West Virginia Derby

The West Virginia Derby is a Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Mountaineer Race Track in Chester, West Virginia, United States. The race is open to three-year-old horses and is run over a distance of ​1 ¹⁄₈ miles. A Grade 3 stakes race, [2] it currently offers a purse of $500,000.[1]

West Virginia Derby

Grade 3 stakes race
Location	Mountaineer Park Chester, West Virginia
Inaugurated	1923
Race type	Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website	www.mtrgaming.com/racing/liveracing.html
Race information
Distance	​1 ^1⁄8 miles (9 furlongs)
Surface	Dirt
Track	left-handed
Qualification	Three-year-olds
Weight	122 lbs and allowances
Purse	$500,000[1]

Inaugurated in 1923, the race has been run at three different West Virginia racetracks:

• Tri State Park Racetrack in Huntington, West Virginia (1923, 1924, 1926)
• Wheeling Downs in Wheeling, West Virginia (1958, 1959, 1961)
• Mountaineer Park, formerly known as Waterford Park (1963–present)

There was no race in 1925, 1927, 1957, 1960, 1962, 1982–1987, and 1991-1997. In 1926 it was raced at a distance of ​1 ¹⁄₁₆ miles.

Records

Time record: (at current ​1 ¹⁄₈ miles)

• 1:46:29 - Soto (2003) (Stakes and track record)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 4 - Floyd Green (1963, 1964, 1965, 1966)

Winners of the West Virginia Derby since 2000

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Time
2019	Mr Money	Gabriel Saez	W. Bret Calhoun	Allied Racing Stable, LLC	1:50.28
2018	Mr Freeze	Robby Albarado	Dale Romans	Jim Bakke & Gerald Isbister	1:47.95
2017	Colonelsdarktemper	Jon Court	William H. Fires	A. J. Foyt	1:50.68
2016	Cupid	Rafael Bejarano	Bob Baffert	Tabor, Magnier and Smith	1:50.54
2015	Madefromlucky	Joe Bravo	Todd Pletcher	Cheyenne Stables/Nichol	1:51.40
2014	Tapiture	Rosie Napravnik	Steve Asmussen	Winchell Thoroughbreds	1:50.66
2013	Departing	Robby Albarado	Albert Stall Jr.	Claiborne Farm/Dilschneider	1:51.47
2012	Macho Macho	Corey S. Nakatani	Steven Asmussen	Jerry Durant	1:49.98
2011	Prayer for Relief	Rafael Bejarano	Bob Baffert	Gerry Aschinger	1:50.68
2010	Concord Point	Martin Garcia	Bob Baffert	Kaleem Shah	1:51.12
2009	Soul Warrior	Dale Beckner	Steve Asmussen	Zayat Stables	1:51.46
2008	Ready Set	Julien Leparoux	Michael Matz	Lael Stables	1:52.03
2007	Zanjero	Shaun Bridgmohan	Steven M. Asmussen	Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC	1:53.04
2006	Bright One	Mark Guidry	Dale L. Romans	C. S. Bruder & Delmar Daubs	1:50.08
2005	Real Dandy	Mark Guidry	Steven M. Asmussen	Cathy & Bob Zollars	1:50.29
2004	Sir Shackleton	Rafael Bejarano	Nick Zito	Tracy Farmer	1:49.16
2003	Soto	Ramon Dominguez	Michael W. Dickinson	Baron George Von Ullman	1:46.29
2002	Wisemans Ferry	Jorge Chavez	Niall O'Callaghan	Morton Fink et al.	1:49.63
2001	Western Pride	Dana G. Whitney	Richard Estvanko	Theresa McArthur	1:47.20
2000	Mass Market	Rick Wilson	Benjamin W. Perkins, Jr.	Lane's End Racing et al.	1:49.94

Earlier winners

• 1999 - Stellar Brush
• 1998 - Da Devil
• 1990 - Challenge My Duty
• 1989 - Doc's Leader
• 1988 - Old Stories
• 1981 - Park's Policy
• 1981 - Johnny Dance
• 1980 - Summer Advocate
• 1979 - Architect
• 1978 - Beau Sham
• 1977 - Best Person
• 1976 - Wardlaw
• 1975 - At the Front
• 1974 - Park Guard
• 1973 - Blue Chip Dan
• 1972 - Family Table
• 1972 - Bold Nobleman
• 1971 - Trico O'Erin
• 1970 - Two Joys
• 1969 - Roman Partner
• 1968 - Chargertown
• 1967 - Miracle Hill
• 1966 - Kerensa
• 1965 - Pantuity
• 1964 - Peter Le Grand
• 1963 - Etimota
• 1962 - No race
• 1961 - Dip and Whirl
• 1959 - Redbird Wish
• 1958 - Sea Hymn
• 1926 - Nine Sixty
• 1924 - Norah
• 1923 - Tender Seth

• Captain Nash won the 1970 race but was disqualified and set back to second.
• Run in two divisions in 1972 and 1981.

References

1. "Stakes Profile - West Virginia Derby". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
2. Six New Grade I Races for 2009 - bloodhorse.com