Pennsylvania Derby
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Pennsylvania Derby is a race for thoroughbred horses run at Philadelphia Park Racetrack each year. The track's premiere event is open to horses, age three, willing to race one and one-eighth miles (9 furlongs) on the dirt and as of 2007, offers a purse of $1 million.
The Pennsylvania Derby began on Memorial Day in 1979, but since 1990 it's been held on Labor Day. In 2004, it was elevated to a Grade II event.
The Stakes Record is held by both Western Playbody (1989) and Rock and Roll (1998): 1:47:3. Rock and Roll also won the Derby by the largest margin: 17 lengths.
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame jockeys Angel Cordero, Jr., Pat Day, Edgar Prado, and Gary Stevens have all riden winners of the Pennsylvania Derby.
The Pennsylvania Derby purse had been $750,000 the last three runnings. As of March 2007, it has not been decided what to do with the purse from 2006 that would have been awarded as negotiations between the owners of Philadelphia Park and the horsemen that run there continue.
[edit] Winners
- 2006 - Not held due to track renovations
- 2005 - Sun King (Rafael Bejarano)
- 2004 - Love of Money (Robby Albarado)
- 2003 - Grande Hombre (Joe Bravo)
- 2002 - Harlan's Holiday (Edgar Prado)
- 2001 - Macho Uno (Gary Stevens)
- 2000 - Pine Dance (Mike McCarthy)
- 1999 - Smart Guy (Robert Colton)
- 1998 - Rock and Roll (Herberto Castillo)
- 1997 - Frisk Me Now (Eddie King, Jr.)
- 1996 - Devil's Honor (Anthony Black)
- 1995 - Pineing Patty (Larry Melancon)
- 1994 - Meadow Flight (Joe Bravo)
- 1993 - Wallenda (Herb McCauley)
- 1992 - Thelastcrusade (Victor Molina) (Thelastcrusade is available for adoption through the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation: www.trfinc.org) (Pam Shavelson, trainer, became the first woman to saddle a Pennsylvania Derby winner with Thelastcrusade.)
- 1991 - Valley Crossing (Andrea Seefeldt: Andrea became the first woman in the U.S. to win a Derby)
- 1990 - Summer Squall (Pat Day)
- 1989 - Western Playboy (Kerwin Clark)
- 1988 - Cefis (Larry Saumell)
- 1987 - Afleet (Gary Stahlbaum)
- 1986 - Broad Brush (Angel Cordero, Jr.)
- 1985 - Skip Trial (Jean-Luc Samyn)
- 1984 - Morning Bob (Greg McCarron)
- 1983 - Dixieland Band (William Passmore)
- 1982 - Spanish Drums (Jacinto Vasquez)
- 1981 - Summing (George Martens)
- 1980 - Lively King (Chris Baker)
- 1979 - Smarten (Sam Maple)
