Derby Italiano

The Derby Italiano is a Group 2 flat horse race in Italy open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Capannelle over a distance of 2,200 metres (about 1 mile and 3 furlongs), and it is scheduled to take place each year in May.

It is Italy's equivalent of the Epsom Derby, a famous race in England.

History

The event was established in 1884, and it was originally run in the district of Capannelle over 2,400 metres. It was initially called the Derby Reale, and most of the prize money for the inaugural running was donated by King Umberto I.^[1]

The race was transferred to its current venue in 1926. It was known as the Gran Premio del Re in the 1930s, and for a brief period it was titled the Gran Premio del Re Imperatore. It was renamed the Derby Italiano in 1946.^[2]

The present system of race grading was introduced in the early 1970s, and the Derby Italiano was initially classed at Group 1 level. It was opened to horses born and bred outside Italy in 1981.

The Derby Italiano was cut to 2,200 metres in 2008, and it was downgraded to Group 2 status in 2009. With a current prize fund of €814,000, it is the most valuable horse race in Italy.^[3]

Records

Leading jockey (8 wins):

• Federico Regoli – Gianpietrina (1917), Meissonier (1919), Ghiberti (1920), Michelangelo (1921), Melozzo da Forlì (1922), Cima da Conegliano (1923), Lui (1925), Apelle (1926)

Leading trainer (21 wins):

• Federico Tesio – Guido Reni (1911), Rembrandt (1912), Fausta (1914), Van Dyck (1915), Gianpietrina (1917), Meissonier (1919), Ghiberti (1920), Michelangelo (1921), Melozzo da Forlì (1922), Cima da Conegliano (1923), Apelle (1926), Jacopa del Sellaio (1932), Ugolino da Siena (1935), Donatello II (1937), Nearco (1938), Bellini (1940), Niccolo dell'Arca (1941), Torbido (1944), Tenerani (1947), Daumier (1951), Botticelli (1954)

Leading owner (20 wins): (includes part ownership)

• Federico Tesio – Guido Reni (1911), Rembrandt (1912), Fausta (1914), Van Dyck (1915), Gianpietrina (1917), Meissonier (1919), Ghiberti (1920), Michelangelo (1921), Melozzo da Forlì (1922), Cima da Conegliano (1923), Apelle (1926), Jacopa del Sellaio (1932), Ugolino da Siena (1935), Donatello II (1937), Nearco (1938), Bellini (1940), Niccolo dell'Arca (1941), Tenerani (1947), Daumier (1951), Botticelli (1954)

Winners since 1980

Earlier winners

The 1916, 1917 and 1925 runnings took place at Parioli, and the 1918, 1944 and 1945 editions were held at Milan.

See also

• List of Italian flat horse races

References

• Racing Post:
  • 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997
  • 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
  • 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015

• capannelleippodromo.it – Albo d'Oro – Derby Italiano.
• galopp-sieger.de – Derby Italiano.
• horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Derby Italiano (2015).
• pedigreequery.com – Derby Italiano – Roma Capannelle.
• tbheritage.com – Derby Italiano.