Victoria Derby

Group 1 race
Victoria Derby

Lucrative,1940 winner Maurice McCarten up
Location	Flemington Racecourse Melbourne, Australia
Inaugurated	1855
Race type	Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website	Victoria Racing Club
Race information
Distance	2,500 metres (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 Melbourne Cup 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 2,500 metres (1.553 miles). It 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. Total prize money for the race is A$1,500,000 and $10,000 trophy.

Originally run at a distance of 1½ miles, in 1972 it was changed to 2,400 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 2,500 metres.

While the major focus of Victoria Derby Day is the stars of the turf (since it is the only race day in Australia where each and every race has Group Status), 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. The idea of wearing a cornflower on Derby Day was introduced in 1962 by Mrs Sheelah Wood, wife of prominent VRC committeeman of the time, Mr Samuel Richard Creswick Wood^{[citation needed]}. In 2006, a crowd of 129,089 broke the Flemington attendance record previously held by Melbourne Cup day 2003.

History

Fireworks, winner of two VRC Derbies, in 1867 and 1868.

Poseidon,1906 VRC Derby winner

Biplane,1917 winner B. Deeley up

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 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 have won their first race with a win in the Victoria Derby. In 1883, the New Zealand-bred horse Martini Henry won the Victoria Derby at his first start. Fire Oak in 1990 and Redding in 1992 are the only other maidens to win the Victoria Derby.

In 2005 Clare Lindop became the first female jockey to ride in the Victoria Derby and became the first female to win in 2008. Gai Waterhouse became the first woman to train a winner when Nothin' Leica Dane won the 1995 running.

1933 Racebook

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  The cover of the 1933 VRC Derby racebook.

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  Starters and jockeys of the 1933 VRC Derby showing the winner,Hall Mark.

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  The back cover showing train timetables.

Records

Nuffield,1938 winner H.Badger up

Time record: (at current 2,500 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)

Winners of the Victoria Derby since 1993

Earlier winners

See also

• Thoroughbred racing in Australia
• Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival

References

• Australian Studbook - VRC Victoria Derby Race Winners

External links

• Victoria Derby Homepage (Official)