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
Gulfstream Park: Fred Hooper ,$150,000 ,4&up ,8f Dirt
Gulfstream Park: Inside Information Stakes ,$200,000 ,4&up f/m ,7f Dirt
Gulfstream Park: La Prevoyante ,$200,000 ,4&up f/m ,12f Turf
Gulfstream Park: Pegasus World Cup Invitational ,$3,000k e ,4&up ,9f Dirt
Gulfstream Park: Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational ,$1,000k e ,4&up ,9.5f Turf
Gulfstream Park: W.L. McKnight ,$200,000 ,4&up ,12f Turf
Santa Anita: Palos Verdes Stakes ,$200,000 ,4&up ,6f Dirt
Japan Racing Association: Tokai Stakes ,$1,103,000 ,4&up ,9f Dirt
Japan Racing Association: American Jockey Club Cup ,$1,247,000 ,4&up ,11f Turf
Sam Houston: John B. Connally Turf ,$200,000 ,4&up ,12f Turf
Sam Houston: Houston Ladies Classic ,$300,000 ,4&up f/m ,8.5f Dirt
Aqueduct: Withers Stakes ,$250,000 ,3yo ,9f Dirt
Santa Anita: Robert B. Lewis Stakes ,$100,000 ,3yo ,8.5f Dirt
Santa Anita: San Marcos Stakes ,$200,000 ,4&up ,10f Turf
Santa Anita: San Pasqual Stakes ,$200,000 ,4&up ,9f Dirt
Japan Racing Association: Silk Road Stakes ,$785,000 ,4&up ,6f Turf
Japan Racing Association: Negishi Stakes ,$759,000 ,4&up ,7f Dirt
Gulfstream Park: Sweetest Chant Stakes ,$100,000 ,3yo f ,8f Turf
Gulfstream Park: Swale Stakes ,$150,000 ,3yo ,7f Dirt
Gulfstream Park: Holy Bull Stakes ,$350,000 ,3yo ,8.5f Dirt
