# American Derby

The American Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois. The inaugural American Derby was held at Chicago's old Washington Park Race Track on the city's South Side and raced there until 1905 when the facility was closed following the state's ban on gambling, and horse racing and the track was demolished. 1893's American Derby was the 2nd richest race in the U.S. during the 19th century.
There was no racing in Chicago in 1895, 1896, 1897, 1899, and again in 1905 and 1906. The effect would be that the American Derby was not run from 1905 through 1925, except for 1916 when it was hosted by the Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney, Illinois.
Revived in 1926, it evolved to become one of the important events of the American racing season that drew some of the very best horses from all over the country. It was run at the new Washington Park Race Track in Homewood, Illinois, in 1926 and 1927 and then was held at the Arlington Park course in 1928 before returning to the new Washington Park in 1929 where it remained through 1957. From 1958 until its closure in 2021, the race was run at Arlington Park. In 2022, the race took place at Churchill Downs.
Since 1992 the American Derby has been run on turf. Previously, it had been raced on the turf course from 1955 through 1957 and from 1970 through 1976. Over the years, the distance has varied:
* 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km): 1884–1904, 1926, 1927, 1958–1961, 1966–1974, 1976
* 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km): 1928–1951, 1962–1965, 1977–1991
* 1+3⁄16 miles (1.9 km): 1916, 1955–1957, 1992–2014
* 1+1⁄8 miles (1.8 km): 1952–1954, 1958–1961, 1966–1974, 1976, 2015–2018
* 1+1⁄16 miles (1.7 km): 1975, 2019–2021
* 1 mile: 1952–1954, 1958–1961
Most wins by a jockey:
* 5 – Bill Shoemaker
* 5 – Eddie Arcaro
* 4 – Isaac Burns Murphy
Hall of Fame jockey George Woolf won the race three years in a row from 1942 to 1944.
Most wins by a trainer:
Most wins by an owner:
* 8 – Calumet Farm
* 4 – Lucky Baldwin

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time |
| 2023 | Wadsworth | Florent Geroux | Brad H. Cox | Godolphin, LLC | 1+1⁄16 miles (1.7 km) | 1:40.96 |
| 2022 | Rattle N Roll | Brian Hernandez Jr. | Kenneth G. McPeek | Lucky Seven Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles (1.7 km) | 1:43.27 |
| 2021 | Tango Tango Tango | Declan Cannon | Jack Sisterson | Calumet Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles (1.7 km) | 1:43.58 |
| 2019 | Faraway Kitten | Adam Beschizza | Michael Maker | Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey | 1+1⁄16 miles (1.7 km) | 1:41.72 |
| 2018 | Real Story | Joe Bravo | Ignacio Correas, VI | Jeffery S. Amling, and Merriebelle Stables, LLC | 1+1⁄8 miles (1.8 km) | 1:47.61 |
| 2017 | Sonic Boom | Julien Leparoux | Ian Wilkes | Lothenbach Stables, Inc. (Bob Lothenbach) | 1+1⁄8 miles (1.8 km) | 1:49.90 |
| 2016 | One Mean Man | Jose Lezcano | Bernard S. Flint | L. T. B., Inc. & Hillerich Racing, Inc. | 1+1⁄8 miles (1.8 km) | 1:48.86 |
| 2015 | World Approval | Jose Lezcano | Mark Casse | Live Oak Plantation Stable (Charlotte Weber) | 1+3⁄16 miles (1.9 km) | 1:52.92 |
| 2014 | Divine Oath | Florent Geroux | Todd Pletcher | Let's Go Stable (Kevin Scatuorchio & Bryan Sullivan) | 1+3⁄16 Miles | 1:56.50 |
| 2013 | Infinite Magic | Channing Hill | Richard C. Mettee | Team Valor International | 1+3⁄16 miles (1.9 km) | 1:55.41 |
| 2012 | Cozzetti | Shaun Bridgmohan | Dale L. Romans | Albaugh Family Stable | 1+3⁄16 miles (1.9 km) | 1:57.42 |
| 2011 | Willcox Inn | Robby Albarado | Michael Stidham | All In Stable | 1+3⁄16 miles (1.9 km) | 1:54.56 |
| 2010 | Workin For Hops | Francisco Torres | Michael Stidham | Estorance, LLC | 1+3⁄16 miles (1.9 km) | 1:55.47 |
| 2009 | Reb | Julien Leparoux | George Arnold II | Ashbrook Farm | 1+3⁄16 miles (1.9 km) | 1:56.09 |
| 2008 | Tizdejavu | René Douglas | Greg Fox | Cooper/Ziebarth | 1+3⁄16 miles (1.9 km) | 1:59.88 |
| 2007 | Lattice | Robby Albarado | William I. Mott | Claiborne Farm | 1+3⁄16 miles (1.9 km) | 1:54.85 |
| 2006 | Union Avenue | Larry Melancon | William I. Mott | WinStar Farm | 1+3⁄16 miles (1.9 km) | 1:57.20 |
| 2005 | Gun Salute | Cornelio Velásquez | William I. Mott | Brant M. Laue | 1+3⁄16 miles (1.9 km) | 1:55.31 |
| 2004 | Simple Exchange | Pat Smullen | Dermot K. Weld | Moyglare Stud | 1+3⁄16 miles (1.9 km) | 1:54.93 |
| 2003 | Evolving Tactics | Pat Smullen | Dermot K. Weld | Moyglare Stud | 1+3⁄16 miles (1.9 km) | 1:59.04 |
| 2002 | Mananan McLir | René Douglas | Wallace Dollase | M. Jarvis/G. Margolis et al. | 1+3⁄16 miles (1.9 km) | 1:57.11 |
| 2001 | Fan Club's Mister | Randy Meier | Rickey B. Harris | P. Miessler & C. Raber | 1+3⁄16 miles (1.9 km) | 2:03.27 |
| 2000 | Pine Dance | Eddie Ahern | Dermot K. Weld | Highland Farms et al. | 1+3⁄16 miles (1.9 km) | 1:55.46 |
| | No race 1998–1999 | | | | | |
| 1997 | Honor Glide | Garrett Gomez | Jim Day | Robert Schaedle III | 1+3⁄16 miles (1.9 km) | 1:55.94 |
| 1996 | Jaunatxo ‡ | Juvenal Diaz | Louie J. Roussel III | Louie J. Roussel III | 1+3⁄16 miles (1.9 km) | 1:55.82 |
| 1995 | Gold And Steel | Aaron Gryder | Jean-Claude Rouget | Gary A. Tanaka | 1+3⁄16 miles (1.9 km) | 1:55.02 |
| 1994 | Overbury †† | Shane Sellers | David Loder | Sheikh Mohammed | 1+3⁄16 miles (1.9 km) | 1:55.29 |
| 1994 | Vaudeville †† | Aldaberto Lopez | Fordell Fierce | Ron Crockett | 1+3⁄16 miles (1.9 km) | 1:55.29 |
| 1993 | Explosive Red | Shane Sellers | Daniel J. Vella | Frank Stronach | 1+3⁄16 miles (1.9 km) | 1:59.92 |
| 1992 | The Name's Jimmy | Pat Day | Charles R. Stutts | Mount Joy Stables, Inc. (Brian & Jan Burns) | 1+3⁄16 miles (1.9 km) | 1:59.41 |
| 1991 | Olympio | Eddie Delahoussaye | Ron McAnally | Verne Winchell | 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) | 2:00.99 |
| 1990 | Real Cash | Pat Valenzuela | D. Wayne Lukas | Lukas & Overbrook | 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) | 2:02.00 |
| 1989 | Awe Inspiring | Craig Perret | C. R. McGaughey III | Ogden Mills Phipps | 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) | 2:02.40 |
| | No race 1988 | | | | | |
| 1987 | Fortunate Moment | Earlie Fires | Harvey L. Vanier | Jerry Pinkley | 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) | 2:03.80 |
| | No race 1986 | | | | | |
| 1985 | Creme Fraiche | Eddie Maple | Woody Stephens | Brushwood Stable | 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) | 2:01.60 |
| 1984 | At The Threshold † | Pat Day | Lynn S. Whiting | W. Cal Partee | 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) | 2:04.00 |
| 1984 | High Alexander † | Gerland Gallitano | Jim Levtich | J. M. Levitch Sr. | 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) | 2:04.00 |
| 1983 | Play Fellow | Pat Day | Harvey L. Vanier | Vanier, Lauer, Victor | 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) | 2:04.00 |
| 1982 | Wolfie's Rascal | Ruben Hernandez | Howard M. Tesher | Sidney L. Port et al. | 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) | 2:05.60 |
| 1981 | Pocket Zipper | Ray Sibille | Richard Hazelton | Mr. & Mrs. R. Bensinger | 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) | 2:03.80 |
| 1980 | Hurry Up Blue | Gerland Gallitano | Joseph M. Bollero | Russell L. Reineman | 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) | 2:04.40 |
| 1979 | Smarten | Sam Maple | Woody Stephens | Ryehill Farm | 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) | 2:05.20 |
| 1978 | Nasty And Bold | Jean-Luc Samyn | Philip G. Johnson | Meadowhill Farm | 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) | 2:03.40 |
| 1977 | Silver Series | Larry Snyder | Oscar Dishman Jr. | Archie R. Donaldson | 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) | 2:02.40 |
| 1976 | Fifth Marine | Ron Turcotte | Sidney Watters Jr. | Pamela H. Firman | 1+1⁄8 miles (1.8 km) | 1:49.20 |
| 1975 | Honey Mark | Garth Patterson | Larry Robideaux Jr. | Mr. & Mrs. F. Roberts | 1+1⁄16 miles (1.7 km) | 1:44.40 |
| 1974 | Determined King | Daryl Montoya | Eugene Jacobs | Herbert A. Allen Sr. | 1+1⁄8 miles (1.8 km) | 1:47.80 |
| 1973 | Bemo | William Passmore | John W. Murphy | Hickory Tree Stable | 1+1⁄8 miles (1.8 km) | 1:49.60 |
| 1972 | Dubassoff | Jacinto Vásquez | Thomas J. Kelly | John M. Schiff | 1+1⁄8 miles (1.8 km) | 1:50.00 |
| 1971 | Bold Reason | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Angel Penna Sr. | William A. Levin | 1+1⁄8 miles (1.8 km) | 1:50.00 |
| 1970 | The Pruner | Braulio Baeza | Edward A. Neloy | Ogden Phipps | 1+1⁄8 miles (1.8 km) | 1:47.00 |
| 1969 | Fast Hilarious | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Joseph M. Bollero | Dorothy C. Rigney | 1+1⁄8 miles (1.8 km) | 1:48.00 |
| 1968 | Forward Pass | Ismael Valenzuela | Henry Forrest | Calumet Farm | 1+1⁄8 miles (1.8 km) | 1:48.00 |
| 1967 | Damascus | Bill Shoemaker | Frank Y. Whiteley Jr. | Edith W. Bancroft | 1+1⁄8 miles (1.8 km) | 1:46.80 |
| 1966 | Buckpasser | Braulio Baeza | Edward A. Neloy | Ogden Phipps | 1+1⁄8 miles (1.8 km) | 1:47.00 |
| 1965 | Tom Rolfe | Bill Shoemaker | Frank Y. Whiteley Jr. | Powhatan Stables | 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) | 2:00.60 |
| 1964 | Roman Brother | Fernando Alvarez | Burley Parke | Harbor View Farm | 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) | 2:01.40 |
| 1963 | Candy Spots | Bill Shoemaker | Mesh Tenney | Rex C. Ellsworth | 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) | 2:02.00 |
| 1962 | Black Sheep | Johnny Longden | Charlie Whittingham | C. R. Mac Stable | 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) | 2:01.00 |
| 1961 | Beau Prince | Steve Brooks | Horace A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 1+1⁄8 miles (1.8 km) | 1:51.00 |
| 1960 | T. V. Lark | Johnny Sellers | Paul K. Parker | Preston W. Madden | 1+1⁄8 miles (1.8 km) | 1:47.20 |
| 1959 | Dunce | Lois C. Cook | Moody Jolley | Claiborne Farm | 1+1⁄8 miles (1.8 km) | 1:49.00 |
| 1958 | Nadir | Manuel Ycaza | Moody Jolley | Claiborne Farm | 1+1⁄8 miles (1.8 km) | 1:51.00 |
| 1957 | Round Table | Bill Shoemaker | William Molter | Kerr Stable | 1+3⁄16 miles (1.9 km) | 1:55.00 |
| 1956 | Swoon's Son | Eddie Arcaro | Lex Wilson | E. Gay Drake | 1+3⁄16 miles (1.9 km) | 1:59.00 |
| 1955 | Swaps | Bill Shoemaker | Mesh Tenney | Rex C. Ellsworth | 1+3⁄16 miles (1.9 km) | 1:54.60 |
| 1954 | Errard King | Sam Boulmetis Sr. | Thomas J. Barry | Joseph Gavegnano | 1+1⁄8 miles (1.8 km) | 1:49.00 |
| 1953 | Native Dancer | Eddie Arcaro | William C. Winfrey | Alfred G. Vanderbilt II | 1+1⁄8 miles (1.8 km) | 1:48.40 |
| 1952 | Mark-Ye-Well | Eddie Arcaro | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 1+1⁄8 miles (1.8 km) | 1:49.00 |
| 1951 | Hall of Fame | Ted Atkinson | John M. Gaver Sr. | Greentree Stable | 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) | 2:01.00 |
| 1950 | Hill Prince | Eddie Arcaro | Casey Hayes | Christopher Chenery | 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) | 2:01.20 |
| 1949 | Ponder | Steve Brooks | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) | 2:00.00 |
| 1948 | Citation | Eddie Arcaro | Horace A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) | 2:01.60 |
| 1947 | Fervent | Douglas Dodson | Horace A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) | 2:00.00 |
| 1946 | Eternal Reward | R. Campbell | Chester J. Hall | Augustus & Nahm | 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) | 2:02.00 |
| 1945 | Fighting Step | G. South | Charles C. Norman | Murlogg Farm | 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) | 2:02.00 |
| 1944 | By Jimminy | George Woolf | James W. Smith | Alfred P. Parker | 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) | 2:03.00 |
| 1943 | Askmenow | George Woolf | Kenneth Osborne | Hal Price Headley | 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) | 2:07.00 |
| 1942 | Alsab | George Woolf | Sarge Swenke | Albert Sabath | 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) | 2:06.60 |
| 1941 | Whirlaway | Alfred Robertson | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) | 2:04.00 |
| 1940 | Mioland | John H. Adams | Tom Smith | Charles S. Howard | 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) | 2:05.00 |
| | No race 1938–1939 | | | | | |
| 1937 | Dawn Play | Lester Balaski | Max Hirsch | King Ranch | 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) | 2:05.00 |
| | No race 1936 | | | | | |
| 1935 | Black Helen | Don Meade | Bill Hurley | Edward R. Bradley | 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) | 2:01.40 |
| 1934 | Cavalcade | Mack Garner | Robert A. Smith | Brookmeade Stable | 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) | 2:04.00 |
| 1933 | Mr. Khayyam | Pete Walls | Matthew Peter Brady | Catawba Farm Stable (Madelaine H. Austin) | 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) | 2:04.00 |
| 1932 | Gusto | Silvio Coucci | Max Hirsch | Morton L. Schwartz | 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) | 2:10.00 |
| 1931 | Mate | George Ellis | James W. Healy | Albert C. Bostwick Jr. | 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) | 2:04.00 |
| 1930 | Reveille Boy | Willie Fronk | John L. Paul | John A. Best | 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) | 2:04.00 |
| 1929 | Windy City | Lawrence McDermott | Jake Lowenstein | Fred M. Grabner | 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) | 2:10.00 |
| 1928 | Toro | Eddie Ambrose | John F. Schorr | Edward Beale McLean | 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) | 2:05.00 |
| 1927 | Hydromel | Lawrence McDermott | Daniel E. Stewart | Johnson N. Camden Jr. | 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) | 2:29.00 |
| 1926 | Boot to Boot | Albert Johnson | Bill Hurley | Idle Hour Stock Farm | 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) | 2:30.00 |
| | No race 1917–1925 | | | | | |
| 1916 | Dodge | Frank Murphy | John S. Ward | Weber & Ward | 1+3⁄16 miles (1.9 km) | 2:04.00 |
| | No race 1905–1915 | | | | | |
| 1904 | Highball | Grover Fuller | John W. May | Walter M. Scheftel | 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) | 2:33.00 |
| 1903 | The Picket | Albert B. Helgesen | Carroll B. Reid | Middleton & Jungbluth | 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) | 2:33.00 |
| 1902 | Wyeth | Lucien Lyne | Enoch Wishard | John A. Drake | 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) | 2:40.00 |
| 1901 | Robert Waddell | John Bullman | Theodore F. Coles | Mrs. R. Bradley | 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) | 2:33.00 |
| 1900 | Sidney Lucas | John Bullman | R. S. Thompson | Thompson Bros. | 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) | 2:40.25 |
| | No race 1899 | | | | | |
| 1898 | Pink Coat | W. Martin | Patrick Dunne | Woodford & Buckner | 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) | 2:42.00 |
| | No race 1895–1897 | | | | | |
| 1894 | Rey el Santa Anita | Eugene Van Kuren | Henry McDaniel | Lucky Baldwin | 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) | 2:36.00 |
| 1893 | Boundless | Edward H. Garrison | William McDaniel | John E. Cushing & John W. Orth | 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) | 2:36.00 |
| 1892 | Carlsbad | Robert "Tiny" Williams | C. Porter | Robert A. Swigert | 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) | 3:04.25 |
| 1891 | Strathmeath | George Covington | Green B. Morris | Green B. Morris | 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) | 2:49.25 |
| 1890 | Uncle Bob | Thomas Kiley | B. J. Johnson | Chicago Stable | 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) | 2:55.75 |
| 1889 | Spokane | Thomas Kiley | John Rodegap | Noah Armstrong | 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) | 2:41.25 |
| 1888 | Emperor of Norfolk | Isaac Burns Murphy | Robert W. Thomas | Lucky Baldwin | 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) | 2:40.50 |
| 1887 | C. H. Todd | Anthony Hamilton | James B. A. Haggin | James B. A. Haggin | 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) | 2:36.50 |
| 1886 | Silver Cloud | Isaac Burns Murphy | Albert Cooper | Lucky Baldwin | 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) | 2:37.25 |
| 1885 | Volante | Isaac Burns Murphy | Albert Cooper | Lucky Baldwin | 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) | 2:49.50 |
| 1884 | Modesty | Isaac Burns Murphy | John W. Rogers | Edward Corrigan | 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) | 2:42.00 |
† Dead Heat in 1984
†† Dead Heat in 1994
‡ In 1996, the first-place finisher Trail City was disqualified and placed second