Farm Stable 1+18 1:50.80
1937 Eastport Ray Hightshoe E. Russell Mrs. V. Wyse 1+18 1:50.80
1936 Holl Image Herb Fisher Jack Carter Jack Carter 1+18 1:53.40

1Charlatan was originally disqualified from his win due to a medication violation.[9] The disqualification was later overturned on appeal.[10]

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

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  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. ^ Almasy, Steve (2015-06-06). "American Pharoah becomes first Triple Crown winner in 37 years". CNN. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  4. ^ Harris, Beth. "American Pharoah becomes the first Triple Crown winner in nearly 40 years". Business Insider. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  5. ^ "Lukas and Asmussen History Goes Back Generations". www.bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  6. ^ Zucker, Joseph. "Arkansas Derby 2021 Results: Super Stock Surges Past Caddo River to Win Race". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  7. ^ MacAdam, Mike (2020-03-20). "Arkansas Derby moved to May 2". The Daily Gazette. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  8. ^ "Oaklawn announces Arkansas Derby will be moved to May 2". thv11.com. 2020-03-20. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  9. ^ Angst, Frank; King, Byron (15 July 2020). "Baffert Suspended, Horses DQ'd After Drug Positives". The BloodHorse. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  10. ^ Angst, Frank; King, Byron (20 April 2021). "Arkansas Regulator Restores Wins by Charlatan, Gamine". The BloodHorse. Retrieved 21 April 2021.

External links[edit]