# West Virginia Derby

The West Virginia Derby is an American Grade III stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred race horses run over a distance of 1+1⁄8 miles on the dirt at Mountaineer Race Track in Chester, West Virginia in August. The purse for the event is US$500,000.

## History

The inaugural running of the event was 21 April 1923, the ninth race day at the newly opened Huntingdon's Tri-State Park. Estimates put the crowd size at 10,000. Huntington's hotel rooms were so solidly booked that 50 people applied at the city jail for lodging. Tender Seth defeated six other entrants as the 6-4 favorite in a time of 1:54 3/5. In 1925 Tri-State Park renamed its premier event to the Huntington Derby over a shorter distance of 1+1⁄16 miles. On 17 April 1926 the event was renewed as The West Virginia State Derby and was won by Nine Sixty who defeated the inaugural Florida Derby winner Torcher by 1+1⁄2 lengths. Tri-State management were planning a rematch of between Nine Sixty and Torcher four days after this running but a catastrophe ensued with a fire engulfing the Tri-State grandstand on the morning of 20 April. The race meet was canceled and Tri-State Park was never rebuilt.
After a 32-year absence the event was renewed on 23 August 1958 at Wheeling Downs. The event was held three times at Wheeling Downs before being moved to Waterford Park in 1963. The first four winners of the event were all ridden by jockey Floyd Green and trained by local trainer Patsy Santo. Including two fillies, the 1963 winner Etimota who won by twelve lengths and Kerensa in 1966 who were sisters (Rico Monte (ARG) — Too Fussy out of Blue Sword). Both were bred and owned by Frances W. Luro, wife of legendary trainer Horatio Luro at their Old Mill Farm in Carterville, Georgia. Both in reality were trained by Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame trainer Frank H. Merrill Jr., but ran in the name of local trainer Patsy Santo.
The event has been run in split divisions twice - in 1972 and 1981.
The event was discontinued twice for lengthy periods in the 1980s and 1990s.
With influx of racino funds Mountaineer Park management was able to provide higher stakes and with that stability to the event in the 2000s.
In 2002 the event was classified as Grade III and upgraded to Grade II in 2009. However the event was downgraded back to Grade III in 2017.
In 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Mountaineer Park canceled the event.

## Records

Speed record:
* 1+1⁄8 miles: 1:46:29 - Soto (2003) (Stakes and track record)
Margins:
* 12 lengths – Etimota (1963)
Most wins by a jockey:
* 4 - Floyd Green (1963, 1964, 1965, 1966)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 6 – Steven M. Asmussen (2005, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2023)
Most wins by an owner:
* 3 – Winchell Thoroughbreds (2007, 2014, 2023)

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref |
| At ‡Mountaineer Race Track – West Virginia Derby ||||||||||
| 2024 | Dragoon Guard | Florent Geroux | Brad H. Cox | Juddmonte Farms | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.96 | $500,000 | III | |
| 2023 | Red Route One | Cristian Torres | Steven M. Asmussen | Winchell Thoroughbreds | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.49 | $500,000 | III | |
| 2022 | Skippylongstocking | Edwin Gonzalez | Saffie A. Joseph Jr. | Daniel Alonso | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.11 | $500,000 | III | |
| 2021 | Mr. Wireless | Ramon Vazquez | W. Bret Calhoun | JIL Stable | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:52.49 | $500,000 | III | |
| 2020 | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held |
| 2019 | Mr. Money | Gabriel Saez | W. Bret Calhoun | Allied Racing Stable | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.28 | $500,000 | III | |
| 2018 | Mr Freeze | Robby Albarado | Dale L. Romans | Jim Bakke & Gerald Isbister | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:47.95 | $500,000 | III | |
| 2017 | Colonelsdarktemper | Jon Court | William H. Fires | Anthony J. Foyt Jr. | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.68 | $750,000 | III | |
| 2016 | Cupid | Rafael Bejarano | Bob Baffert | Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.54 | $750,000 | II | |
| 2015 | Madefromlucky | Joe Bravo | Todd A. Pletcher | Cheyenne Stables & Mac Nichol | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:51.40 | $750,000 | II | |
| 2014 | Tapiture | Rosie Napravnik | Steven M. Asmussen | Winchell Thoroughbreds | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.66 | $750,000 | II | |
| 2013 | Departing | Robby Albarado | Albert Stall Jr. | Claiborne Farm & Adele B. Dilschneider | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:51.47 | $750,000 | II | |
| 2012 | Macho Macho | Corey Nakatani | Steven M. Asmussen | Jerry Durant | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.98 | $750,000 | II | |
| 2011 | Prayer for Relief | Rafael Bejarano | Bob Baffert | Gerry Aschinger | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.68 | $750,000 | II | |
| 2010 | Concord Point | Martin Garcia | Bob Baffert | Kaleem Shah | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:51.12 | $750,000 | II | |
| 2009 | § Soul Warrior | Dale V. Beckner | Steven M. Asmussen | Zayat Stables | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:51.46 | $750,000 | II | |
| 2008 | Ready Set | Julien R. Leparoux | Michael R. Matz | Lael Stables | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:52.03 | $750,000 | III | |
| 2007 | Zanjero | Shaun Bridgmohan | Steven M. Asmussen | Winchell Thoroughbreds | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:53.04 | $750,000 | III | |
| 2006 | Bright One | Mark Guidry | Dale L. Romans | Carolyn S. Bruder & Delmar Daubs | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.08 | $750,000 | III | |
| 2005 | Real Dandy | Mark Guidry | Steven M. Asmussen | Cathy & Bob Zollars | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.29 | $750,000 | III | |
| 2004 | Sir Shackleton | Rafael Bejarano | Nicholas P. Zito | Tracy Farmer | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.16 | $600,000 | III | |
| 2003 | Soto | Ramon A. Dominguez | Michael W. Dickinson | Galopp | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:46.29 | $600,000 | III | |
| 2002 | Wiseman's Ferry | Jorge F. Chavez | Niall M. O'Callaghan | Swifty Farm, Morton Fink & Lee Sacks | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.63 | $600,000 | III | |
| 2001 | Western Pride | Dana G. Whitney | Richard Estvanko | Theresa McArthur | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:47.20 | $500,000 | Listed | |
| 2000 | Mass Market | Rick Wilson | Benjamin W. Perkins Jr. | New Farm, Centennial Farm & William S. Farish III | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.94 | $300,000 | Listed | |
| 1999 | Stellar Brush | Joe Stokes | Richard W. Small | Robert E. Meyerhoff | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.02 | $250,000 | Listed | |
| 1998 | Da Devil | Jon Court | Forrest Kaelin | David Hall, B. Case, C. Glasscock & B. Bleiden | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.84 | $200,000 | Listed | |
| 1991–1997 | 1991–1997 | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held |
| 1990 | Challenge My Duty | Inocencio Becer Ayarza | Norman R. Pointer | William M. Rickman | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.60 | $100,000 | | |
| 1989 | Doc's Leader | William I. Fox Jr. | Monte Clark | Mary Anne Loccissano | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.00 | $100,000 | | |
| 1988 | Old Stories | Ruben Hernandez | Howard M. Tesher | Russell L. Reineman | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:52.20 | $100,000 | | |
| 1982–1987 | 1982–1987 | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held |
| 1981 | Park's Policy | Jeffrey Scott Lloyd | Clyde D. Rice | Parke L. Lietzel | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.60 | $35,000 | | Division 1 |
| 1981 | Johnny Dance | Frank Lovato Jr. | John P. Campo | Buckland Farm | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:47.80 | $35,000 | | Division 2 |
| 1980 | Summer Advocate | William L. Floyd | Michael B. Ball | Donald Ball | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.80 | $50,000 | | |
| 1979 | Architect | Stanley Spencer | Harvey L. Vanier | Carl Lauer | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:51.00 | $50,000 | | |
| 1978 | Beau Sham | Pat Day | Thomas E. Lunneen | Chet & Gerry Herringer | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.60 | $50,000 | | |
| 1977 | § Best Person | Vincent Bracciale Jr. | Michael D. Tinker | W. Cal Partee | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.60 | $50,000 | | |
| 1976 | Wardlaw | Jorge Enrique Tejeira | David R. Vance | Dan Lasater | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:47.60 | $50,000 | | |
| 1975 | At The Front | Angel Santiago | John P. Campo | Buckland Farm | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.60 | $50,000 | | |
| 1974 | Park Guard | Benny Feliciano | Jonathan E. Sheppard | Augustin Stable | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:47.40 | $50,000 | | |
| 1973 | Blue Chip Dan | Mickey Solomone | George Getz | Phil Teinowitz | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.20 | $32,200 | | |
| 1972 | Family Table | Mickey Solomone | George Getz | Phil Teinowitz | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.60 | $20,000 | | Division 1 |
| 1972 | Bold Nobleman | James Kelley | Andrew G. Smithers | Mrs. C. H. Sturrock Stable | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.40 | $20,500 | | Division 2 |
| 1971 | Trico O'Erin | Thomas De Palo | Millard H. Harrell | Mrs. Joy Glassberg | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:52.20 | $28,900 | | |
| 1970 | † Two Joy | Joseph Imparato | Jake Dodson | Audley Farms | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:53.00 | $28,050 | | |
| 1969 | Roman Partner | Mickey Solomone | Kenneth W. Bright | James Livesay & Lou Kelley | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:51.80 | $27,375 | | |
| 1968 | Chargertown | Raymond Nakama | A. O. Cleff | Mrs. Walter R. Kelly | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:54.40 | $15,670 | | |
| 1967 | Miracle Hill | Robert Gallimore | Dewey Smith | T. Alie & James E. Grissom | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:53.20 | $8,460 | | |
| 1966 | ƒ Kerensa | Floyd Green | Patsy Santo | Mrs. Horatio Luro | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.40 | $8,420 | | |
| 1965 | Pantuity | Floyd Green | Patsy Santo | Andrew G. Smithers | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:53.00 | $8,310 | | |
| 1964 | Peter Le Grand | Floyd Green | Patsy Santo | Mrs. Edward B. Seedhouse | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:53.00 | $5,045 | | |
| 1963 | ƒ Etimota | Floyd Green | Patsy Santo | Mrs. Horatio Luro | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:52.00 | $5,940 | | |
| 1962 | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held |
| At Wheeling Downs ||||||||||
| 1961 | Dip and Whirl | Bernie Walt | Thurmond Gammon | Thurmond Gammon | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:54.60 | $4,020 | | |
| 1960 | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held |
| 1959 | Redbird Wish | Wayne Chambers | Marion H. Van Berg | Marion H. Van Berg | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:52.80 | $14,620 | | |
| 1958 | Sea Hymn | Jose Contraes | Ed Barerra | Circle K Farms | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:55.20 | $15,000 | | |
| 1927–1957 | 1927–1957 | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held |
| At Huntington Tri-State Park – West Virginia State Derby ||||||||||
| 1926 | Nine Sixty | Louis Pinchon | J. L. Brannon | Mrs. J. L. Brannon | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:49.40 | $1,500 | | |
| Huntington Derby ||||||||||
| 1925 | Belpre | Francis Horn | O. E. Pons | C. G. Talbutt | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:48.40 | $1,500 | | |
| West Virginia Derby ||||||||||
| 1924 | ƒ Norah | Willy Martin | Charles H. Smith | Charles H. Smith | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:54.60 | $1,500 | | |
| 1923 | Tender Seth | Willy Fronk | H. Cavanaugh | E. C. Knebelkamp | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:54.60 | $2,265 | | |
Notes:
ƒ Filly or Mare
§ Ran as an entry
‡ When the event was run between 1963 and 1981 the track was known as Waterford Park
† In the 1971 running, Captain Nash was first past the post but was disqualified for interference in the straight and Two Joy was declared the winner