Derby Nacional

The Derby Nacional is a Peruvian Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Hipódromo de Monterrico in Lima, Peru. Open to three-year-olds, the Peruvian Derby is raced on dirt over a distance of 2400 metres (approximately $1 1/2$ miles). Held in late November/early December, it is the third leg of the Peruvian Quadruple Crown.

History
The race was inaugurated in 1903 at Hipódromo de Santa Beatriz, for two- and three-year-olds bred in Peru, run over a distance of 1200 meters. The next year, the race was restricted to three-year-olds only.

In 1940, the race moved to the Hipódromo de San Felipe, where it ran until 1961 when it was moved to its present location at the Hipódromo de Monterrico. The race was originally restricted to Peruvian-bred horses only.

In 1908, jockey Frank Guiturriz fell off of the prohibitive favorite Orquida, who was owned by then-president of Peru, Augusto B. Leguía. This left Turf to win the race. Guiturriz, as well as Turf's trainer, John Casella, and jockey, R. Díaz, were arrested under suspicion that Guiturriz had fallen off intentionally in order to throw the race. Guiturriz was later ruled off the turf for life.

By 1914, the Derby Nacional was considered the most important race in the Peruvian racing calendar.

The 1995 edition brought out a record attendance of 50,000 people.

Records
Speed record (since 2003):


 * 2:32.55 – Nieto Mireyo (2015)

Largest winning margin (since 2007):


 * 10$3⁄4$ lengths – Fly Lexis Fly (2011)

Most wins by a jockey:
 * 7 – Antonio Vásquez (1951, 1953, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1960)

Most wins by a trainer:
 * 9 – Ambrossio Malnatti (1920, 1935, 1949, 1953, 1954, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1960)

Most wins by an owner:
 * 6 – Barlovento Stud (1963, 1968, 1970, 1973, 1974, 1976)

Winners of the Derby Nacional
ƒ Indicates a filly* In 1948 there was a dead heat for first place.