The Illinois Derby is a race for Thoroughbred horses for three-year-olds run over a distance of one and one-eighth miles (9 furlongs) on the dirt at Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney, Illinois, just west of Chicago in early April each year. The event was first run in 1923 at the Hawthorne Race Course. The purse is $250,000.

History

The race was named in honor of the home state in which it was run, the state of Illinois. The inaugural running of the race took place at Hawthorne in 1923 and was won by In Memoriam, the 3-year-old champion with Zev that year. The race was then run at Sportsman's Park from 1924 through 1931. It moved to Aurora Downs racetrack in 1932 and was run there until 1938. In 1939 the race went on hiatus until through 1962. Then the race was revived at Sportsman's Park Racetrack again in 1963 where it remained through its 2002 running. The race was not run 1939-1962 and 1970–1971.

The race was first graded in 1973 when the grading system started as a grade three stakes race and in 1997 was elevated to a grade two stakes race. The inaugural running of the race in 1923 was run at miles.

Before 2000, the race was run between the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes thus competing with the second leg of the Triple Crown for good runners. Beginning in 2001, the Illinois Derby was moved to four weeks before the Kentucky Derby and instantly became a major Triple Crown prep race.

The 2002 Illinois Derby won by War Emblem was the last Derby run at Sportsman's Park Racetrack. War Emblem went on to become a "Dual Classic Winner" by winning the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. War Emblem helped elevate the prestige of the Illinois Derby by displaying that a race winner could go on to even bigger glory.

In 2004 Pollard's Vision also helped increase the stature of the race when he won it. Pollard's Vision was a colt who was blind in his right eye, he was named in honor of Seabiscuit's jockey Red Pollard, who also lost sight in his right eye.

In 2006 Sweetnorthernsaint, the Illinois Derby winner that year, helped the stature of the race after recording the highest beyer speed figure of the year in the race and was installed as the morning line favorite in the Kentucky Derby. Sweetnorthernsait went on to become the Preakness Stakes runner-up to Bernardini in the race where Barbaro was fatally injured.

In 1997, at Sportsman's Park, Wild Rush set the record for the fastest time in the Illinois Derby at 1:47.51.

It had been a Grade II race with an offering of a purse of $500,000, however, it was reduced to a Grade III race for 2010 by the American Graded Stakes Committee.Two Fewer Graded Stakes in 2010 Since that time. For 2012, the purse has been reinstated to $500,000, but reduced to $400,000 in 2015.

Winners since 1968 Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Time Purse$ Gr. 2024Patriot Spirit Julio E. FelixMichael B. CampbellMellon Patch, Inc.1:50.43 $200,0002023Race not run2022Race not run2021 Race not run2020 Race not run2019 Race not run2018 Race not run2017 Multiplier James Graham Brendan P. Walsh American Equistock1:47.98$250,000III2016 Race not run2015 Whiskey Ticket Martin A. Pedroza Bob Baffert Karl Watson, Michael E. Pegram, Paul Weitman1:50.82$400,000III2014 Dynamic Impact Miguel Mena Mark E. Casse John C. Oxley1:49.07$750,000III2013 Departing Brian Hernandez Jr. Albert Stall Jr. Claiborne Farm1:50.78$750,000III2012 Done Talking Sheldon Russell Hamilton Smith Skeedattle Stable1:53.88$500,000III2011 Joe Vann Florent Geroux Todd Pletcher Zayat Stable1:51.91$300,000III2010 American Lion David Flores Eoin G. Harty WinStar Farm1:51.31$500,000III2009 Musket Man Eibar Coa Derek S. Ryan Eric Fein & Vic Carlson1:49.91$500,000II2008 Recapturetheglory E. T. Baird Louie J. Roussel III Louis J. Roussel III & Ronald Lamarque1:49.01$500,000II2007 Cowtown Cat Fernando Jara Todd A. Pletcher WinStar Farm1:51.21$500,000II2006 Sweetnorthernsaint Kent Desormeaux Michael Trombetta Joseph J. Balsamo & Ted Theos1:49.82$500,000II2005 Greeley's Galaxy Kent Desormeaux Glen Stute B. Wayne Hughes1:49.62$500,000II2004 Pollard's Vision Eibar Coa Todd A. Pletcher Edgewood Farm1:50.80$500,000II2003 Ten Most Wanted Pat Day Wallace Dollase James Chisholm, J. Paul Reddam, Michael Jarvis 1:51.47$500,000II2002 War Emblem Larry Sterling Jr. Frank R. Springer Russell Reineman Stable1:49.42$500,000II2001 Distilled Mike E. Smith Todd A. Pletcher Dogwood Stable1:51.37 $500,000II2000 Performing Magic Shane Sellers Alex L. Hassinger Jr. The Thoroughbred Corp.1:50.86 $500,000II1999 Vision and Verse Herbert Castillo William I. Mott W. Bruce Lunsford1:48.47 $500,000II1998 Yarrow Brae Willie Martinez D. Wayne Lukas Michael Tabor & Susan Magnier 1:51.21 $500,000II1997 Wild Rush Kent Desormeaux Richard Mandella Frank Stronach1:47.51$500,000II1996 Natural Selection Randy Romero Mohamed Moubarak Buckram Oak Farm (Mahmoud Fustuq)1:48.60 $500,000III1995 Peaks and Valleys Julie Krone James E. Day Pin Oak Stable1:48.99$500,000III1994Rustic LightEarlie FiresRobert HalePhillip Brooks & Robert Hale 1:51.89$500,000III1993Antrim Rd.Aaron GryderGlenn WismerAlyce & Joseph Novogratz 1:48.68$500,000III1992DignitasJerry D. BaileyGeorge R. Arnold IIJohn Peace1:49.09$533,500III1991RichmanJerry D. BaileyWilliam I. MottWilliam F. Lucas1:49.36$530,000III1990DotseroAaron GryderTim MucklerJ. Malkin, B. Glazov, et al.1:50.60$315,000III1989Music MerciGary StevensCraig C. LewisHarvey & Thea Cohen1:50.20$515,000III1988Proper RealityJerry D. BaileyRobert E. Holthus Mrs. James A. Winn 1:50.20$535,000III1987Lost CodeGene St. LeonL. William DonovanWendover Stable1:49.60$313,550III1986Bolshoi BoyRichard MiglioreHoward M. TesherArt Belford & John Greathouse1:52.20$315,000III1985Important BusinessJuvenal L. DiazLeRoy JolleyIlene & Skip Taylor1:51.60$320,000III1984Delta TraceKeith K. AllenRobert J. FrankelAnn & Jerry Moss1:51.80$210,000III1983Gen'l PractitionerJose A. SantiagoLeo SierraWilliam Blair1:50.40$210,000III1982Star GallantRay SibilleLenny ImperioMahmoud Fustuq1:52.60$210,000III1981ParistoDavid AshcroftGeorge R. HandyRobert & Ruth Feinberg1:49.60$155,000III1980Ray's WordRichard DePassSmiley AdamsNot found1:52.00$155,000III1979SmartenSam MapleWoody StephensRyehill Farm (Jim & Eleanor Ryan)1:49.40$150,000III1978BatonnierRonald Hirdes Jr.Harry TrotsekEdward Seltzer1:51.60$105,000III1977Flag OfficerLeslie AhrensGeorge J. GetzChuck Schmidt & Philip Teinowitz1:52.20$105,000III1976Life's HopeSandy HawleyLaz BarreraHarbor View Farm1:51.40$125,000III1975Colonel PowerPhil RubbiccoJohn O. MeauxHarvey Peltier Sr.1:50.20$105,000III1974Sharp GaryGerland GallitanoJoseph DiAngeloEdward R. Scharps1:50.00$105,000III1973Big WhippendealLarry AdamsJohn FultonKinship Stables1:50.20$75,000III1972Fame And PowerTony RiniJohn O. MeauxHarvey Peltier Sr.1:50.00$70,0001971 Race not run1970 Race not run1969King of the CastleBraulio BaezaEdward A. NeloyOgden Phipps1:51.40$80,0001968Bold FavoriteRobert NonoDel W. CarrollMichael G. Phipps1:50.20$75,000

Earlier winners

1967 - Royal Malabar 1966 - Michigan Avenue 1965 - Terra Hi (1st Div) 1964 - Nushka 1963 - Lemon Twist 1939 - 1962 Race not run 1938 - Gov. Chandler 1937 - Case Ace 1936 - Rushaway 1935 - Sun Portland 1934 - Mata Hari 1933 - Sweeprush 1923 - In Memoriam

See also Illinois Derby top three finishers and starters

References

External links The Illinois Derby at Pedigree Query The American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, 2010