Virginia Derby

Last updated
Virginia Derby
Grade III race
Location Colonial Downs
New Kent County, Virginia
Inaugurated1998
Race type Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Sponsor New Kent County (since 2019)
Website Colonial Downs
Race information
Distance1+1⁄8 miles (9 furlongs)
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationThree-year-olds
Weight123 lbs with allowances
Purse$500,000 (2023)

The Virginia Derby is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds over a distance of one and one-eighth miles on the turf held annually in September at Colonial Downs in New Kent County, Virginia. The event currently carries a purse of $300,000.

Contents

History

The inaugural running of the event was 3 October 1998 as part of the newly opened racetrack in Virginia known as Colonial Downs at a distance of 1+1⁄4 miles on the outer turf course.

The quality of the event consistently improved and in 2004 the American Graded Stakes Committee upgraded the classification to Grade III status. [1] That year the winner was Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey's Kitten's Joy who later in the year captured the crown of U.S. Champion Male Turf Horse. The 2005 winner English Channel later in his career won the Breeders' Cup Turf and in 2007 was also crowned U.S. Champion Male Turf Horse.

In 2006 the event was upgraded to Grade II [2] which attracted the finest three-year-old turf horses with a massive US$1 million purse.

However the track ran into a dispute between track management and horsemen's organizations and the track closed after the 2013 meeting. [3]

The event was not held in 2014. [1]

In 2015 the event was moved to Laurel Park in Laurel, Maryland and was renamed to the Commonwealth Derby and the distance was decreased to 1+1⁄8 miles. [1]

The event was down graded to Grade III in 2017. [1]

In 2018 the event was not held, but Virginia laws were amended with regard to funding horse racing and the Colonial Downs reopened in 2019 and the event was scheduled as the New Kent County Virginia Derby. [1]

In 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, the track canceled the meeting prior to the running of the event. [4]

Records

Speed:

Margins:

Most wins by an owner:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a Trainer:

Winners

YearWinnerJockeyTrainerOwnerDistanceTimePurseGradeRef
At Colonial Downs – New Kent County Virginia Derby
2022Capensis Irad Ortiz Jr. Todd A. Pletcher Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Robert V. LaPenta, Gainesway Stable, Winchell Thoroughbreds & Stonestreet Stables 1+1⁄8 miles1:48.15$305,000III [5]
2021Wootton Asset (FR) Jose L. Ortiz H. Graham Motion Madaket Stables 1+1⁄8 miles1:46.79$250,000III [6]
2020Race not held
2019English BeeJorge A. Vargas Jr. H. Graham Motion Calumet Farm 1+1⁄8 miles1:52.94$250,000III [7]
2018Race not held
At Laurel Park – Commonwealth Derby
2017Just HowardFeargal Lynch H. Graham Motion Skeedattle Associates1+1⁄8 miles1:45.81$200,000III [8]
2016Deeply Undervalued Manuel Franco Chad C. Brown Klaravich Stables & William Lawrence1+1⁄8 miles1:46.63$200,000II [9]
2015One Go All GoRonald HisbyPavel MatejkaPreston Stables & Prestonwood Racing1+1⁄8 miles1:48.10$400,000II [10]
2014Race not held
At Colonial Downs – Virginia Derby
2013War Dancer Alan Garcia Kenneth G. McPeek Magdalena Racing1+1⁄4 miles2:03.57$500,000II [11]
2012 Silver Max Robby Albarado Dale L. Romans Mark Bacon & Dana Wells1+1⁄4 miles2:04.05$594,000II [12]
2011Air Support Alex O. Solis Claude R. McGaughey III Stuart S. Janney III1+1⁄4 miles2:00.80$600,000II [13]
2010 Paddy O'Prado Kent J. Desormeaux Dale L. Romans Donegal Racing1+1⁄4 miles2:02.58$600,000II [14]
2009Battle of Hastings (GB) Tyler Baze Jeff Mullins Michael House1+1⁄4 miles2:03.29$750,000II [15]
2008 Gio Ponti Garrett K. Gomez Christophe Clement Castleton Lyons 1+1⁄4 miles2:02.22$772,500II [16]
2007 Red Giant Horacio Karamanos Todd A. Pletcher Peachtree Stable1+1⁄4 miles1:59.62$1,000,000II [17]
2006Go Between Garrett K. Gomez William I. Mott Peter Vegso1+1⁄4 miles1:59.74$1,000,000II [18]
2005 English Channel John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher James T. Scatuorchio1+1⁄4 miles2:02.57$750,000III [19]
2004 Kitten's Joy Edgar S. Prado Dale L. Romans Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey 1+1⁄4 miles2:01.22$500,000III [20]
2003Silver Tree Edgar S. Prado William I. Mott Peter Vegso1+1⁄4 miles2:01.11$500,000Listed [21]
2002Orchard Park Edgar S. Prado William I. Mott Peter Vegso1+1⁄4 miles2:03.10$500,000Listed [22]
2001Potaro (IRE) Brent E. Bartram Jonathan E. Sheppard Augustin Stable 1+1⁄4 miles2:02.18$200,000Listed [23]
2000Lightning PacesGreg W. HuttonJohn J. RobbTulip Hill Farm1+1⁄4 miles2:02.18$200,000Listed [24]
1999Phi Beta Doc Ramon A. Dominguez Robert W. LeonardDennis Foster & Robert W. Leonard1+1⁄4 miles1:59.97$200,000Listed [25]
1998Crowd Pleaser Jean-Luc Samyn Jonathan E. Sheppard Augustin Stable 1+1⁄4 miles2:00.28$250,000Listed [26]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colonial Downs</span> Horse race track in New Kent County, Virginia

Colonial Downs is a racetrack located in New Kent County, Virginia adjacent to Interstate 64, halfway between Richmond and Williamsburg. The track conducted Thoroughbred flat racing and Standardbred harness racing between 1997 and 2014, and reopened for thoroughbreds in 2019. It is owned and operated by Churchill Downs, Inc.

The Baltimore Washington International Turf Cup is an American Grade III invitational horse race run over one mile. Inaugurated in 1952, it was raced at Laurel Park Racecourse on the turf in Laurel, Maryland, at a distance of 1+1⁄2 miles, and attracted top turf horses from North America and Europe.

The Arlington Million is a Grade 1 flat horse race in the United States for thoroughbred horses aged three years and upward on the turf. It was originally raced at the now-closed Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois over a distance of 1+1⁄4 miles.

The Beverly D. Stakes is a Grade 1 flat horse race in the United States for thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years and upward. It was originally raced at the now-closed Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois over a distance of 1+3⁄16 miles on the turf as a supporting stakes race on the Arlington Million racing program.

The Secretariat Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds over a distance of one mile on the turf. The event was originally raced at the now-closed Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois as a supporting stakes race on the Arlington Million racing program.

The Wise Dan Stakes is a Grade II American thoroughbred horse race for horses four-year-old and older run at a distance of one and one sixteenth of a mile on the turf held annually in June at Churchill Downs racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky.

The Super Derby is an American thoroughbred horse race held annually in September at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, Louisiana.

Rosemary Homeister Jr. is a retired American jockey in Thoroughbred racing.

The E. P. Taylor Stakes is a Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares held annually since 1956 in October at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is run on the E. P. Taylor turf course at a distance of 1+1⁄4 miles.

The Commonwealth Turf Cup is an American Thoroughbred horse race held each year since 2015 at Laurel Park in Laurel, Maryland. It was previously known as the Colonial Turf Cup when it was held at Colonial Downs race track in New Kent County, Virginia. It is raced on turf at a distance of one mile and is open to horses aged three years old and up. The current purse is $200,000.

The American Turf Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds run over a distance of 1+1⁄16 miles on turf held annually in early May on the Kentucky Derby day meeting at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky during the spring meeting.

The Virginia Oaks is an American Thoroughbred horse race that since 2019 has been run at Colonial Downs in New Kent County, Virginia. It was previously known as the Commonwealth Oaks when it was held at Laurel Park in Maryland. It is open to three-year-old fillies who are willing to run 1+1⁄8 miles on the turf.

The Matt Winn Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses run over a distance of 1+1⁄16 miles on the dirt at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The event currently offers a purse of $400,000. It is usually run in mid-June but in 2020 was moved up to mid-May.

The Commonwealth Turf Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds run over a distance of one and one sixteenth miles on turf held annually in November at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky during the fall meeting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strike a Deal</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Strike A Deal was a Thoroughbred racehorse foaled in Kentucky who was a millionaire turf specialist that won or placed in twelve stakes races at eight tracks in six different states or provinces over his five-year racing career. The son of Smart Strike is probably best remembered for winning the Grade II 1 1/8 miles Dixie Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on the Preakness Stakes undercard.

The Franklin-Simpson Stakes is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race for three years olds, over a distance of 6+1⁄2 furlongs on the turf held annually in September at Kentucky Downs racetrack in Franklin, Kentucky during their short turf meeting. The event currently carries a purse of $1,000,000 which includes $400,000 from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund.

The Jockey Club Derby Invitational Stakes is an American Grade III Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds run over a distance of one and three-eighths miles on the turf held annually in September at Belmont Park, Elmont, New York. The purse for the event is US$500,000.

The Dueling Grounds Derby is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three years olds, over a distance of one and five-sixteenths miles on the turf held annually in September at Kentucky Downs racetrack in Franklin, Kentucky during their short turf meeting. The event currently carries an offered purse of $1,000,000 which includes $400,000 from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund.

War Like Goddess is an American multiple Graded Stakes winning Thoroughbred racehorse. Her graded wins include the Grade I Flower Bowl Stakes in 2021 the Grade II Glens Falls Stakes twice at Saratoga Race Course all of which are long-distance turf events.

Gufo is a retired American multiple Grade I turf-winning Thoroughbred racehorse. His Grade I wins include the Belmont Derby in 2020 and the Sword Dancer Stakes in 2021 and 2022.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "New Kent County Virginia Derby (Gr. 3)". equibase. 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  2. ↑ "VIRGINIA DERBY - MULTIPLE TRACKS". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  3. ↑ Hazard, Carol (13 November 2015). "Colonial Downs asks court to clarify law in horse racing standoff". richmond.com. Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  4. ↑ BloodHorse Staff (14 August 2020). "Colonial Downs Cancels Meet Due to COVID-19 Positives; The meet had been scheduled to continue until Sept. 2". Bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  5. ↑ "2022 New Kent County Virginia Derby Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 6 September 2022. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  6. ↑ "2021 New Kent County Virginia Derby Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  7. ↑ "2019 New Kent County Virginia Derby Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 31 August 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  8. ↑ "2017 Commonwealth Derby presented by the Virginia Equine Alliance and the Vi3ginia Turf Grade 3ginia Turf - (race 11)". Equibase. 30 September 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  9. ↑ "2016 Commonwealth Derby presented by the Virginia Equine Alliance at Laurel 2ark Grade 2ark - (race 7)". Equibase. 24 September 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  10. ↑ "2015 Commonwealth Derby Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 19 September 2015. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  11. ↑ "2013 Virginia Derby Grade 2 - (race 7)". Equibase. 13 July 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  12. ↑ "2012 Virginia Derby Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 21 July 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  13. ↑ "2011 Virginia Derby Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 16 July 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  14. ↑ "2010 Virginia Derby Grade 2 - (race 12)". Equibase. 17 July 2010. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  15. ↑ "2009 Virginia Derby Grade 2 - (race 11)". Equibase. 18 July 2009. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  16. ↑ "2008 Virginia Derby Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 19 July 2008. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  17. ↑ "2007 Virginia Derby Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 21 July 2007. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  18. ↑ "2006 Virginia Derby Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 15 July 2006. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  19. ↑ "2005 Virginia Derby Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 16 July 2005. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  20. ↑ "2004 Virginia Derby Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 10 July 2004. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  21. ↑ "2003 Virginia Derby Listed - (race 10)". Equibase. 12 July 2003. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  22. ↑ "2002 Virginia Derby Listed - (race 10)". Equibase. 13 July 2002. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  23. ↑ "2001 Virginia Derby Listed - (race 10)". Equibase. 14 July 2001. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  24. ↑ "2000 Virginia Derby Listed - (race 9)". Equibase. 7 October 2000. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  25. ↑ "1999 Virginia Derby Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 2 October 1999. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  26. ↑ "1999 Virginia Derby Listed - (race 11)". Equibase. 3 October 1998. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.