Derby Trial

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The Derby Trial Stakes is a race for Thoroughbred horses run at Churchill Downs at the end of April, one week before the Kentucky Derby. It was first run in 1924 and every year since, with the exception of 1928. An ungraded stakes with a purse of $100,000, it's open to three year olds willing to race one mile on the dirt, however its distance in 2007 and 2008 was 7.5 furlongs. The Derby Trial Stakes was a graded event until 2005.

In earlier years when horses raced much more frequently than they do today, top finishers in the Derby Trial would sometimes compete in the following week's Kentucky Derby. Such was the case of Black Gold who won this race and the Kentucky Derby in 1924, Bimelech who won it in 1940, Dark Star in 1953, and Tim Tam who did it in 1958.

Since 1958, when Calumet Farm's Tim Tam became the last horse to win both the Trial and the Derby, the gradual trend in training has been toward giving Derby contenders fewer prep races and more time between them. This practice has all but eliminated the Trial as a legitimate Derby prep race. Even the 1982 decision to move it from the Tuesday before the Derby to the Saturday before didn't help.

However, the three weeks between the one-mile Trial and the 1 3/16ths-mile Preakness in Baltimore is perfect. In recent years, the Trial has sent the Preakness such horses as Key to the Mint (1972), No More Flowers (1987), Houston (1989), Honor Grades (1991), Alydeed (1992), Cherokee Run (1993), Numerous (1994), Our Gatsby (1995), Black Cash (1998), Patience Game (1999), Sir Shackleton (2004), Flying First Class (2007) and Macho Again (2008).

Although none of those Trial horses won the Preakness, Alydeed, Cherokee Run and Macho Again finished second at Pimlico. And two of trainer Woody Stephens' Trial winners (Caveat in 1983 and Creme Fraiche in '85) went on to win the Belmont Stakes (GI).

During the heyday of Calumet Farm, trainers Ben A. Jones and his son, Jimmy, loved to use the Trial as their final Derby prep. Of the five horses that have won both the Trial and the Derby, three were from Calumet - Citation in 1948, Hill Gail in '52, and Tim Tam in '58. (The others were Black Gold In 1924 and Dark Star in '53).

In addition, Calumet had three interesting horses that finished second in the Trial. In 1941, Whirlaway finished second to Blue Pair in the Trial, but then roared back to win the Triple Crown. In 1949, Ponder was second to Olympia in the Trial, but came back five days later to take the Derby by three lengths over Capot.

And then there was the ill-fated Gen. Duke in 1957. He came to Churchill Downs touted as a potential superstar, but finished second to Federal Hill in the Trial. Then, the morning of the Derby, Gen. Duke was scratched because of a foot injury suffered in the Trial.

In 1967, Barb's Delight became the last Trial horse to have a significant impact on the Derby, finishing second by a length to longshot Proud Clarion. Don't Get Mad finished fourth in the Derby in 2005.

The last horse to win the Saturday before the Derby and then win the roses was Cannonade in 1974. But the race he won was the now-defunct Steppingstone, not the Derby Trial.

In 2009, it will be in its 85th year of running.

[edit] Past Winners

  • 2008 - Macho Again (Julien Leparoux)
  • 2007 - Flying First Class (Mark Guidry)
  • 2006 - Record (Rafael Bejarano)
  • 2005 - Don't Get Mad
  • 2004 - Sir Shackleton (Rafael Bejarano)
  • 2003 - Midas Eyes
  • 2002 - Sky Terrace (Craig Perret)
  • 2001 - Meetyouathebrig (Robby Albarado)
  • 2000 - Performing Magic (Pat Day)
  • 1999 - Patience Game (Corey Nakatani)
  • 1998 - Souvenir Copy (David Flores)
  • 1997 - Richter Scale (Shane Sellers)
  • 1996 - Valid Expectations (Don Pettinger)
  • 1995 - Peaks and Valleys
  • 1994 - Numerous
  • 1993 - Cherokee Run
  • 1992 - Alydeed
  • 1991 - Alydavid (Pat Day)
  • 1990 - Housebuster (Craig Perret)
  • 1989 - Houston (Laffit Pincay, Jr.)
  • 1988 - Jim's Orbit
  • 1987 - On The Line
  • 1986 - Savings
  • 1985 - Creme Fraiche
  • 1984 - Devil's Bag
  • 1983 - Caveat
  • 1982 - Listcapade
  • 1981 - What It Is
  • 1980 - Royal Sporan
  • 1979 - Dreamy Prospect
  • 1978 - Braze and Bold
  • 1977 - Kodiack
  • 1976 - Justa Bad Boy
  • 1975 - Round Stake
  • 1974 - Ga Hai
  • 1973 - Settecento
  • 1972 - Key to the Mint
  • 1971 - Vegas Vic
  • 1970 - Admiral's Shield
  • 1969 - Ack Ack
  • 1968 - Proper Proof
  • 1967 - Barbs Delight
  • 1966 - Exhibitionist
  • 1965 - Bold Lad
  • 1964 - Hill Rise
  • 1963 - Bonjour
  • 1962 - Roman Line
  • 1961 - Crozier
  • 1960 - Beau Purple
  • 1959 - Open View (1st Division)
  • 1959 - First Landing (2nd Division)
  • 1958 - Tim Tam
  • 1957 - Federal Hill
  • 1956 - Fabius
  • 1955 - Flying Fury
  • 1954 - Hasty Road
  • 1953 - Dark Star
  • 1952 - Hill Gail
  • 1951 - Fanfare
  • 1950 - Black George
  • 1949 - Olympia
  • 1948 - Citation
  • 1947 - Faultless
  • 1946 - Rippey
  • 1945 - Burning Dream
  • 1944 - Broadcloth
  • 1943 - Ocean Wave
  • 1942 - Valdina Orphan
  • 1941 - Blue Pair
  • 1940 - Bimelech
  • 1939 - Viscounty
  • 1938 - The Chief
  • 1937 - Dellor
  • 1936 - He Did
  • 1935 - Whiskolo
  • 1934 - Peace Chance
  • 1933 - Head Play
  • 1932 - Adobe Post
  • 1931 - Boys Howdy
  • 1930 - Uncle Luther
  • 1929 - Windy City
  • 1928 - No race
  • 1927 - Rolled Stocking
  • 1926 - Rhincok
  • 1925 - Kentucky Cardinal
  • 1924 - Black Gold