KENTUCKY DERBY SCHEDULE
"Road To The Derby"
Saturday, March 30
Arkansas Derby
The Arkansas Derby is the crown jewel of racing at Oaklawn Park. The race has been hosted annually since 1936 at 1 1/8th miles specifically for three-year-old colts. Today the race is not only worth $1,000,000, it also offers 100 derby points to the winner for entry in to the first leg of the Triple Crown!
Florida Derby
Inaugurated at Gulfstream Park in 1952, the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby is not only one of the premier prep races for the Kentucky Derby, but has proven to be a prestigious prize in its own right. For more than six decades, it has yielded numerous Triple Crown race winners, champions, and eventual Hall of Fame inductees.
Saturday, April 6
Santa Anita Derby
The Grade I Santa Anita Derby is held annually every April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. It’s for three-year-olds and has been running almost every year since1935. World War II brought a brief pause as race did not run from 1942 to 1944. The Kentucky Derby prep is run on a dirt surface as horses follow left-handed around the track. The race has run at 1 1/8 miles (nine furlongs) every year except the first three years when the distance was 1 1/16 miles, and 1 ¼ miles in 1947. It was designated as a Grade I race in 1973.
Blue Grass Stakes
Named after the famous region that shares the same name, the Blue Grass Stakes have run since 1911. Going back to its earliest days, this special contest has served as an important prep race for the Kentucky Derby and currently offers a split of 100-40-30-20-10 points to the top five finishers along with a share of the $1,000,000 purse. This race has always covered a distance of 1 1/8th miles.
Wood Memorial Stakes
The Wood Memorial Stakes is held annually every April at Aqueduct Racetrack at Ozone Park in Queens, New York. The East Coast Kentucky Derby prep is for three-year-olds and has been running every year, in one form or another, since 1925. It’s run on a dirt surface and horses travel counter-clockwise on the track. In 2017, the graded stakes designation for the race was changed to a grade II event; since 2002, it previously ran as a grade I stakes.
Saturday, May 4
9:30 am Post Time
Experience the greatest two minutes in sports on our 219" Video Wall! Join us for the 150th Kentucky Derby!
Advanced wagering available on Friday, May 3 at 9:30 am. Off Track Betting will open at 9:00 am May 3 and 4.
Limited table reservations are available. Please call 563-243-9000 ext. 6126 for details and pricing.
Hat Contest:
Saturday, May 4
Register: 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm in the Promenade.
Winners will be announced immediately following the race and must be present to win!
Contest Categories:
Best Men’s Hat/Ensemble
Best Women’s Hat/Ensemble
Best Horse-Themed Hat
Best Dressed Couple
Most Outrageous Hat
One winner will be chosen from each category and will win $100 Cash!
