The American Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race first run at Chicago's old Washington Park Race Track on the city's South Side and raced there until 1905 when the facility was closed following the state's ban on gambling, and horse racing and the track was demolished. 1893's American Derby was the 2nd richest race in the U.S. during the 19th century.Reiss, Steven A., Horse Racing, Eds. Grossman, James R., Keating, Ann Durkin, and Reiff, Janice L., 2004 The Encyclopedia of Chicago, pp. 390-1. The University of Chicago Press,
There was no racing in Chicago in 1895, 1896, 1897, 1899, and again in 1905 and 1906. The effect would be that the American Derby was not run from 1905 through 1925, except for 1916 when it was hosted by the Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney, Illinois.
Revived in 1926, it evolved to become one of the important events of the American racing season that drew some of the very best horses from all over the country. It was run at the new Washington Park Race Track in Homewood, Illinois, in 1926 and 1927 and then was held at the Arlington Park course in 1928 before returning to the new Washington Park in 1929 where it remained through 1957. From 1958 until its closure in 2021, the race was run at Arlington Park. In 2022, the race took place at Churchill Downs. The following year it was hosted by Ellis Park Race Course, then in 2024 returned to Churchill Downs.
Since 1992 the American Derby has been run on turf. Previously, it had been raced on the turf course from 1955 through 1957 and from 1970 through 1976. Over the years, the distance has varied:
: 1884–1904, 1926, 1927, 1958–1961, 1966–1974, 1976 : 1928–1951, 1962–1965, 1977–1991 : 1916, 1955–1957, 1992–2014 : 1952–1954, 1958–1961, 1966–1974, 1976, 2015–2018 : 1975, 2019–2021 1 mile: 1952–1954, 1958–1961
Records Most wins by a jockey: 5 – Bill Shoemaker 5 – Eddie Arcaro 4 – Isaac Burns Murphy
Hall of Fame jockey George Woolf won the race three years in a row from 1942 to 1944.
Most wins by a trainer: 3 – Ben A. Jones (1941, 1949, 1952) 3 – Horace A. Jones (1947, 1948, 1961) 3 – Dermot K. Weld (2000, 2003, 2004) 3 – William I. Mott (2005, 2006, 2007)
Most wins by an owner: 8 – Calumet Farm 4 – Lucky Baldwin
Winners Year Winner Jockey TrainerOwnerDistance Time2025Minaret Station Cristian A. TorresWilliam WaldenOXO Equine LLC1:44.292024Brilliant Berti Brian J. Hernandez Jr.Cherie DeVauxKlein Racing (Richard Klein)1:41.922023Wadsworth Florent GerouxBrad H. CoxGodolphin, LLC1:40.962022Rattle N RollBrian Hernandez Jr.Kenneth G. McPeekLucky Seven Stable1:43.272021Tango Tango TangoDeclan CannonJack SistersonCalumet Farm1:43.582019Faraway KittenAdam BeschizzaMichael MakerKenneth and Sarah Ramsey1:41.722018Real StoryJoe BravoIgnacio Correas, VIJeffery S. Amling, and Merriebelle Stables, LLC1:47.612017Sonic BoomJulien LeparouxIan WilkesLothenbach Stables, Inc. (Bob Lothenbach)1:49.902016One Mean ManJose LezcanoBernard S. FlintL. T. B., Inc. & Hillerich Racing, Inc.1:48.862015World ApprovalJose LezcanoMark CasseLive Oak Plantation Stable (Charlotte Weber)1:52.922014Divine OathFlorent GerouxTodd PletcherLet's Go Stable (Kevin Scatuorchio & Bryan Sullivan) Miles1:56.502013Infinite MagicChanning HillRichard C. MetteeTeam Valor International1:55.412012CozzettiShaun BridgmohanDale L. RomansAlbaugh Family Stable1:57.422011Willcox InnRobby AlbaradoMichael StidhamAll In Stable1:54.562010Workin For HopsFrancisco TorresMichael StidhamEstorance, LLC1:55.472009RebJulien LeparouxGeorge Arnold IIAshbrook Farm1:56.092008TizdejavuRené DouglasGreg FoxCooper/Ziebarth1:59.882007LatticeRobby AlbaradoWilliam I. MottClaiborne Farm1:54.852006Union AvenueLarry MelanconWilliam I. MottWinStar Farm1:57.202005Gun SaluteCornelio VelásquezWilliam I. MottBrant M. Laue1:55.312004Simple ExchangePat Smullen Dermot K. WeldMoyglare Stud1:54.932003Evolving TacticsPat SmullenDermot K. WeldMoyglare Stud1:59.042002Mananan McLirRené Douglas Wallace DollaseM. Jarvis/G. Margolis et al.1:57.112001Fan Club's MisterRandy MeierRickey B. HarrisP. Miessler & C. Raber2:03.272000Pine DanceEddie AhernDermot K. WeldHighland Farms et al.1:55.46 No race 1998–1999 1997Honor GlideGarrett Gomez Jim DayRobert Schaedle III1:55.941996Jaunatxo ‡Juvenal Diaz Louie J. Roussel IIILouie J. Roussel III1:55.821995Gold And SteelAaron Gryder Jean-Claude RougetGary A. Tanaka1:55.021994Overbury ††Shane SellersDavid LoderSheikh Mohammed1:55.291994Vaudeville ††Aldaberto LopezFordell FierceRon Crockett1:55.291993Explosive RedShane SellersDaniel J. VellaFrank Stronach1:59.921992The Name's JimmyPat DayCharles R. StuttsMount Joy Stables, Inc. (Brian & Jan Burns)1:59.411991OlympioEddie Delahoussaye Ron McAnallyVerne Winchell2:00.991990Real CashPat ValenzuelaD. Wayne LukasLukas & Overbrook2:02.001989Awe InspiringCraig PerretC. R. McGaughey IIIOgden Mills Phipps2:02.40 No race 1988 1987Fortunate MomentEarlie FiresHarvey L. VanierJerry Pinkley2:03.80 No race 1986 1985Creme FraicheEddie Maple Woody StephensBrushwood Stable2:01.601984At The Threshold †Pat Day Lynn S. WhitingW. Cal Partee2:04.001984High Alexander †Gerland GallitanoJim LevtichJ. M. Levitch Sr.2:04.001983Play FellowPat DayHarvey L. VanierVanier, Lauer, Victor2:04.001982Wolfie's RascalRuben HernandezHoward M. TesherSidney L. Port et al.2:05.601981Pocket ZipperRay SibilleRichard HazeltonMr. & Mrs. Robert F. Bensinger2:03.801980Hurry Up BlueGerland GallitanoJoseph M. BolleroRussell L. Reineman2:04.401979SmartenSam MapleWoody StephensRyehill Farm2:05.201978Nasty And BoldJean-Luc SamynPhilip G. JohnsonMeadowhill Farm2:03.401977Silver SeriesLarry SnyderOscar Dishman Jr.Archie R. Donaldson2:02.401976Fifth MarineRon TurcotteSidney Watters Jr.Pamela H. Firman1:49.201975Honey MarkGarth PattersonLarry Robideaux Jr.Mr. & Mrs. F. Roberts1:44.401974Determined KingDaryl MontoyaEugene JacobsHerbert A. Allen Sr.1:47.801973BemoWilliam PassmoreJohn W. MurphyHickory Tree Stable1:49.601972DubassoffJacinto VásquezThomas J. KellyJohn M. Schiff1:50.001971Bold ReasonLaffit Pincay Jr.Angel Penna Sr.William A. Levin1:50.001970The PrunerBraulio BaezaEdward A. NeloyOgden Phipps1:47.001969Fast HilariousLaffit Pincay Jr.Joseph M. BolleroDorothy C. Rigney1:48.001968Forward PassIsmael ValenzuelaHenry ForrestCalumet Farm1:48.001967DamascusBill ShoemakerFrank Y. Whiteley Jr.Edith W. Bancroft1:46.801966BuckpasserBraulio BaezaEdward A. NeloyOgden Phipps1:47.001965Tom RolfeBill ShoemakerFrank Y. Whiteley Jr.Powhatan Stables2:00.601964Roman BrotherFernando AlvarezBurley ParkeHarbor View Farm2:01.401963Candy SpotsBill ShoemakerMesh TenneyRex C. Ellsworth2:02.001962Black SheepJohnny LongdenCharlie WhittinghamC. R. Mac Stable2:01.001961Beau PrinceSteve BrooksHorace A. JonesCalumet Farm1:51.001960T. V. LarkJohnny SellersPaul K. ParkerPreston W. Madden1:47.201959DunceLois C. CookMoody JolleyClaiborne Farm1:49.001958NadirManuel YcazaMoody JolleyClaiborne Farm1:51.001957Round TableBill ShoemakerWilliam MolterKerr Stable1:55.001956Swoon's SonEddie ArcaroLex WilsonE. Gay Drake1:59.001955SwapsBill ShoemakerMesh TenneyRex C. Ellsworth1:54.601954Errard KingSam Boulmetis Sr.Thomas J. BarryJoseph Gavegnano1:49.001953Native DancerEddie ArcaroWilliam C. WinfreyAlfred G. Vanderbilt II1:48.401952Mark-Ye-WellEddie ArcaroBen A. JonesCalumet Farm1:49.001951Hall of FameTed AtkinsonJohn M. Gaver Sr.Greentree Stable2:01.001950Hill PrinceEddie ArcaroCasey HayesChristopher Chenery2:01.201949PonderSteve BrooksBen A. JonesCalumet Farm2:00.001948CitationEddie ArcaroHorace A. JonesCalumet Farm2:01.601947FerventDouglas DodsonHorace A. JonesCalumet Farm2:00.001946Eternal RewardR. CampbellChester J. HallAugustus & Nahm2:02.001945Fighting StepG. SouthCharles C. NormanMurlogg Farm2:02.001944By JimminyGeorge WoolfJames W. SmithAlfred P. Parker2:03.001943AskmenowGeorge WoolfKenneth OsborneHal Price Headley2:07.001942AlsabGeorge WoolfSarge SwenkeAlbert Sabath2:06.601941WhirlawayAlfred RobertsonBen A. JonesCalumet Farm2:04.001940MiolandJohn H. AdamsTom SmithCharles S. Howard2:05.00 No race 1938–1939 1937Dawn PlayLester BalaskiMax HirschKing Ranch2:05.00 No race 1936 1935Black HelenDon Meade Bill HurleyEdward R. Bradley2:01.401934CavalcadeMack Garner Robert A. SmithBrookmeade Stable2:04.001933Mr. KhayyamPete WallsMatthew Peter BradyCatawba Farm Stable (Madelaine H. Austin)2:04.001932GustoSilvio CoucciMax HirschMorton L. Schwartz2:10.001931MateGeorge EllisJames W. HealyAlbert C. Bostwick Jr.2:04.001930Reveille BoyWillie FronkJohn L. PaulJohn A. Best2:04.001929Windy CityLawrence McDermottJake LowensteinFred M. Grabner2:10.001928ToroEddie AmbroseJohn F. SchorrEdward Beale McLean2:05.001927HydromelLawrence McDermottDaniel E. StewartJohnson N. Camden Jr.2:29.001926Boot to BootAlbert JohnsonBill HurleyIdle Hour Stock Farm2:30.00 No race 1917–1925 1916DodgeFrank MurphyJohn S. WardWeber & Ward2:04.00 No race 1905–1915 1904HighballGrover FullerJohn W. MayWalter M. Scheftel2:33.001903The PicketAlbert B. HelgesenCarroll B. ReidMiddleton & Jungbluth2:33.001902WyethLucien LyneEnoch WishardJohn A. Drake2:40.001901Robert WaddellJohn BullmanTheodore F. ColesMrs. R. Bradley2:33.001900Sidney LucasJohn BullmanR. S. ThompsonThompson Bros.2:40.25 No race 1899 1898Pink CoatW. MartinPatrick DunneWoodford & Buckner2:42.00 No race 1895–1897 1894Rey el Santa AnitaEugene Van KurenHenry McDanielLucky Baldwin2:36.001893BoundlessEdward H. GarrisonWilliam McDanielJohn E. Cushing & John W. Orth2:36.001892CarlsbadRobert "Tiny" WilliamsC. PorterRobert A. Swigert3:04.251891StrathmeathGeorge CovingtonGreen B. MorrisGreen B. Morris2:49.251890Uncle BobThomas KileyB. J. JohnsonChicago Stable2:55.751889SpokaneThomas KileyJohn RodegapNoah Armstrong2:41.251888Emperor of NorfolkIsaac Burns MurphyRobert W. ThomasLucky Baldwin2:40.501887C. H. ToddAnthony HamiltonJames B. A. HagginJames B. A. Haggin2:36.501886Silver CloudIsaac Burns MurphyAlbert CooperLucky Baldwin2:37.251885VolanteIsaac Burns MurphyAlbert CooperLucky Baldwin2:49.501884ModestyIsaac Burns MurphyJohn W. RogersEdward Corrigan2:42.00 † Dead Heat in 1984
†† Dead Heat in 1994
‡ In 1996, the first-place finisher Trail City was disqualified and placed second
Notes
External links Photo of 1916 American Derby at Hawthorne Race Course