Three Big Preps On Saturday

The Derby door of opportunity is still ajar, but time is running out. There are three major preps this Saturday each offering 100 points to the Winning horse, which virtually locks down a spot in the gate on May 7th. Here then, the big three this weekend: THE WOOD MEMORIAL STAKES New York’s premier Kentucky Derby prep race is contested at 1 1/8 miles (9 … Continue reading Three Big Preps On Saturday

Who Wins The Arkansas Derby?

The $1.25 million, Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park offers Kentucky Derby contenders the opportunity to compete for the top-level points (100-40-20-10) at a distance of a 1 1/8 miles. With the Run for the Roses less than six weeks away, this will be the last chance for the horses in this field to gather Derby qualifying points. There will be an urgency about Winning points … Continue reading Who Wins The Arkansas Derby?

Fillies, Preps, & The Derby

By 1988, D. Wayne Lukas had established himself as one of America’s top trainers. The Kentucky Derby, however, had eluded him; he had not yet Won it despite having 12 starters since 1981. WINNING COLORS by being Victorious in the 1988 Santa Anita Oaks, established herself as a Derby prospect. She crushed the competition in a dominant gate-to-wire performance in the Oaks Winning by eight lengths. … Continue reading Fillies, Preps, & The Derby

Arkansas Derby = Talent

Oaklawn Park will host its final Kentucky Derby prep race Saturday with the running of the $1million dollar, Grade 1 Arkansas Derby. A field of 3-year-olds will travel 1 ⅛ miles on dirt in search of Derby qualifying points. The Winner will get 100 points, while the runner-up will receive 40, the 3rd-place finisher 20, and the 4th-place finisher 10. The race was first held in … Continue reading Arkansas Derby = Talent

Who Wins The Louisiana Derby?

The winter/spring meet at Fair Grounds wraps up this weekend with the track’s signature race, the $1 million dollar, Grade 2 Louisiana Derby on Saturday. The race is the first domestic Derby prep offering top-tier qualifying points, distributing them on a 100-40-20-10 basis to the first four finishers. It’s the last of four qualifying points races for Derby 148 held during the Fair Grounds meet. It’s slated … Continue reading Who Wins The Louisiana Derby?

Louisiana Derby Trends

Are you ready? The Road to the Kentucky Derby heats up in a big way with Saturday’s running of the $1 million dollar Louisiana Derby at Fairgrounds.  The 1 3/16-mile, Grade 2 race awards a total of 170 Derby qualification points to the top four finishers on a 100-40-20-10 basis, which essentially guarantees both the Winner and the runner-up a spot in the gate for the 2022 … Continue reading Louisiana Derby Trends

Talented Louisiana Derby Winners

Fair Grounds‘ road to the Kentucky Derby reaches its terminus Saturday with the $1 million dollar, Grade 2 Louisiana Derby. The Louisiana Derby is one of the oldest Derby prep races, first held back in 1894. The field will travel 1 3/16 miles on dirt in this race, making the Louisiana Derby the longest Derby prep. Since 1973, the race has been run as a Grade 2. … Continue reading Talented Louisiana Derby Winners

Who Wins The Tampa Bay Derby?

Saturday’s $400,000, Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs is an important prep for qualifying points prep for the 2022 Kentucky Derby. The 1 1/16-mile race on the dirt track offers 85 total points to help gain a spot in the starting gate on May 7 at Churchill Downs, distributed to the top four finishers on a 50-20-10-5 basis. The contest is listed as … Continue reading Who Wins The Tampa Bay Derby?

History Of The Tampa Bay Derby

The Road to the Kentucky Derby heads south on Saturday to Tampa Bay Downs, which hosts the $400,000 dollar, Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby. This 1 1/16-mile race offers a total of 85 Derby qualifying points, with 50 going to the Winner, 25 to 2nd, 10 to 3rd, and 5 to 4th. The Tampa Bay Derby was first held in 1981. It was a Grade 3 event from 1984 … Continue reading History Of The Tampa Bay Derby

How To Qualify For The Derby.

This year’s Road To The Kentucky Derby is in full-swing, but if you’re new to horse racing you may have some questions about how all of this works. Well, wonder no more. Here is an easy overview about qualifying for The Run For The Roses. WHO: Three-Year-Old Thoroughbreds. When you hear that Winning the Kentucky Derby is a once-in-a-lifetime event, that’s a literal statement. Only … Continue reading How To Qualify For The Derby.