The Arkansas Derby is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held annually in April at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas. It is currently a Grade I race run over a distance of 1 1/8 miles (9 furlongs) on dirt.
In 2004, to celebrate its 100th anniversary, Oaklawn Park offered a $5 million bonus to any horse that could sweep its three-year-old graded stakes, the Rebel Stakes and the Arkansas Derby, and then take the Kentucky Derby. Smarty Jones's collected the bonus. The exposure from Smarty Jones subsequent run at the Triple Crown helped increase participation from the top three-year-olds in the country to the point where the American Graded Stakes Committee made the Arkansas Derby a Grade I race in 2010.
Past winners of the race have gone on to win legs of horse racing's Grand Slam. Sunny's Halo won the 1983 Kentucky Derby, as did Smarty Jones in 2004 and American Pharoah in 2015. Elocutionist (1976), Tank's Prospect (1985), Pine Bluff (1992), Smarty Jones (2004), Afleet Alex (2005), Curlin (2007), and American Pharoah (2015) all won the Preakness Stakes. 1980 winner Temperence Hill, 1998's Victory Gallop, 2005's Afleet Alex, and 2015's American Pharoah all went on to capture the Belmont Stakes, as did Creator in 2016. The 1994 winner, Concern, won that year's Breeders' Cup Classic.
The most celebrated Arkansas Derby champion is American Pharoah, who became the 12th Triple Crown winner and the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years. He is the first Arkansas Derby champion to win the Triple Crown. Like Smarty Jones, he too swept the Rebel and Arkansas Derby before winning the Kentucky Derby. The 2021 Arkansas Derby champion is Super Stock.
Prior to American Pharoah's 2015 Triple Crown, Curlin had been the most decorated Arkansas Derby Winner, after winning races that included the 2007 Preakness Stakes, the 2007 Breeders' Cup Classic, and the 2008 Dubai World Cup. For his efforts, Curlin won the Eclipse Award in both 2007 and 2008 for American Horse of the Year, the highest honor given in American thoroughbred horse racing. Curlin was later admitted to thoroughbred racing's National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.
The inaugural Arkansas Derby in 1936 offered a total purse of $5,000. The first winner was Holl Image, who was owned and trained by Jack Carter.
The race was run in two divisions in 1960, and again in 2020. The 2020 race was moved to May 2, 2020, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, as the Kentucky Derby had been moved to September. Both races will pay identical points towards Kentucky Derby eligibility.
Records Speed record: 1:46.80 – Althea (1984)
Most wins by a jockey: 3 – Pat Day (1986, 1987, 1997) 3 – Mike Smith (2008, 2012, 2019)
Most wins by a trainer: 5 – Bob Baffert (2012, 2015, 2020 (twice), 2024) 5 - Todd Pletcher (2000, 2001, 2013, 2014, 2018)
Most wins by an owner: 3 – Loblolly Stable (1980, 1987, 1992)
Winners of the Arkansas Derby since 1936 Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Grade2026Renegade Irad Ortiz Jr.Todd A. PletcherRobert Low, Lawana L. Low & Repole Stable1:49.70I2025SandmanJose OrtizMark E. CasseD.J. Stables, St. Elias Stables, West Point Thoroughbreds & CJ Stables1:50.08I2024Muth Juan J. Hernandez Bob BaffertZedan Racing1:49.54I2023 Angel of Empire Flavien Prat Brad H. Cox Albaugh Family Stables1:49.68I2022CyberknifeFlorent GerouxBrad H. CoxGold Square LLC1:50.42I2021Super Stock Ricardo Santana Jr. Steven M. Asmussen Erv Woolsey & Keith Asmussen1:50.92 I2020(Div. 2) Nadal Joel Rosario Bob Baffert Bolton, Hoyeau, Lipman, Mathiesen1:48.34 I2020(Div. 1) Charlatan1 Martin Garcia Bob Baffert SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Fredrick Hertrich III, John Fielding, Golconda Stables1:48.49 I2019Omaha Beach Mike E. Smith Richard E. Mandella Fox Hill Farms1:49.91 I2018Magnum Moon Luis Saez Todd A. Pletcher Robert Low & Lawana Low1:49.86 I2017Classic Empire Julien Leparoux Mark E. Casse John C. Oxley1:48.93 I2016Creator Ricardo Santana Jr. Steven M. Asmussen WinStar Farm1:50.14 I2015American Pharoah Victor Espinoza Bob Baffert Zayat Stables1:48.52 I2014Danza Joe Bravo Todd A. Pletcher Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners1:49.68 I2013 Overanalyze Rafael Bejarano Todd A. Pletcher Repole Stable1:51.94 I2012 Bodemeister Mike E. Smith Bob Baffert Zayat Stables1:48.71 I2011 Archarcharch Jon Court William H. Fires Robert Yagos & Loval Yagos1:49.34 I2010 Line of David Jon Court John W. Sadler Ike Trash & Dawn Thrash1:49.37 I2009 Papa Clem Rafael Bejarano Gary Stute Bo Hirsch1:49.00 II2008 Gayego Mike E. Smith Paulo Lobo Cubanacan Stables 1:49.63 II2007 Curlin Robby Albarado Steven M. Asmussen Midnight Cry Stables & Stonestreet Stables1:50.00 II2006 Lawyer Ron John McKee Robert E. Holthus James T. Hines Jr.1:51.38 II2005 Afleet Alex Jeremy Rose Tim Ritchey Cash Is King Stable1:48.80 II2004 Smarty Jones Stewart Elliott John Servis Roy & Patricia Chapman1:49.41 II2003 Sir Cherokee Terry J. Thompson Michael Tomlinson Domino Stud1:48.39 II2002 Private Emblem Donnie Meche Steven M. Asmussen James Cassels & Bob Zollars1:50.20 II2001 Balto Star Mark Guidry Todd A. Pletcher Anstu Stables1:49.00 II2000 Graeme Hall Robby Albarado Todd A. Pletcher Eugene Melnyk & Laura Melnyk1:49.00 II1999 Certain2 Kent Desormeaux Leo Azpurua Jr. B.& J.Williams1:49.20 II1998 Victory Gallop Alex Solis W. Elliott Walden Prestonwood Farm1:49.80 II1997 Crypto Star Pat Day Wayne Catalano Darrell & Evelyn Yates1:49.20 II1996 Zarb's Magic Ronald Ardoin W. Bret Thomas Foxwood Plantation1:49.20 II1995Dazzling FallsGarrett GomezChuck TurcoChateau Ridge Farm1:50.60 II1994ConcernGarrett GomezRichard W. SmallRobert E. Meyerhoff1:48.00 II1993RockamundoCalvin BorelOris J. Glass Jr.Gary & Mary West1:48.00 II1992Pine BluffJerry D. BaileyThomas BohannanLoblolly Stable1:49.40 II1991OlympioEd DelahoussayeRon McAnallyV.H.W. Stables1:47.60 II1990Silver EndingGary StevensRon McAnallyRon McAnally & Angelo Costanzo1:48.00 II1989DansilLarry SnyderFrank L. BrothersJohn A. Franks1:49.20 II1988Proper RealityJerry D. BaileyRobert E. HolthusMrs. James A. Winn1:48.40 I1987Demons BegonePat DayPhilip HauswaldLoblolly Stable1:47.60 I1986RampagePat DayGary A. ThomasNancy Reed & John Reed1:48.20 I1985Tank's ProspectGary StevensD. Wayne LukasEugene V. Klein1:48.40 I1984AltheaPat ValenzuelaD. Wayne LukasHelen C. Alexander, David Aykroyd, & Helen Groves1:46.80 I1983Sunny's HaloEd DelahoussayeDavid C. Cross Jr.David J. Foster1:49.40 I1982HostageJeffrey FellWillard C. FreemanHelen Hertz Hexter1:51.60 I1981Bold EgoJohn LivelyJack Van BergDouble B. Ranch & Dr. Joseph Kidd1:50.40 I1980Temperence HillDarrell HaireJoseph B. CanteyLoblolly Stable1:50.60 II1979Golden ActSandy HawleyLoren RetteleW. H. Oldknow & R. W. Phipps1:50.00 II1978Esops FoiblesChris McCarronLoren RetteleJerry Frankel1:52.20 II1977Clev Er TellRay BroussardHomer C. PardueJoseph R. Straus Sr. & Izzie Proler1:50.60 II1976ElocutionistJohn LivelyPaul T. AdwellEugene C. Cashman1:49.20 II1975Promised CityDavid E. WhitedLarry SprakerBig I. Farm1:51.80 II1974J.R.'s PetDarrel McHargueHarold TinkerW. Cal Partee1:50.60 II1973ImpecuniousJorge VelásquezGeorge R. HandyMrs. R. L. Feinberg1:49.60 II1972No Le HacePhil RubbiccoHomer C. PardueJoseph W. Strauss1:48.801971 Twist The Axe Garth Patterson George T. Poole Pastorale Stable1:49.201970 Herbalist Jimmy Nichols Roy J. Gillem Greentree Stable1:50.201969 Traffic Mark Phil I. Grimm Ronnie Warren M/M Robert F. Roberts1:50.601968 Nodouble William McKeever J. Bert Sonnier Verna Lea Farm1:50.001967 Monitor Jimmy Nichols Harry Trotsek Claiborne Farm1:48.601966 Better Sea Johnny Sellers Blaine Heap Scottdale Farm1:49.201965 Swift Ruler Larry Spraker Gin L. Collins Earl Allen1:52.201964 Prince Davelle Charlie Burr Douglas M. Davis Jr. George M. Holtsinger1:51.401963 Cosmic Tip Robert Mundorf E. Mahoney River Divide Farm1:50.401962 Areopolis Robert L. Baird Harold Tinker August Muckler1:49.601961 Light Talk Robert Nono Steve Ippolito Jacnot Stable1:50.201960 Spring Broker Eugene Curry Marion Van Berg Marion Van Berg1:54.401960 Persian Gold Jimmy Combest Monte D. Parke Jones-Tuckahoe Farm1:53.001959 Al Davelle Ronnie Baldwin Dan Howell J.Smith, E.Moulder & J.Oldham1:48.801958 Count Deblanc Johnny Sellers Charles C. Norman Charles W. & Jacob H. Riedinger1:53.801957 Kentucky Roman John Delahoussaye Norman A. McMaster Ralph Lowe1:49.601956 Johns Chic John L. Rotz Logan Fischer Mrs. Elizabeth Muckler1:51.201955 Trim Destiny Lois C. Cook Cecil Locklear G. Rollie White1:49.601954 Timely Tip Howard Craig Reid Armstrong A. L. Birch1:49.801953 Curragh King John H. Adams James Wallace Edward M. Goemans1:49.601952 Gushing Oil Alfred Popara Joe Jansen Sam E. Wilson Jr1:49.201951 Ruhe Job Dean Jessop Robert McGarvey Emil Denemark1:51.001950 Big Ike Harold Keene Cecil Locklear C. Buckley1:52.001949 Cacomo Billie Fisk A. Williams Endovina & Kontos1:54.601948 Fertile Lands Paul Glidewell Marian Barton Grissom & Sherman1:51.001947 Fleetridge Arthur Craig Roy J. Gillem Mrs. K. Maxwell1:51.401946 Bob Murphy Wendell Eads Charles Sanborn D. Ferguson1:51.801945 Race Not Ran1944 Challenge Me Anthony Skoronski Dan Cataldo Brolite Farm1:50.201943 Seven Hearts John H. Adams W. Graves Sparks Brown Hotel Stable1:52.201942 With Regards Johnny Longden T. D. Grimes T. D. Grimes1:50.001941 He Rolls Preston Mills Victor P. Noyes Victor P. Noyes1:52.601940 Super Chief Jack Richard Dave Womeldorff Mrs. Emil Denemark1:52.201939 Ariel Toy Lee Hardy Hugh W. Jackson Hugh W. Jackson1:52.401938 Tiger Alfred Robertson Robert McGarvey Milky Way Farm Stable1:50.801937 Eastport Ray Hightshoe E. Russell Mrs. V. Wyse1:50.801936 Holl Image Herb Fisher Jack Carter Jack Carter1:53.40
1Charlatan was originally disqualified from his win due to a medication violation. The disqualification was later overturned on appeal.
2 In 1999, Valhol originally finished first but was relegated to last place following a Stewards' Inquiry.
See also Arkansas Derby "top three finishers" and starters Road to the Kentucky Derby
References
External links Ten Things You Should Know About the Arkansas Derby at Hello Race Fans!