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
Ascot (UK): Commonwealth Cup Trial ,$100,000 ,3yo ,6f Turf
Ascot (UK): Sagaro Stakes ,$100,000 ,4&up ,16f Turf
Belmont at the Big A: Sheepshead Bay Stakes ,$175,000 ,4&up f/m ,11f Turf
Churchill Downs: Alysheba Stakes ,$750,000 ,4&up ,8.5f Dirt
Churchill Downs: Edgewood Stakes ,$600,000 ,3yo f ,8.5f Turf
Churchill Downs: Eight Belles Stakes ,$600,000 ,3yo f ,7f Dirt
Churchill Downs: Kentucky Oaks ,$1,500,000 ,3yo f ,9f Dirt
Churchill Downs: La Troienne Stakes ,$1,000,000 ,4&up f/m ,8.5f Dirt
Churchill Downs: Modesty Stakes ,$400,000 ,4&up f/m ,9f Turf
Churchill Downs: Unbridled Sidney ,$400,000 ,3&up f/m ,5.5f Turf
Newmarket (UK): The Jockey Club Stakes ,$156,000 ,4&up ,12f Turf
Belmont at the Big A: Fort Marcy Stakes ,$200,000 ,4&up ,9f Turf
Churchill Downs: American Turf ,$1,000,000 ,3yo ,8.5f Turf
Churchill Downs: Churchill Distaff Turf Mile ,$750,000 ,4&up f/m ,8f Turf
Churchill Downs: Churchill Downs Stakes ,$1,000,000 ,4&up ,7f Dirt
Churchill Downs: Derby City Distaff ,$1,000,000 ,4&up f/m ,7f Dirt
Churchill Downs: Kentucky Derby ,$5,000,000 ,3yo ,10f Dirt
Churchill Downs: Pat Day Mile ,$600,000 ,3yo ,8f Dirt
Churchill Downs: Turf Classic ,$1,000,000 ,4&up ,9f Turf
Churchill Downs: Turf Sprint ,$600,000 ,3&up ,5.5f Turf
