Virginia Derby Explained

Surface:Turf
Class:Grade III
Horse Race:Virginia Derby
Location:Colonial Downs
New Kent County, Virginia
Inaugurated:1998
Race Type:Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website:Colonial Downs
Distance: miles (9 furlongs)
Track:Left-handed
Qualification:Three-year-olds
Weight:123 lbs with allowances
Purse:$500,000 (2023)
Sponsor:New Kent County (since 2019)

The Virginia Derby is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds over a distance of one and one-eighth miles on the turf held annually in September at Colonial Downs in New Kent County, Virginia. The event currently carries a purse of $300,000.

History

The inaugural running of the event was 3 October 1998 as part of the newly opened racetrack in Virginia known as Colonial Downs at a distance of miles on the outer turf course.

The quality of the event consistently improved and in 2004 the American Graded Stakes Committee upgraded the classification to Grade III status.[1] That year the winner was Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey's Kitten's Joy who later in the year captured the crown of U.S. Champion Male Turf Horse. The 2005 winner English Channel later in his career won the Breeders' Cup Turf and in 2007 was also crowned U.S. Champion Male Turf Horse.

In 2006 the event was upgraded to Grade II[2] which attracted the finest three-year-old turf horses with a massive US$1 million purse.

However the track ran into a dispute between track management and horsemen's organizations and the track closed after the 2013 meeting.[3]

The event was not held in 2014.[1]

In 2015 the event was moved to Laurel Park in Laurel, Maryland and was renamed to the Commonwealth Derby and the distance was decreased to miles.[1]

The event was down graded to Grade III in 2017.[1]

In 2018 the event was not held, but Virginia laws were amended with regard to funding horse racing and the Colonial Downs reopened in 2019 and the event was scheduled as the New Kent County Virginia Derby.[1]

In 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, the track canceled the meeting prior to the running of the event.[4]

Records

Speed:

Margins:

Most wins by an owner:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a Trainer:

Winners

YearWinnerJockeyTrainerOwnerDistanceTimePurseGradeRef
At Colonial Downs – New Kent County Virginia Derby
align=center 2022Capensis Irad Ortiz Jr.Todd A. Pletcheralign=center milesalign=center 1:48.15align=center $305,000align=center III[5]
align=center 2021Wootton Asset (FR)Jose L. OrtizH. Graham Motionalign=center milesalign=center 1:46.79align=center $250,000align=center III[6]
2020Race not held
align=center 2019English BeeJorge A. Vargas Jr.H. Graham MotionCalumet Farmalign=center milesalign=center 1:52.94align=center $250,000align=center III[7]
2018Race not held
At Laurel Park – Commonwealth Derby
align=center 2017Just HowardFeargal LynchH. Graham MotionSkeedattle Associatesalign=center milesalign=center 1:45.81align=center $200,000align=center III[8]
align=center 2016Deeply UndervaluedManuel FrancoChad C. BrownKlaravich Stables & William Lawrencealign=center milesalign=center 1:46.63align=center $200,000align=center II[9]
align=center 2015One Go All GoRonald HisbyPavel MatejkaPreston Stables & Prestonwood Racing align=center milesalign=center 1:48.10align=center $400,000align=center II[10]
2014Race not held
At Colonial Downs – Virginia Derby
align=center 2013War DancerAlan GarciaKenneth G. McPeekMagdalena Racingalign=center milesalign=center 2:03.57align=center $500,000align=center II[11]
align=center 2012Silver MaxRobby AlbaradoDale L. RomansMark Bacon & Dana Wells align=center milesalign=center 2:04.05align=center $594,000align=center II[12]
align=center 2011Air SupportAlex O. SolisStuart S. Janney IIIalign=center milesalign=center 2:00.80align=center $600,000align=center II[13]
align=center 2010Paddy O'PradoKent J. DesormeauxDale L. RomansDonegal Racing align=center milesalign=center 2:02.58align=center $600,000align=center II[14]
align=center 2009Tyler BazeJeff MullinsMichael Housealign=center milesalign=center 2:03.29align=center $750,000align=center II[15]
align=center 2008Gio PontiGarrett K. GomezChristophe ClementCastleton Lyonsalign=center milesalign=center 2:02.22align=center $772,500align=center II[16]
align=center 2007Red GiantHoracio KaramanosTodd A. PletcherPeachtree Stablealign=center milesalign=center 1:59.62align=center $1,000,000align=center II[17]
align=center 2006Go BetweenGarrett K. GomezWilliam I. MottPeter Vegso align=center milesalign=center 1:59.74align=center $1,000,000align=center II[18]
align=center 2005English ChannelJohn R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherJames T. Scatuorchioalign=center milesalign=center 2:02.57align=center $750,000align=center III[19]
align=center 2004Kitten's JoyEdgar S. PradoDale L. RomansKenneth and Sarah Ramseyalign=center milesalign=center 2:01.22align=center $500,000align=center III[20]
align=center 2003Silver TreeEdgar S. PradoWilliam I. MottPeter Vegsoalign=center milesalign=center 2:01.11align=center $500,000align=center Listed [21]
align=center 2002Orchard ParkEdgar S. PradoWilliam I. MottPeter Vegsoalign=center milesalign=center 2:03.10align=center $500,000align=center Listed [22]
align=center 2001Potaro (IRE)Brent E. BartramJonathan E. SheppardAugustin Stablealign=center milesalign=center 2:02.18align=center $200,000align=center Listed [23]
align=center 2000Lightning PacesGreg W. HuttonJohn J. RobbTulip Hill Farmalign=center milesalign=center 2:02.18align=center $200,000align=center Listed [24]
align=center 1999Phi Beta DocRobert W. LeonardDennis Foster & Robert W. Leonardalign=center milesalign=center 1:59.97align=center $200,000align=center Listed [25]
align=center 1998Crowd PleaserJean-Luc SamynJonathan E. SheppardAugustin Stablealign=center milesalign=center 2:00.28align=center $250,000align=center Listed [26]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: New Kent County Virginia Derby (Gr. 3) . equibase . 2022 . 22 August 2022.
  2. Web site: VIRGINIA DERBY - MULTIPLE TRACKS . Thoroughbred Pedigree Online . 2022 . 22 August 2022.
  3. Web site: Colonial Downs asks court to clarify law in horse racing standoff. Hazard. Carol. 13 November 2015. richmond.com. Richmond Times-Dispatch. 14 November 2015.
  4. News: BloodHorse Staff . Colonial Downs Cancels Meet Due to COVID-19 Positives; The meet had been scheduled to continue until Sept. 2. . 22 August 2022 . Bloodhorse.com . 14 August 2020.
  5. Web site: 2022 New Kent County Virginia Derby Grade 3 - (race 10) . Equibase . 6 September 2022 . 7 September 2022.
  6. Web site: 2021 New Kent County Virginia Derby Grade 3 - (race 10) . Equibase . 31 August 2021 . 23 August 2022.
  7. Web site: 2019 New Kent County Virginia Derby Grade 3 - (race 9) . Equibase . 31 August 2019 . 23 August 2022.
  8. Web site: 2017 Commonwealth Derby presented by the Virginia Equine Alliance and the Vi3ginia Turf Grade 3ginia Turf - (race 11) . Equibase . 30 September 2017 . 23 August 2022.
  9. Web site: 2016 Commonwealth Derby presented by the Virginia Equine Alliance at Laurel 2ark Grade 2ark - (race 7) . Equibase . 24 September 2016 . 23 August 2022.
  10. Web site: 2015 Commonwealth Derby Grade 2 - (race 9) . Equibase . 19 September 2015 . 23 August 2022.
  11. Web site: 2013 Virginia Derby Grade 2 - (race 7) . Equibase . 13 July 2013 . 23 August 2022.
  12. Web site: 2012 Virginia Derby Grade 2 - (race 9) . Equibase . 21 July 2012 . 23 August 2022.
  13. Web site: 2011 Virginia Derby Grade 2 - (race 8) . Equibase . 16 July 2011 . 23 August 2022.
  14. Web site: 2010 Virginia Derby Grade 2 - (race 12) . Equibase . 17 July 2010 . 23 August 2022.
  15. Web site: 2009 Virginia Derby Grade 2 - (race 11) . Equibase . 18 July 2009 . 23 August 2022.
  16. Web site: 2008 Virginia Derby Grade 2 - (race 9) . Equibase . 19 July 2008 . 23 August 2022.
  17. Web site: 2007 Virginia Derby Grade 2 - (race 9) . Equibase . 21 July 2007 . 23 August 2022.
  18. Web site: 2006 Virginia Derby Grade 2 - (race 9) . Equibase . 15 July 2006 . 23 August 2022.
  19. Web site: 2005 Virginia Derby Grade 3 - (race 9) . Equibase . 16 July 2005 . 23 August 2022.
  20. Web site: 2004 Virginia Derby Grade 3 - (race 9) . Equibase . 10 July 2004 . 23 August 2022.
  21. Web site: 2003 Virginia Derby Listed - (race 10) . Equibase . 12 July 2003 . 23 August 2022.
  22. Web site: 2002 Virginia Derby Listed - (race 10) . Equibase . 13 July 2002 . 23 August 2022.
  23. Web site: 2001 Virginia Derby Listed - (race 10) . Equibase . 14 July 2001 . 23 August 2022.
  24. Web site: 2000 Virginia Derby Listed - (race 9) . Equibase . 7 October 2000 . 23 August 2022.
  25. Web site: 1999 Virginia Derby Listed - (race 8) . Equibase . 2 October 1999 . 23 August 2022.
  26. Web site: 1999 Virginia Derby Listed - (race 11) . Equibase . 3 October 1998 . 23 August 2022.

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