Bet on Florida Derby
Florida Derby
Stakes: Grade I for 3-year-old thoroughbreds
Distance: 1 1/8 miles
Track: Dirt
Purse: $1,000,000
Date: March 30, 13
Post Time:6 p.m. ET
Grade: I
Type: Road to the Kentucky Derby Prep
Age: 3 Years Old
Sex: Male
Surface: Dirt
Coverage: NBC Sports Network
The Florida Derby Stakes, held annually at Gulfstream Park, is one of the preparatory races for 3-year-olds gunning for the Kentucky Derby race. But the Florida Derby remains one of the most anticipated prep races having sent 19 victories to Churchill Downs throughout the race's history.
The Florida Derby is a Grade I race for top 3-year-old thoroughbred horses in America, 9-furlong (1.1/8 miles) run and a $1 million purse up for grabs. It debuted at Gulfstream Park in 1952, in time with the race track's expansion. The next year the derby purse was raised to $100,000 making it the first stakes event so richly endowed in the Sunshine State.
It was in 1957, in a historic race where Gen. Duke equaled the world record 1:46.80 and defeating Bold Ruler, that the Florida Derby was established as a major stepping stone to the Kentucky Derby and the Triple Crown trail.
The race continued to rise in popularity over the next years, along with it the significant increase in the race's purse. Standing at $1 million today, the Florida Derby is still one of the richest horse racing stakes.
Stakes Races
Triple Crown
Graded Stakes Races
Saratoga Race Course: With Anticipation Stakes ,$175,000 ,2yo ,8.5f Turf
Del Mar: Del Mar Handicap ,$300,000 ,3&up ,11f Turf
Del Mar: Del Mar Mile ,$300,000 ,3&up ,8f Turf
Del Mar: Green Flash Handicap ,$150,000 ,3&up ,5f Turf
Del Mar: Pacific Classic ,$1,000,000 ,3&up ,10f Dirt
Del Mar: Torrey Pines Stakes ,$150,000 ,3yo f ,8f Dirt
Kentucky Downs: Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint ,$2,000,000 ,3&up ,6f Turf
Kentucky Downs: Ladies Turf ,$2,000,000 ,3&up f/m ,8f Turf
Kentucky Downs: Ladies Turf Sprint ,$2,000,000 ,3&up f/m ,6.5f Turf
Kentucky Downs: Nashville Derby Inv. ,$3,500,000 ,3yo ,10.5f Turf
Saratoga Race Course: Flower Bowl ,$500,000 ,4&up f/m ,11f Turf
Saratoga Race Course: Prioress Stakes ,$175,000 ,3yo f ,6f Dirt
Saratoga Race Course: Spinaway Stakes ,$300,000 ,2yo f ,7f Dirt
Del Mar: Del Mar Derby ,$300,000 ,3yo ,9f Turf
Japan Racing Association: Niigata Kinen ,$669,000 ,3&up ,10f Turf
Japan Racing Association: Sports Hochi Hai Chukyo Nisai Stakes ,$480,000 ,2yo ,7f Dirt
Saratoga Race Course: Jockey Club Gold Cup ,$1,000,000 ,3&up ,10f Dirt
Saratoga Race Course: Spendthrift Hopeful Stakes ,$300,000 ,2yo ,7f Dirt
