The Hollywood Derby is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in late November/early December. Now held at Del Mar racetrack in San Diego, California, until 2014 it was held at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. The race is open to horses aged three and contested at a mile and an eighth on turf. It currently offers a purse of $300,000.
Inaugurated in 1938, the race has been a Grade I event since 1973 when grading was first introduced. There was no race from 1942 through 1944 as a result of World War II and it was not run in 2005 as a safety precaution after new grass had been planted on the turf course. It was contested in two divisions from 1981 through 1987.
Known as the Westerner Stakes from 1948 to 1958, the race was held at Santa Anita Park in 1949 after a fire destroyed the Hollywood Park grandstand and clubhouse. When Hollywood Park closed in December 2013, the race was transferred to Del Mar. Due to the layout of the turf course at Del Mar, the race was shortened to .
Only five fillies have ever won the race: Busher (1945), Honeymoon (1946), A Gleam (1952), De La Rose (1981) and Royal Heroine (1983).
In 2014, California Chrome accomplished a rare feat when, having won the Santa Anita Derby, Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes on dirt earlier in the year, he won the Hollywood Derby in his first appearance on the turf.
The Hollywood Derby has been contested at various distances on both dirt and turf: on dirt : 1945, 1950, 1976–1980 on dirt : 1938–1941, 1946–1949, 1951–1972 on turf : 1973–1975 on turf : 1981–2002 on turf : 2003 to 2013 on turf: 2014 to present
Records Speed record: on turf 1:45.82 – Super Quercus (1999) (at current distance of ) 1:59.35 – Showing Up (2006) (at previous distance of ) 2:27.80 – Amen II (1973) (at previous distance of )
Speed record: on dirt 1:59.40 – Count of Honor (1956) (at ) 1:47.40 – Codex (1980) (at )
Most wins by a jockey: 8 – Bill Shoemaker (1951, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1974, 1976, 1982, 1986)
Most wins by a trainer: 5 – Chad C. Brown (2016, 2018, 2020, 2023, 2025)
Most wins by an Owner: 4 – Klaravich Stables (1997, 2016, 2020, 2023)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Dist. (Miles) Time Win$ Gr.2025Salamis 3Umberto RispoliChad C. BrownJuddmonte Farms1:50.74$301,500G12024Formidable Man3Umberto RispoliMichael W. McCarthyWarren, Jr., William K. and Warren, Suzanne1:48.40$180,000G12023Program Trading (GB)3Flavien PratChad C. BrownKlaravich Stables11:47.82$180,000G12022Speaking Scout 3Juan J. Hernandez H. Graham MotionEclipse Thoroughbred Partners11:49.34$240,000G12021Beyond Brilliant3Kent DesormeauxJohn ShirreffsC R K Stable11:48.84$240,000G12020Domestic Spending (GB)3Irad Ortiz, Jr.Chad C. BrownKlaravich Stables11:47.15$180,000G12019Mo Forza3Paco LopezPeter MillerOG Boss & Bardy Farm (Barry & Dyan Abrams)11:48.57$180,000G12018Raging Bull3Joel RosarioChad C. BrownPeter M. Brant 11:48.34$180,000G12017Mo Town 3John R. VelazquezAnthony DutrowSusan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith11:46.36$180,000G12016Annals of Time3Javier CastellanoChad C. BrownKlaravich Stables & William Lawrence11:47.73$180,000G12015Chiropractor3Corey NakataniThomas F. ProctorGlen Hill Farm11:48.87$180,000G12014California Chrome3Victor EspinozaArt ShermanDAP Racing11:47.88$180,000G12013Seek Again3Corey NakataniJohn GosdenJuddmonte Farms12:00.60$180,000G12012Unbridled Command3Javier CastellanoThomas M. Bush Lewis G. Lakin12:01.07$150,000G12011Ultimate Eagle3Martin PedrozaMichael PenderRobert "B. J." Wright12:01.43$150,000G12010Haimish Hy3 Garrett GomezArt ShermanSherman/Akin/Franco/Goldstein12:01.20$150,000G12009The Usual Q.T.3Victor EspinozaJames M. CassidyVan Kempen & partners11:59.69$180,000G12008Court Vision3Ramon DomínguezWilliam I. MottIEAH Stables & WinStar Farm12:01.43$300,000G12007Daytona3Mike E. SmithDan HendricksJeff Davenport, Tom Lenner, Jess Ravich, Thomas Murray11:59.75$300,000G12006Showing Up3Cornelio VelásquezBarclay TaggLael Stables11:59.35$300,000G12005 Race not held2004Good Reward3Jerry BaileyC. R. McGaughey IIIOgden Mills Phipps12:01.53$300,000G12003Sweet Return3Julie KroneRon McAnallyRed Oak Stable (John J. Brunetti)12:04.27$360,000G12002Johar3Alex SolisRichard MandellaThe Thoroughbred Corp.11:48.70$300,000G12001Denon3Chris McCarronRobert J. FrankelFlaxman Holdings11:49.28$300,000G12000Brahms3Pat DayW. Elliott WaldenTom VanMeter II 11:46.73$300,000G11999Super Quercus3Alex SolisRobert J. Frankel3 Plus U Stable11:45.82$300,000G11998Vergennes3John R. VelazquezSteve AsmussenGary A. Tanaka11:49.44$300,000G11997Subordination3Jerry BaileyGary SciaccaKlaravich Stables11:50.00$300,000G11996Marlin3Corey NakataniD. Wayne LukasMichael Tabor11:46.08$300,000G11995Labeeb3Ed DelahoussayeNeil D. DrysdaleSheikh Mohammed11:46.42$240,000G11994River Flyer3Chris AntleyDavid HofmansGary Folgner11:47.48$240,000G11993Explosive Red3Corey NakataniDaniel J. VellaFrank Stronach11:46.88$240,000G11992Paradise Creek3Pat DayWilliam I. MottBertram R. Firestone11:47.36$240,000G11991-1Eternity Star3Ed DelahoussayeRobert J. FrankelPeter Wall11:47.30$240,000G11991-2Olympio3Ed DelahoussayeRon McAnallyV.H.W. Stables11:47.10$240,000G11990Itsallgreektome3Corey NakataniWallace DollaseJhayare Stables11:46.60$240,000G11989Live The Dream3Alex SolisCharles E. WhittinghamMary Bradley & Nancy Chandler11:47.00$240,000G11988Silver Circus3Gary StevensJulio CananiJoseph M. Scardino11:48.40$120,000G11987-1Political Ambition3Jacinto VásquezNeil D. DrysdaleClover Racing Stable11:48.20$101,600G11987-2Stately Don3Eddie DelahoussayeLeRoy JolleyBradley M. Shannon11:47.40$104,600G11986-1Thrill Show3Ray SibilleCharles E. WhittinghamMary Bradley, Richard Duchossois, C. E. Whittingham11:46.80$146,000G11986-2Spellbound3Bill ShoemakerPaul H. MurphyEdward Brennan11:46.80$147,000G11985-1Charming Duke3Jorge VelásquezJean-Pierre DupuisGreenhorn Stable11:46.80$171,225G11985-2Slew The Dragon3Yves Saint-MartinJohn O. HertlerMickey Taylor & Dr. Jim Hill, et al.11:46.40$168,725G11984-1Procida3Cash AsmussenFrançois BoutinStavros Niarchos11:48.40$139,250G11984-2Foscarini3Darrel McHargueLaurie N. AndersonJ. Carlisle & J. Sheridan11:47.40$140,750G11983-1Royal Heroine3Fernando ToroJohn GosdenRobert Sangster11:48.20$87,400G11983-2Ginger Brink3Fernando ToroTed West Sr.David Sofro11:49.20$86,400G11982-1Racing Is Fun3Bill ShoemakerRoger E. ClappConnie M. Ring11:47.20$70,150G11982-2Victory Zone3Eddie DelahoussayeRobert J. FrankelHoneybee Farm11:47.80$70,150G11981-1De La Rose 3Eddie MapleWoody StephensHenryk de Kwiatkowski11:47.60$68,700G11981-2Silveyville3Danny WinickEmmett L. CampbellKjell Qvale11:48.20$68,700G11980Codex3Eddie DelahoussayeD. Wayne LukasTartan Stable11:47.40$195,250G11979Flying Paster3Donald PierceGordon C. CampbellBernard J. Ridder11:47.60$166,750G11978Affirmed3Steve CauthenLaz BarreraHarbor View Farm11:48.20$174,750G11977Steve's Friend3Ruben HernandezJohn W. FultonKinsman Stable11:47.80$140,000G11976Crystal Water3Bill ShoemakerRoger E. ClappConnie M. Ring11:48.40$157,750G11975Intrepid Hero3Donald PierceJohn W. RussellOgden Phipps12:29.00$90,000G11974Agitate3Bill ShoemakerJames JimenezMeeken Stable (John & Paula Kent Meeken)12:28.20$90,000G11973Amen II3Eddie BelmontePhilip G. JohnsonDee-Bee Stable12:27.80$90,000G11972Riva Ridge3Ron TurcotteLucien LaurinMeadow Stable11:59.60$59,9001971Bold Reason3Laffit Pincay Jr.Angel Penna Sr.William A. Levin12:01.00$61,2001970Hanalei Bay3Merlin VolzkeRobert K. MillerRobert K. Miller12:01.20$73,2001969Tell3Donald PierceCharles E. WhittinghamElizabeth A. Keck12:00.00$76,6001968Poleax3Bill HartackJoseph S. DunnWilliam R. Hawn11:59.80$82,0001967Tumble Wind3Johnny SellersCharles E. WhittinghamRock Spring & Llangollen Farm Stable12:00.20$72,9001966Fleet Host3Jerry LambertRaymond PriddyWesterly Stud12:00.40$75,5001965Terry's Secret3Alex MaeseCarl A. RolesPoltex Stable12:00.80$80,2001964Real Good Deal3Johnny LongdenT. R. ScottEllwood B. & Betty Johnston12:00.80$71,1001963Y Flash3Eddie BurnsJess ByrdJ. Kell Houssels12:00.60$79,0001962Drill Site3Ralph NevesJohn AdamsRalph Lowe12:00.00$68,9001961Four-and-Twenty3Johnny LongdenVance LongdenAlberta Ranches, Ltd.12:00.60$77,9001960Tempestuous3Peter MorenoMatthew J. DragnaJoe Dragna & Dr. S. E. Santoro12:01.40$68,7001959Bagdad3Bill ShoemakerJoseph S. DunnHoward B. Keck11:59.60$65,9001958Strong Bay3Manuel YcazaJack WilliamsMr. & Mrs. Ray Camp12:02.60$70,8001957Round Table3Bill ShoemakerWilliam MolterKerr Stable12:00.60$69,3001956Count of Honor3Eddie ArcaroBuster MillerickRobert Lehman11:59.40$48,9501955Swaps3Bill ShoemakerMesh TenneyRex Ellsworth12:00.60$34,7001954Fault Free3Ralph NevesRonald H. McClellanMrs. A. W. Ryan12:00.80$32,8501953Rejected3Ralph NevesWilliam J. HirschKing Ranch12:01.40$64,5001952A Gleam3Henry E. MorenoHorace A. JonesCalumet Farm12:01.20$36,5501951Grantor3Bill ShoemakerHarry L. DanielsWilliam Goetz12:01.80$33,6001950Valquest3Jack WestropeGeorge E. MayberryAndrew J. Crevolin11:49.00$17,2001949Pedigree3Johnny LongdenWilliam MolterC. H. Jones & Son12:03.00$42,9001948Solidarity3Johnny LongdenWilliam MolterMrs. Nat Goldstone12:02.60$33,3001947Yankee Valor3Noel RichardsonPaul L. LycanCol. L. G. Burns12:01.80$36,0001946Honeymoon3Jack WestropeGraceton W. PhilpotLouis B. Mayer12:02.00$39,3001945Busher3Johnny LongdenGeorge M. OdomLouis B. Mayer11:50.20$40,4701942 – 1944 Race not held1941Staretor3George WoolfGeorge H. StrateHugh S. Nesbitt12:03.20$19,6751940Big Flash3Eugene RodriguezClyde PhillipsThomas D. Taggart12:03.60$18,7501939Shining One3Jack WestropeWilliam B. FinneganEdward S. Moore12:03.80$18,2751938Specify3John AdamsAlbert A. BaroniAlbert A. Baroni12:04.40$11,900
* In 2001, Designed for Luck won but was disqualified for drifting out in the stretch and was set back to fifth.
References