In 2024, we are going to witness one other thrilling season of the highly-anticipated Kentucky Derby, often known as the Run for the Roses. This grand horse racing occasion is the primary jewel of North America’s well-known Triple Crown Collection. Such extremely acclaimed horseracing spectacle showcases solely the best thoroughbreds of their technology.
Earlier than the elite thoroughbreds qualify for this race, they’ll attempt to earn their stripes in numerous prep races, that are held between September and April. In case you are unfamiliar with these qualifying races, we are going to stroll you thru these competitions as they’ll give you a clearer image of the highest contenders within the Derby.
Earlier than it was named the Holy Bull Stakes, this prep race was inaugurated as Preview Stakes in 1990. 5 years later, in 1996, it was renamed the Holy Bull Stakes in honor of the 1994 Horse of the 12 months Holy Bull.
Three Kentucky Derby champions competed within the Holy Bull Stakes and used it as a stepping stone to qualify for the race. They’re Barbaro (2006), Humorous Cide (2003), and Go for Gin (1994). The stakes are excessive on this prep race, with the highest 5 finishers receiving factors on a 20-10-6-4-2 scoring foundation. In 2024, Hades clinched the successful title, an final result subtly hinted at by platforms like TVG and related websites that provide insights for such prep races.
Held in Keeneland, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile is a prep race with a hefty quantity of prize cash at $2 million. Yearly, this prep race showcases the quickest 2-year-old colts, able to safe their spots for the primary leg of the Triple Crown Collection.
Nonetheless, there’s a popular curse known as the “Juvenile Jinx,” the place followers would imagine {that a} horse can’t win each the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and the Kentucky Derby in the identical season. However within the 2006-2007 season, Road Sense broke this jinx and received each races. Within the current yr, a horse named Fierceness received this prep race, and followers are excited to see if he’s going to carry an finish to the curse in 2024.
The Risen Star Stakes is without doubt one of the high producers of Churchill Down starters. It’s held yearly at Honest Grounds and was inaugurated in 1973 because the Louisiana Derby Trial. Essentially the most notable thoroughbred that competed on this prep race was Risen Star, who additionally received the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes, the opposite two jewels of the Triple Crown Collection.
The highest 5 finishers of the Risen Star Stakes will earn 50-25-15-10-5 factors, respectively, guaranteeing the quickest one a certain spot within the Churchill Downs beginning gate. Sierra Leone, mounted by Tyler Gaffalione, received the race this yr.
The Florida Derby is named essentially the most profitable prep race for the Run for the Roses. It’s raced each final week of March or the earliest week of April in Hallandale Seashore, Florida. In 2024, will probably be held on March 30 in the identical venue, promising yet one more thrilling horseracing spectacle.
From 1952 to 2017, this horse racing occasion produced a formidable complete of 24 winners within the Run for the Roses. Its prominence attracts a conference of elite horses vying for the beneficiant awarding factors of 100-40-30-20-10 for its high 5 finishers.
Providing qualifying factors of 100-50-25-15-10, the Santa Anita Derby is arguably probably the most anticipated prep races for the Kentucky Derby. For the file, this prep race has produced three winners of the Kentucky Derby in a four-year span. These champs had been Hill Gail in 1952, Decide in 1954, and Swaps in 1955.
Santa Anita Derby has additionally gone on to win two Triple Crowns with horses Affirmed in 1978 and Justify in 2018. It has additionally produced eight Kentucky Derby winners. This yr, this prep race will occur on April 6, lower than a month nearer to the primary leg of the Triple Crown.
Held at Lexington, Kentucky, the Blue Grass Stakes supply a 100-5-25-15-10 factors system distributed to the highest 5 finishers of the prep race. It began in 1911 and has produced 19 victorious horses in Churchill Downs, with 10 thoroughbreds successful each the prep race and the Might Occasion.
Skip Away was the quickest horse who has ever run within the Blue Grass Stakes, boasting a pace file of 1 ⅛ miles in 1:47.29 in 1996. The legendary 1942 Triple Crown winner Whirlaway additionally competed in Keeneland, securing second place within the prep race.
100 years after Arkansas was granted statehood, the Arkansas Derby was inaugurated in 1936. This 1 1/8-mile prep race is yearly held at Sizzling Springs, Oaklawn Park. It’s probably the most celebrated Kentucky Derby prep races because it has produced a number of Triple Crown and Traditional winners.
It presents a 100-40-35-10 foundation for awarding qualification factors, distributed to the 4 high finishers of the prep race. Will probably be accomplished on March 30 and can function the best 3-year-old starters of their technology.
The Louisiana Derby is the oldest prep race for the Run for the Roses. It was inaugurated in 1894, making it solely 19 years youthful than the Kentucky Derby itself. Apart from being essentially the most senior race on this checklist, the Louisiana Derby can also be well-liked for producing fan-favorite thoroughbreds like Humorous Cide in 2003 and Country House in 2019, who used the prep race as a springboard to the opening jewel of the Triple Crown.
With a 100-50-25-15-10 qualifying level foundation awarded to the highest 5 finishers, this qualifying race is named a top-tier prep race. It’s scheduled to occur this March 23, every week sooner than the Arkansas Derby.
Last Ideas
The USA Street to Kentucky Derby comprised 37 prep races. The racing occasions talked about on this checklist are solely eight of this intensive collection of equestrian spectacles. However for certain, these races are the occasions you wouldn’t need to miss as you anticipate the annual “Run for the Roses” this coming Might 4. Apart from leisure and adrenaline rush, following these races gives you an edge as you speculate which three-year-old thoroughbreds will ace the 2024’s Most Thrilling Two Minutes in Sports activities.
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