Arkansas Derby
| Arkansas Derby | |
|---|---|
| Grade I race | |
| Location |
Oaklawn Park Race Track Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA |
| Inaugurated | 1936 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred |
| Website | Oaklawn Jockey Club, Inc. |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1⅛ miles (9 furlongs) |
| Track | Dirt, Left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds |
| Weight |
Colt/Gelding: 126 lbs (57.2 kg) Filly: 121 lbs. (54.9 kg) |
| Purse | US$1,000,000 |
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 9 furlongs on dirt.
In 2004, 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. This 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. Smarty Jones was the first horse to collect the bonus.
Past winners of the race have gone on to win many American Classic Races. 1980 winner Temperence Hill and 1998's Victory Gallop both went on to capture the Belmont Stakes. Sunny's Halo won the 1983 Kentucky Derby as did Smarty Jones in 2004. Elocutionist (1976), Tank's Prospect (1985), Pine Bluff (1992), Smarty Jones (2004), Afleet Alex (2005), Curlin (2007) all won the Preakness Stakes. The 1994 winner, Concern, won that year's Breeders' Cup Classic.
The inaugural race 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.
Records
Speed record:
- 1:46.80 - Althea (1984)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 3 - Pat Day (1986, 1987, 1997)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 4 - Todd Pletcher (2000, 2001, 2013, 2014)
Most wins by an owner:
- 3 - Loblolly Stable (1980, 1987, 1992)
Winners of the Arkansas Derby since 1936
| Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Distance (Miles) |
Time |
Grade |
| 2015 | American Pharoah | 3 | Victor Espinoza | Bob Baffert | Zayat Stables | 1-1/8 | 1:48.52 | I |
| 2014 | Danza | 3 | Joe Bravo | Todd Pletcher | Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners | 1-1/8 | 1:49.68 | I |
| 2013 | Overanalyze | 3 | Rafael Bejarano | Todd Pletcher | Repole Stable | 1-1/8 | 1:51.94 | I |
| 2012 | Bodemeister | 3 | Mike E. Smith | Bob Baffert | Zayat Stables | 1-1/8 | 1:48.71 | I |
| 2011 | Archarcharch | 3 | Jon Court | William H. Fires | Robert & Loval Yagos | 1-1/8 | 1:49.34 | I |
| 2010 | Line of David | 3 | Jon Court | John W. Sadler | Ike & Dawn Thrash | 1-1/8 | 1:49.37 | I |
| 2009 | Papa Clem | 3 | Rafael Bejarano | Gary Stute | Bo Hirsch | 1-1/8 | 1:49.00 | II |
| 2008 | Gayego | 3 | Mike E. Smith | Paulo Lobo | Cubanacan Stables | 1-1/8 | 1:49.63 | II |
| 2007 | Curlin | 3 | Robby Albarado | Steve Asmussen | Midnight Cry Stables et al. | 1-1/8 | 1:50.00 | II |
| 2006 | Lawyer Ron | 3 | John McKee | Robert E. Holthus | James T. Hines, Jr. | 1-1/8 | 1:51.38 | II |
| 2005 | Afleet Alex | 3 | Jeremy Rose | Tim Ritchey | Cash Is King Stable | 1-1/8 | 1:48.80 | II |
| 2004 | Smarty Jones | 3 | Stewart Elliott | John Servis | Roy & Patricia Chapman | 1-1/8 | 1:49.41 | II |
| 2003 | Sir Cherokee | 3 | Terry J. Thompson | Michael Tomlinson | Domino Stud | 1-1/8 | 1:48.39 | II |
| 2002 | Private Emblem | 3 | Donnie Meche | Steve Asmussen | James Cassels/Bob Zollars | 1-1/8 | 1:50.20 | II |
| 2001 | Balto Star | 3 | Mark Guidry | Todd Pletcher | Anstu Stables | 1-1/8 | 1:49.00 | II |
| 2000 | Graeme Hall | 3 | Robby Albarado | Todd Pletcher | Eugene & Laura Melnyk | 1-1/8 | 1:49.00 | II |
| 1999 | Certain + | 3 | Kent Desormeaux | Leo Azpurua, Jr. | B.& J.Williams | 1-1/8 | 1:49.20 | II |
| 1998 | Victory Gallop | 3 | Alex Solis | W. Elliott Walden | Prestonwood Farm | 1-1/8 | 1:49.80 | II |
| 1997 | Crypto Star | 3 | Pat Day | Wayne Catalano | Darrell & Evelyn Yates | 1-1/8 | 1:49.20 | II |
| 1996 | Zarb's Magic | 3 | Ronald Ardoin | Bert Thomas | Foxwood Plantation | 1-1/8 | 1:49.20 | II |
| 1995 | Dazzling Falls | 3 | Garrett Gomez | Chuck Turco | Chateau Ridge Farm | 1-1/8 | 1:50.60 | II |
| 1994 | Concern | 3 | Garrett Gomez | Richard W. Small | Robert E. Meyerhoff | 1-1/8 | 1:48.00 | II |
| 1993 | Rockamundo | 3 | Calvin Borel | O. J. Glass, Jr. | Gary & Mary West | 1-1/8 | 1:48.00 | II |
| 1992 | Pine Bluff | 3 | Jerry D. Bailey | Thomas Bohannan | Loblolly Stable | 1-1/8 | 1:49.40 | II |
| 1991 | Olympio | 3 | Ed Delahoussaye | Ron McAnally | V.H.W. Stables | 1-1/8 | 1:47.60 | II |
| 1990 | Silver Ending | 3 | Gary L. Stevens | Ron McAnally | R. McAnally & A. Costanzo | 1-1/8 | 1:48.00 | II |
| 1989 | Dansil | 3 | Larry Snyder | Frank L. Brothers | John A. Franks | 1-1/8 | 1:49.20 | II |
| 1988 | Proper Reality | 3 | Jerry D. Bailey | Robert E. Holthus | Mrs. James A. Winn | 1-1/8 | 1:48.40 | I |
| 1987 | Demons Begone | 3 | Pat Day | Philip Hauswald | Loblolly Stable | 1-1/8 | 1:47.60 | I |
| 1986 | Rampage | 3 | Pat Day | Gary A. Thomas | Nancy & John Reed | 1-1/8 | 1:48.20 | I |
| 1985 | Tank's Prospect | 3 | Gary L. Stevens | D. Wayne Lukas | Eugene V. Klein | 1-1/8 | 1:48.40 | I |
| 1984 | Althea | 3 | Pat Valenzuela | D. Wayne Lukas | Helen C. Alexander et al. | 1-1/8 | 1:46.80 | I |
| 1983 | Sunny's Halo | 3 | Ed Delahoussaye | David C. Cross, Jr. | David J. Foster | 1-1/8 | 1:49.40 | I |
| 1982 | Hostage | 3 | Jeffrey Fell | Willard C. Freeman | Helen Hertz Hexter | 1-1/8 | 1:51.60 | I |
| 1981 | Bold Ego | 3 | John Lively | Jack Van Berg | Double B. Ranch/J. Kidd | 1-1/8 | 1:50.40 | I |
| 1980 | Temperence Hill | 3 | Darrell Haire | Joseph B. Cantey | Loblolly Stable | 1-1/8 | 1:50.60 | II |
| 1979 | Golden Act | 3 | Sandy Hawley | Loren Rettele | Oldknow & Phipps | 1-1/8 | 1:50.00 | II |
| 1978 | Esops Foibles | 3 | Chris McCarron | Loren Rettele | Jerry Frankel | 1-1/8 | 1:52.20 | II |
| 1977 | Clev Er Tell | 3 | Ray Broussard | Homer C. Pardue | J. R. Straus/I. Proler | 1-1/8 | 1:50.60 | II |
| 1976 | Elocutionist | 3 | John Lively | Paul T. Adwell | Eugene C. Cashman | 1-1/8 | 1:49.20 | II |
| 1975 | Promised City | 3 | David E. Whited | Larry Spraker | Big I. Farm | 1-1/8 | 1:51.80 | II |
| 1974 | J.R.'s Pet | 3 | Darrel McHargue | Harold Tinker | W. Cal Partee | 1-1/8 | 1:50.60 | II |
| 1973 | Impecunious | 3 | Jorge Velasquez | George R. Handy | Mrs. R. L. Feinberg | 1-1/8 | 1:49.60 | II |
| 1972 | No Le Hace | 3 | Phil Rubbicco | Homer C. Pardue | Joseph W. Strauss | 1-1/8 | 1:48.80 | |
| 1971 | Twist The Axe | 3 | Garth Patterson | George T. Poole | Pastorale Stable | 1-1/8 | 1:49.20 | |
| 1970 | Herbalist | 3 | Jimmy Nichols | Roy J. Gillem | Greentree Stable | 1-1/8 | 1:50.20 | |
| 1969 | Traffic Mark | 3 | Phil I. Grimm | Ronnie Warren | M/M R. F. Roberts | 1-1/8 | 1:50.60 | |
| 1968 | Nodouble | 3 | William McKeever | J. Bert Sonnier | Verna Lea Farm | 1-1/8 | 1:50.00 | |
| 1967 | Monitor | 3 | Jimmy Nichols | Harry Trotsek | Claiborne Farm | 1-1/8 | 1:48.60 | |
| 1966 | Better Sea | 3 | Johnny Sellers | Blaine Heap | Scottdale Farm | 1-1/8 | 1:49.20 | |
| 1965 | Swift Ruler | 3 | Larry Spraker | Gin L. Collins | Earl Allen | 1-1/8 | 1:52.20 | |
| 1964 | Prince Davelle | 3 | Charlie Burr | Doug M. Davis, Jr. | George M. Holtsinger | 1-1/8 | 1:51.40 | |
| 1963 | Cosmic Tip | 3 | Robert Mundorf | E. Mahoney | River Divide Farm | 1-1/8 | 1:50.40 | |
| 1962 | Areopolis | 3 | Robert L. Baird | Harold Tinker | A. Muckler | 1-1/8 | 1:49.60 | |
| 1961 | Light Talk | 3 | Robert Nono | Steve Ippolito | Jacnot Stable | 1-1/8 | 1:50.20 | |
| 1960 | Spring Broker | 3 | Eugene Curry | Marion Van Berg | Marion Van Berg | 1-1/8 | 1:54.40 | |
| 1960 | Persian Gold | 3 | John Combest | Monte D. Parke | Jones-Tuckahoe Farm | 1-1/8 | 1:53.00 | |
| 1959 | Al Davelle | 3 | Ronnie Baldwin | D. Howell | Smith/Moulder/Oldham | 1-1/8 | 1:48.80 | |
| 1958 | Count Deblanc | 3 | Johnny Sellers | Charles C. Norman | C. & J. Riedinger | 1-1/8 | 1:53.80 | |
| 1957 | Kentucky Roman | 3 | John Delahoussaye | Norman A. McMaster | R. Lowe | 1-1/8 | 1:49.60 | |
| 1956 | Johns Chic | 3 | John L. Rotz | Logan Fischer | Mrs. E. Muckler | 1-1/8 | 1:51.20 | |
| 1955 | Trim Destiny | 3 | L. C. Cook | Cecil Locklear | G. White | 1-1/8 | 1:49.60 | |
| 1954 | Timely Tip | 3 | Howard Craig | Reid Armstrong | A. L. Birch | 1-1/8 | 1:49.80 | |
| 1953 | Curragh King | 3 | John H. Adams | James Wallace | E. Goemans | 1-1/8 | 1:49.60 | |
| 1952 | Gushing Oil | 3 | Alfred Popara | Joe Jansen | Sam E. Wilson, Jr | 1-1/8 | 1:49.20 | |
| 1951 | Ruhe | 3 | Job Dean Jessop | Robert McGarvey | Emil Denemark | 1-1/8 | 1:51.00 | |
| 1950 | Big Ike | 3 | Harold Keene | Cecil Locklear | C. Buckley | 1-1/8 | 1:52.00 | |
| 1949 | Cacomo | 3 | Billie Fisk | A. Williams | Endovina & Kontos | 1-1/8 | 1:54.60 | |
| 1948 | Fertile Lands | 3 | Paul Glidewell | Marian Barton | Grissom & Sherman | 1-1/8 | 1:51.00 | |
| 1947 | Fleetridge | 3 | Arthur Craig | Roy J. Gillem | Mrs. K. Maxwell | 1-1/8 | 1:51.40 | |
| 1946 | Bob Murphy | 3 | Wendell Eads | Charles Sanborn | D. Ferguson | 1-1/8 | 1:51.80 | |
| 1945 | No Race | - | No Race | No Race | No Race | no race | 0:00.00 | |
| 1944 | Challenge Me | 3 | Anthony Skoronski | Dan Cataldo | Brolite Farm | 1-1/8 | 1:50.20 | |
| 1943 | Seven Hearts | 3 | John H. Adams | W. Graves Sparks | Brown Hotel Stable | 1-1/8 | 1:52.20 | |
| 1942 | With Regards | 3 | Johnny Longden | T. D. Grimes | T. D. Grimes | 1-1/8 | 1:50.00 | |
| 1941 | He Rolls | 3 | Preston Mills | Victor P. Noyes | Victor P. Noyes | 1-1/8 | 1:52.60 | |
| 1940 | Super Chief | 3 | Jack Richard | Dave Womeldorff | Mrs. Emil Denemark | 1-1/8 | 1:52.20 | |
| 1939 | Ariel Toy | 3 | Lee Hardy | Hugh W. Jackson | Hugh W. Jackson | 1-1/8 | 1:52.40 | |
| 1938 | Tiger | 3 | Alfred Robertson | Robert McGarvey | Milky Way Farm | 1-1/8 | 1:50.80 | |
| 1937 | Eastport | 3 | Ray Hightshoe | E. Russell | Mrs. V. Wyse | 1-1/8 | 1:50.80 | |
| 1936 | Holl Image | 3 | Herb Fisher | Jack Carter | Jack Carter | 1-1/8 | 1:53.40 | |
+ Valhol finished first in 1999 but was relegated to last place following a Stewards' Inquiry.