Virginia Derby

Virginia Derby
Grade III race
LocationColonial Downs
New Kent County, Virginia
Inaugurated1998
Race typeThoroughbred - Flat racing
SponsorNew Kent County (since 2019)
WebsiteColonial Downs
Race information
Distance1+1⁄8 miles (9 furlongs)
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationThree-year-olds
Weight123 lbs with allowances
Purse$500,000 (2023)

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 1+1⁄4 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 1+1⁄8 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:

  • 1+1⁄4 miles: 1:59.62 - Red Giant (2007)
  • 1+1⁄8 miles: 1:45.81 (new track record) - Just Howard (2017)

Margins:

Most wins by an owner:

  • 3 - Peter Vegso (2002, 2003, 2006)

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a Trainer:

Winners

Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref
At Colonial Downs – New Kent County Virginia Derby
2024 Deterministic Manuel Franco Christophe Clement St. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, Steven C. Duncker & Vicarage Stable 1+1⁄8 miles 1:47.76 $504,000 III [5]
2023 Integration Kendrick Carmouche Claude R. McGaughey III West Point Thoroughbreds & Woodford Racing 1+1⁄8 miles 1:46.41 $504,000 III [6]
2022 Capensis Irad Ortiz Jr. Todd A. Pletcher Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Robert V. LaPenta, Gainesway Stable, Winchell Thoroughbreds & Stonestreet Stables 1+1⁄8 miles 1:48.15 $305,000 III [7]
2021 Wootton Asset (FR) Jose L. Ortiz H. Graham Motion Madaket Stables 1+1⁄8 miles 1:46.79 $250,000 III [8]
2020 Race not held
2019 English Bee Jorge A. Vargas Jr. H. Graham Motion Calumet Farm 1+1⁄8 miles 1:52.94 $250,000 III [9]
2018 Race not held
At Laurel Park – Commonwealth Derby
2017 Just Howard Feargal Lynch H. Graham Motion Skeedattle Associates 1+1⁄8 miles 1:45.81 $200,000 III [10]
2016 Deeply Undervalued Manuel Franco Chad C. Brown Klaravich Stables & William Lawrence 1+1⁄8 miles 1:46.63 $200,000 II [11]
2015 One Go All Go Ronald Hisby Pavel Matejka Preston Stables & Prestonwood Racing 1+1⁄8 miles 1:48.10 $400,000 II [12]
2014 Race not held
At Colonial Downs – Virginia Derby
2013 War Dancer Alan Garcia Kenneth G. McPeek Magdalena Racing 1+1⁄4 miles 2:03.57 $500,000 II [13]
2012 Silver Max Robby Albarado Dale L. Romans Mark Bacon & Dana Wells 1+1⁄4 miles 2:04.05 $594,000 II [14]
2011 Air Support Alex O. Solis Claude R. McGaughey III Stuart S. Janney III 1+1⁄4 miles 2:00.80 $600,000 II [15]
2010 Paddy O'Prado Kent J. Desormeaux Dale L. Romans Donegal Racing 1+1⁄4 miles 2:02.58 $600,000 II [16]
2009 Battle of Hastings (GB) Tyler Baze Jeff Mullins Michael House 1+1⁄4 miles 2:03.29 $750,000 II [17]
2008 Gio Ponti Garrett K. Gomez Christophe Clement Castleton Lyons 1+1⁄4 miles 2:02.22 $772,500 II [18]
2007 Red Giant Horacio Karamanos Todd A. Pletcher Peachtree Stable 1+1⁄4 miles 1:59.62 $1,000,000 II [19]
2006 Go Between Garrett K. Gomez William I. Mott Peter Vegso 1+1⁄4 miles 1:59.74 $1,000,000 II [20]
2005 English Channel John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher James T. Scatuorchio 1+1⁄4 miles 2:02.57 $750,000 III [21]
2004 Kitten's Joy Edgar S. Prado Dale L. Romans Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey 1+1⁄4 miles 2:01.22 $500,000 III [22]
2003 Silver Tree Edgar S. Prado William I. Mott Peter Vegso 1+1⁄4 miles 2:01.11 $500,000 Listed [23]
2002 Orchard Park Edgar S. Prado William I. Mott Peter Vegso 1+1⁄4 miles 2:03.10 $500,000 Listed [24]
2001 Potaro (IRE) Brent E. Bartram Jonathan E. Sheppard Augustin Stable 1+1⁄4 miles 2:02.18 $200,000 Listed [25]
2000 Lightning Paces Greg W. Hutton John J. Robb Tulip Hill Farm 1+1⁄4 miles 2:02.18 $200,000 Listed [26]
1999 Phi Beta Doc Ramon A. Dominguez Robert W. Leonard Dennis Foster & Robert W. Leonard 1+1⁄4 miles 1:59.97 $200,000 Listed [27]
1998 Crowd Pleaser Jean-Luc Samyn Jonathan E. Sheppard Augustin Stable 1+1⁄4 miles 2:00.28 $250,000 Listed [28]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "New Kent County Virginia Derby (Gr. 3)". equibase. 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  2. ^ "VIRGINIA DERBY - MULTIPLE TRACKS". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  3. ^ Hazard, Carol (13 November 2015). "Colonial Downs asks court to clarify law in horse racing standoff". richmond.com. Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  4. ^ BloodHorse Staff (14 August 2020). "Colonial Downs Cancels Meet Due to COVID-19 Positives; The meet had been scheduled to continue until Sept. 2". Bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  5. ^ "2023 New Kent County Virginia Derby Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 7 September 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  6. ^ "2023 New Kent County Virginia Derby Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 9 September 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  7. ^ "2022 New Kent County Virginia Derby Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 6 September 2022. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  8. ^ "2021 New Kent County Virginia Derby Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  9. ^ "2019 New Kent County Virginia Derby Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 31 August 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  10. ^ "2017 Commonwealth Derby presented by the Virginia Equine Alliance and the Vi3ginia Turf Grade 3ginia Turf - (race 11)". Equibase. 30 September 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  11. ^ "2016 Commonwealth Derby presented by the Virginia Equine Alliance at Laurel 2ark Grade 2ark - (race 7)". Equibase. 24 September 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  12. ^ "2015 Commonwealth Derby Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 19 September 2015. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  13. ^ "2013 Virginia Derby Grade 2 - (race 7)". Equibase. 13 July 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  14. ^ "2012 Virginia Derby Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 21 July 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  15. ^ "2011 Virginia Derby Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 16 July 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  16. ^ "2010 Virginia Derby Grade 2 - (race 12)". Equibase. 17 July 2010. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  17. ^ "2009 Virginia Derby Grade 2 - (race 11)". Equibase. 18 July 2009. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  18. ^ "2008 Virginia Derby Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 19 July 2008. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  19. ^ "2007 Virginia Derby Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 21 July 2007. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  20. ^ "2006 Virginia Derby Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 15 July 2006. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  21. ^ "2005 Virginia Derby Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 16 July 2005. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  22. ^ "2004 Virginia Derby Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 10 July 2004. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  23. ^ "2003 Virginia Derby Listed - (race 10)". Equibase. 12 July 2003. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  24. ^ "2002 Virginia Derby Listed - (race 10)". Equibase. 13 July 2002. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  25. ^ "2001 Virginia Derby Listed - (race 10)". Equibase. 14 July 2001. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  26. ^ "2000 Virginia Derby Listed - (race 9)". Equibase. 7 October 2000. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  27. ^ "1999 Virginia Derby Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 2 October 1999. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  28. ^ "1999 Virginia Derby Listed - (race 11)". Equibase. 3 October 1998. Retrieved 23 August 2022.