All Horse Racing
10%
SIGN UP BONUS
Paid in Cash Instantly
Sign Up Now

Bet on Illinois Derby


Illinois Derby

Stakes: Grade II for 3-year-old thoroughbreds
Distance: 1 1/8 miles
Track: Dirt
Purse: $500,000

The Illinois Derby was first run in 1923 at Hawthorne Race Course located in Stickney/Cicero, Illinois just west of Chicago. After being run at Aurora in 1938, it was discontinued and was only revived at Sportsman's Park in 1963.

Apparently, horse racing handicappers convinced Bill Johnston, the late Sportsman's Park president, into resurrecting the 1 1/8-mile race.

"Good idea, Dave," Johnston said when it was first suggested in 1960. But his racing secretary, the late Robert P. McAuliffe, said, "Feldman is crazy. This race won't draw flies at 1 1/8 miles."

The purse, at that time, was only $25,000, but a full field competed, and Lemon Twist won it before a packed house.

The Illinois Derby was such a success that owners and trainers started to ship horses from everywhere. The race has grown to be one of the richest for 3-year-olds.

Since 2001, the Illinois Derby is a prep race to the Kentucky Derby. Prior to that it was run between the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. The 2002 Illinois Derby won by War Emblem was the last one run at Sportsman's Park Racetrack.



Online Horse Racing graded stakes

Graded Stakes Races

Jun 27

Penn National: Penn Mile ,$400,000 ,3yo ,8f Turf

Jun 28

Churchill Downs: Fleur de Lis Stakes ,$500,000 ,4&up f/m ,9f Dirt

Churchill Downs: Kelly's Landing Stakes ,$250,000 ,3&up ,6.5f Dirt

Churchill Downs: Stephen Foster Stakes ,$1,000,000 ,4&up ,9f Dirt

Churchill Downs: Wise Dan Stakes ,$500,000 ,4&up ,8.5f Turf

Woodbine: Dominion Day Stakes ,$150,000 ,4&up ,9f AW

Woodbine: Highlander Stakes ,$200,000 ,4&up ,6f Turf

Woodbine: Marine Stakes ,$150,000 ,3yo ,8.5f AW

Woodbine: Nassau Stakes ,$175,000 ,4&up f/m ,8f Turf

Woodbine: Selene Stakes ,$150,000 ,3yo f ,8.5f AW

Jun 29

Japan Racing Association: Hakodate Kinen ,$669,000 ,3&up ,10f Turf

Japan Racing Association: Radio Nikkei Sho ,$622,000 ,3yo ,9f Turf

Jul 3

Belmont Stakes Festival: Victory Ride Stakes ,$175,000 ,3yo f ,6.5f Dirt