Santa Anita Derby

The Santa Anita Derby is an American Grade 1 thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds run each April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California and carries a purse of $1 million. Inaugurated in 1935, it is considered the most important West Coast stepping-stone to the Kentucky Derby. Since its inception, seven Santa Anita Derby winners have gone on to win the Kentucky Derby.

Now run at a distance of 11⁄8 miles (9 Furlongs), for the first three years it was 11⁄16 miles, and at 11⁄4 miles in 1947. Until 2008 the race had been run on dirt surface. The race has been contested on Cushion Track (2008) and Pro-Ride (2009 & 2010) artificial surfaces. In 2011, the race returned to dirt.

Prep races leading to the Santa Anita Derby include the San Rafael Stakes, San Miguel Stakes, Sham Stakes, San Vicente Stakes, San Pedro Stakes, the Robert B. Lewis Stakes and the San Felipe Stakes, all run at Santa Anita Park.

As a result of World War II, there were no races held from 1942 to 1944.

Read more about Santa Anita Derby:  Records, Winners of The Santa Anita Derby Since 1935

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