Victoria Derby

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Group 1 race
Victoria Derby
Location	Flemington Racecourse Melbourne, Australia
Inaugurated	1855
Race type	Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website	Victoria Racing Club
Race information
Distance	2500 meters (1.553 miles)
Track	Grass, left-handed
Qualification	Three-year-olds
Weight	Colts & geldings: 55.5kg Fillies 53kg
Purse	A$1.5 million

The Victoria Derby is an Australian Thoroughbred horse race held annually on the first day of Melbourne's annual Spring Racing Carnival, Victorian Derby Day, held at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne. A Group One race for three-year-old horses, it is raced on a left-handed turf course at a distance of 2500 metres (1.553 miles). The race was run in the spring until 1979 when it became an autumn event. It now marks the beginning of Melbourne Cup Week with Victoria Derby Day traditionally held on the Saturday prior to Melbourne Cup Day, which is the first Tuesday in November every year.

Originally run at a distance of 1½ miles, in 1972 it was changed to 2400 metres to conform to the metric system. However, the new distance brought potential danger from too short a run from the start to the first turn and as such it was changed again in 1973 to its present distance of 2500 metres.

While the major focus of Victoria Derby Day is the stars of the turf, in recent years the annual 'Fashions on the Field' celebrations have shared the limelight. 'Derby Day' has become 'Men's day' in the Fashion Stakes, and every year increasing numbers of fashionable gentlemen competing for prizes and a spot in the social columns. Traditionally black and white are worn on this day by women and morning suits by men. The flower of the day is a blue cornflower. In 2006, a crowd of over 129,089 broke the Flemington attendance record previously held by Melbourne Cup day 2003.

Contents 1 History 2 Records 3 Winners of the Victoria Derby since 1993 4 Earlier winners 5 See also 6 External links 7 References

[edit] History

First run in 1855, the first three editions were won by fillies but the last time a filly won was in 1923 when Frances Tressady claimed victory. In its history, only one horse has ever won the Victoria Derby more than once. Fireworks accomplished the feat, winning back-to-back runnings in November of 1867 and again in 1868 after a change of the race date to New Year's day. Between 1931 and 1956 geldings were not permitted to compete.

Three horses made their racing debut with a win in the Victoria Derby. In 1883, the New Zealand-bred horse Martini Henry won the Victoria Derby in his racing debut. It did not happen again for another 107 years when Fire Oak won in 1990 and then two years later, Redding in 1992.

In 2005 Clare Lindop became the first female jockey to ride in the Victoria Derby. Gai Waterhouse became the first woman to train a winner when Nothin' Leica Dane won the 1995 running.

[edit] Records

Time record: (at current 2500 metres distance)

• 2:33.60 - Star Of The Realm (1991)

Most wins:

• 2 - Fireworks (1867, 1868)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 8 - Bobbie Lewis (1900, 1901, 1904, 1908, 1912, 1914, 1921, 1927)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 8 - James Scobie : (1900, 1901, 1903, 1904, 1908, 1912, 1927, 1937)

[edit] Winners of the Victoria Derby since 1993

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Time
2007	Kibbutz	Craig Williams	David Hayes	Terry Henderson syndicate et al	2:40.92
2006	Efficient	Michael Rodd	Graeme Rogerson	Lloyd J. Williams et al	2:38.35
2005	Benicio	Noel Callow	Lee Freedman	Freedman brothers et al	2:37.08
2004	Plastered	Paul Harvey	Lindsay Smith	Jenella Harvey et al	2:35.49
2003	Elvstroem	Damien Oliver	Tony Vasil	Elvstroem Syndicate	2:38.99
2002	Helenus	Steven King	Leon Corstens	Joseph & Thecla Xipell	2:40.54
2001	Amalfi	Damien Oliver	Peter Moody	Ron & Judy Wanless	2:34.63
2000	Hit The Roof	Glen Boss	David Hall	Bob Scarborough	2:39.02
1999	Blackfriars	Greg Childs	Peter Hayes	Robert Sangster	2:36.30
1998	Arena	Larry Cassidy	John Hawkes	Jack Ingham	2:35.16
1997	Second Coming	Greg Childs	Michael Moroney	Paul Moroney et al	2:36.37
1996	Portland Player	Greg Hall	Lee Freedman	David A. & Helen Hains	2:35.20
1995	Nothin' Leica Dane	Shane Dye	Gai Waterhouse	Dalton Hodge Ecurie Syndicate	2:36.50
1994	Blevic	Rod Griffiths	David Hayes	Robert Sangster	2:35.70
1993	Mahogany	Greg Hall	Lee Freedman	Kerry Packer & M/M L. J. Williams	2:34.90

[edit] Earlier winners

[edit] See also

• Thoroughbred racing in Australia
• Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival

[edit] External links

• Victoria Derby Homepage (Official)

[edit] References

Australian Studbook - VRC Victoria Derby Race Winners