# Hamilton Derby

The Hamilton Derby was a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race first run on June 4, 1907, at the Hamilton Jockey Club Racetrack in Hamilton, Ontario. Open to three-year-old horses of either sex, it was contested over a distance of one and one-quarter miles on dirt.

## Historical notes

The first four editions of the Hamilton Derby were won by Canadian-owned horses but passage of the Hart–Agnew anti-betting legislation in 1908 by the New York Legislature led to a compete shutdown of racing in 1911 and 1912 in that state. As a result, American owners began sending horses to compete in Canada and stalls at the Hamilton Jockey Club track were in great demand. The Hamilton Derby of 1911 saw only five starters, all of which were owned by Americans. Leading the way was Kentucky Derby winner Meridian plus the Derby runner-up Governor Gray, Richard Wilson Jr.'s Naushon, as well as the colt Pagod, owned by Lily A. Livingston, the former proprietor of the Rancocas Stud Farm and racing stable. It would be August Belmont Jr.'s Whist who would win the race under jockey Eddie Dugan. With American stables then competing regularly in the Hamilton Derby, it earned a good reputation as confirmed by a March 17, 1914 Daily Racing Form report that it was "always one of the great three-year-old races of the season" in Canada.

## Records

Speed record:
* 2:05 flat @ 1¼ : Whist (1911)
Most wins by a jockey:
* no jockey won this race more than once.
Most wins by a trainer:
* 2 – John Whalen (1911, 1913)
* 2 – William H. Bringloe (1921, 1925)
Most wins by an owner:
* 2 – Seagram Stable (1921, 1925)

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Dist. (Miles) | Time | Win$ |
| 1926 | Token | 3 | Raymond Peternell | Bert S. Michell | Green Briar Stable (Frank D. Shea) | 11⁄8 | 1:55.20 | $3,540 |
| 1925 | Edisto | 3 | Bert Kennedy | William H. Bringloe | Edward F. Seagram | 1¼ | 2:05.60 | $ |
| 1924 | Dixie Smith | 3 | F. Lee | Preston M. Burch | Preston M. Burch | 1¼ | 2:08.20 | $4,590 |
| 1923 | Caladium | 3 | Tom Parrington | J. B. Smith | Charles H. Hughes | 1¼ | 2:08.00 | $4,700 |
| 1922 | Spanish Maize | 3 | Clarence Turner | Henry McDaniel | J. K. L. Ross | 1¼ | 2:06.20 | $4,510 |
| 1921 | Golden Sphere | 3 | Robert Lancaster | William H. Bringloe | Seagram Stable | 1¼ | 2:05.80 | $4,710 |
| 1920 | Paul Weidel | 3 | G. A. Stack | Mose Lowenstein | Mose & Jake Lowenstein | 1¼ | 2:07.20 | $4,480 |
| 1919 | No races held due to Government wartime rationing. | No races held due to Government wartime rationing. | No races held due to Government wartime rationing. | No races held due to Government wartime rationing. | No races held due to Government wartime rationing. | No races held due to Government wartime rationing. | No races held due to Government wartime rationing. | No races held due to Government wartime rationing. |
| 1918 | No races held due to Government wartime rationing. | No races held due to Government wartime rationing. | No races held due to Government wartime rationing. | No races held due to Government wartime rationing. | No races held due to Government wartime rationing. | No races held due to Government wartime rationing. | No races held due to Government wartime rationing. | No races held due to Government wartime rationing. |
| 1917 | Iron Cross II | 3 | Roy Estep | E. J. Salt | Capt. W. J. Press | 1¼ | 2:13.80 | $3,770 |
| 1916 | Achievement | 3 | J. Metcalf | Richard F. Carman Sr. | Wifrid Viau | 1¼ | 2:06.40 | $3,760 |
| 1915 | The Finn | 3 | George Byrne | Edward W. Heffner | Harry C. Hallenbeck | 1¼ | 2:05.80 | $3,630 |
| 1914 | Sandbar | 3 | Eddie Ambrose | Michael J. Daly | Michael J. Daly | 1¼ | 2:06.00 | $3,310 |
| 1913 | Buskin | 3 | Robert M. Small | John Whalen | John Whalen | 1¼ | 2:05.40 | $2,290 |
| 1912 | Froglegs | 3 | James Butwell | John F. Schorr | John W. Schorr | 1¼ | 2:09.40 | $2,530 |
| 1911 | Whist | 3 | Eddie Dugan | John Whalen | August Belmont Jr. | 1¼ | 2:05.00 | $1,950 |
| 1910 | Chief Kee | 3 | Phil Musgrave | Edward Gleason | John Dyment | 1¼ | 2:06.40 | $1,950 |
| 1909 | Detective | 3 | Dalton McCarthy | Charles Boyle | Woodstock Stable (Charles Boyle) | 1¼ | 2:08.60 | $1,450 |
| 1908 | Uncle Toby | 3 | Dave Nicol | John Dyment Jr. | John Dyment Sr. | 1¼ | 2:07.40 | $1,450 |
| 1907 | Tourenne | 3 | Eddie Kunz | Edward Whyte | Kirkfield Stable (Alex Mackenzie) | 1¼ | 2:10.40 | $1,450 |