The Florida Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses held annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Since 2005, it has been run five weeks before the Kentucky Derby, which is held on the first Saturday in May. Thus the Florida Derby is currently run either at the end of March or the beginning of April. Added to the racing schedule in 1952, the Grade I race is run at miles on the dirt. The purse was increased to $1 million in 2011 but was reduced to $750,000 for 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The purse was once again increased to $1 million in 2022.

History The Florida Derby was first run in 1952. It has long been a prestigious prep race for the Kentucky Derby and since 2013 has been part of the official Road to the Kentucky Derby.

The race was originally run in early to mid-March and Kentucky Derby hopefuls would then run in another major prep race in April. In 2005, Gulfstream Park shifted its scheduling to run the race five weeks before the Kentucky Derby. This was originally believed to be a liability, as the preferred spacing of races is typically three to four weeks. When Barbaro won the 2006 Kentucky Derby, the five-week spacing began to be viewed as a potentially positive feature, allowing a horse to come into the Kentucky Derby well rested.

In 1977, a large field resulted in the race being run in two divisions.

Between 1926 and 1937, the Flamingo Stakes was known as the Florida Derby.

Triple Crown Classic Winners

In total, 21 winners of the Florida Derby have gone on to win one or more Triple Crown Classics (Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes).

Kentucky Derby Winners: Needles (1956), Tim Tam (1958), Carry Back (1961), Northern Dancer (1964), Forward Pass (1968), Spectacular Bid (1979), Swale (1984), Unbridled (1990), Thunder Gulch (1995), Monarchos (2001), Barbaro (2006), Big Brown (2008), Orb (2013), Nyquist (2016), and Always Dreaming (2017). In 1968, Florida Derby winner Forward Pass was promoted to first place in the Kentucky Derby after the original winner, Dancer's Image, was disqualified due to a medication violation. In 2019, Florida Derby winner Maximum Security crossed the finish line first in the Kentucky Derby, but was disqualified due to interference.

Preakness Stakes Winners: Nashua (1955), Tim Tam (1958), Bally Ache (1960), Carry Back (1961), Candy Spots (1963), Northern Dancer (1964), Forward Pass (1968), Spectacular Bid (1979), Snow Chief (1986), and Big Brown (2008).

Belmont Stakes Winners: Nashua (1955), Needles (1956), Swale (1984), Thunder Gulch (1995), Empire Maker (2003), and Tiz the Law (2020).

Records Speed Record: 1:46.80 – Gen. Duke (1957), equaled the world record for miles at the time.

Most wins by an owner: 5 – Calumet Farm (1957, 1958, 1968, 1971, 1978)

Most wins by a jockey: 6 – John R. Velazquez (2009, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2024)

Most wins by a trainer: 8 – Todd A. Pletcher (2007, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2023, 2024)

Largest margin of victory: lengths – Fierceness (2024)

Shortest priced winners: $2.10 (1/20 on) – Honest Pleasure (1976), Spectacular Bid (1979)

Longest priced winner: $183.60 (~91/1) – Williamstown Kid (1966)

Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Time Purse Gr.2026CommandmentFlavien PratBrad H. CoxWathan Racing1:49.99$1,000,000G1 2025Tappan StreetLuis SaezBrad H. CoxWinstar Farm & China Horse Club Inc.1:49.27$1,000,000G1 2024FiercenessJohn R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherRepole Stable1:48.22$1,000,000G12023ForteIrad Ortiz Jr.Todd A. PletcherRepole Stable & St. Elias Stable 1:49.37$1,000,000G12022White AbarrioTyler GaffalioneSaffie A. Joseph Jr.C2 Racing Stable & La Milagrosa Stable1:50.64$1,000,000G12021 Known Agenda Irad Ortiz Jr. Todd A. Pletcher St. Elias Stable1:49.45$750,000G12020 Tiz the Law Manny Franco Barclay Tagg Sackatoga Stable1:50.00$750,000G12019 Maximum Security Luis Saez Jason Servis Mary & Gary West1:48.86$1,000,000G12018 Audible John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners, Starlight Racing & WinStar Farm1:49.48$1,000,000G12017 Always Dreaming John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Brooklyn Boyz Stables, Teresa Viola Racing Stable, Siena Farm, West Point Thoroughbreds, MeB Racing & St. Elias Stable1:47.47$1,000,000G12016 Nyquist Mario Gutierrez Doug O'Neill Reddam Racing 1:49.11$1,000,000G12015 Materiality John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Alto Racing1:52.30$1,000,000G12014 Constitution Javier Castellano Todd A. Pletcher Winstar Farm1:49.17$1,000,000G12013 Orb John Velazquez Claude. R. McGaughey III Stuart S. Janney III & Phipps Stable1:50.87$1,000,000G12012 Take Charge Indy Calvin Borel Patrick B. Byrne Chuck & Maribeth Sandford1:48.79$1,000,000G12011 Dialed In Julien Leparoux Nick Zito Robert V. LaPenta1:50.74$1,000,000G12010 Ice Box Jose Lezcano Nick Zito Robert V. LaPenta1:49.19$750,000G12009 Quality Road John Velazquez James A. Jerkens Edward P. Evans1:47.72$750,000G12008 Big Brown Kent Desormeaux Richard E. Dutrow Jr. IEAH Stables & Paul Pompa Jr.1:48.16$1,000,000G12007 Scat Daddy Edgar Prado Todd A. Pletcher James Scatuorchio & Michael Tabor1:49.00$1,000,000G12006 Barbaro Edgar Prado Michael Matz Lael Stables1:49.01$1,000,000G12005 High Fly Jerry Bailey Nick Zito Live Oak Plantation1:49.43$1,000,000G12004 Friends Lake Richard Migliore John C. Kimmel Chester & Mary Broman1:51.38$1,000,000G12003 Empire Maker Jerry Bailey Robert Frankel Juddmonte Farms1:49.05$1,000,000G12002 Harlan's Holiday Edgar Prado Kenneth McPeek Starlight Stable (Jack & Laurie Wolf)1:48.80$1,000,000G12001 Monarchos Jorge Chavez John T. Ward Jr. John C. Oxley1:49.95$1,000,000G12000 Hal's Hope Roger Velez Harold J. Rose Rose Family Stable1:51.49$1,000,000G11999 Vicar Shane Sellers Carl Nafzger James B. Tafel1:50.83$750,000G11998 Cape Town Shane Sellers D. Wayne Lukas Overbrook Farm1:49.21$750,000G11997 Captain Bodgit Alex Solis Gary Capuano Team Valor1:50.60$750,000G11996 Unbridled's Song Mike Smith James T. Ryerson Paraneck Stable1:47.85$750,000G11995 Thunder Gulch Mike Smith D. Wayne Lukas Michael Tabor1:49.70$500,000G11994 Holy Bull Mike Smith Warren A. Croll Jr. Warren A. Croll Jr.1:47.66$500,000G11993 Bull Inthe Heather Wigberto Ramos Howard M. Tesher Arthur Klein1:51.38$500,000G11992 Technology Jerry Bailey Hubert Hine Scott C. Savin1:50.72$500,000G11991 Fly So Free José A. Santos Scotty Schulhofer Tommy Valando1:50.44$500,000I1990 Unbridled Pat Day Carl Nafzger Genter Stable1:52.00$500,000G11989 Mercedes Won Earlie Fires Arnold Fink Christopher Spencer1:49.60$500,000G11988 Brian's Time Randy Romero John M. Veitch James W. Phillips1:49.80$500,000G11987 Cryptoclearance José A. Santos Scotty Schulhofer Phil Teinowitz1:49.60$500,000G11986 Snow Chief Alex Solis Melvin F. Stute Carl Grinstead & Ben Rochelle1:51.80$500,000G11985 Proud Truth Jorge Velásquez John M. Veitch Darby Dan Farm1:50.00$500,000G11984 Swale Laffit Pincay Jr. Woody Stephens Claiborne Farm1:47.60$300,000G11983 Croeso Frank Olivares Stephen A. DiMauro Cardiff Stud Farm, Jerry Fowler & Roy Fowler1:49.80$300,000G11982 Timely Writer Jeffrey Fell Dominic Imprescia Peter Martin & Francis Martin1:49.60$250,000G11981 Lord Avie Chris McCarron Daniel Perlsweig David Simon1:50.40$250,000G11980 Plugged Nickle Buck Thornburg Thomas J. Kelly John M. Schiff1:50.20$250,000G11979 Spectacular Bid Ronnie Franklin Bud Delp Hawksworth Farm (Harry & Teresa Meyerhoff)1:48.80$200,000G11978 Alydar Jorge Velásquez John M. Veitch Calumet Farm1:47.00$200,000G11977 Div 2 Ruthie's Native Craig Perret Eugene Jacobs Ruth A. Perlmutter1:50.20$125,000G11977 Div 1 Coined Silver Buck Thornburg George T. Poole III Cornelius V. Whitney1:48.80$125,000G11976 Honest Pleasure Braulio Baeza LeRoy Jolley Bertram R. Firestone1:47.80$125,000G11975 Prince Thou Art Braulio Baeza Lou Rondinello Darby Dan Farm1:50.40$150,000G11974 Judger Laffit Pincay Jr. Woody Stephens Claiborne Farm1:49.00$150,000G11973 Royal and Regal Walter Blum Warren A. Croll Jr. Aisco Stable1:47.40$130,0001972 Upper Case Ron Turcotte Lucien Laurin Meadow Stable1:50.00$130,0001971 Eastern Fleet Eddie Maple Reggie Cornell Calumet Farm1:47.40$125,0001970 My Dad George Ray Broussard Frank J. McManus Raymond M. Curtis1:50.80$125,0001969 Top Knight Manuel Ycaza Raymond F. Metcalf Steven B. Wilson1:48.401968 Forward Pass Don Brumfield Henry Forrest Calumet Farm1:49.001967 In Reality Earlie Fires Melvin Calvert Frances A. Genter1:50.201966 Williamston Kid Robert Stevenson James Bartlett Paul F. Ternes & James Bartlett1:50.601965 Native Charger John L. Rotz Raymond F. Metcalf Warner Stable1:51.201964 Northern Dancer Bill Shoemaker Horatio Luro Windfields Farm1:50.801963 Candy Spots Bill Shoemaker Mesh Tenney Rex C. Ellsworth1:50.601962RidanManuel YcazaLeRoy JolleyMrs. Moody Jolley, Ernest Woods, John L. Greer1:50.401961 Carry Back Johnny Sellers Jack A. Price Katherine Price1:48.801960Bally AcheBobby UsseryJimmy PittEdgehill Farm (Leonard D. & Morris Fruchtman)1:47.601959 Easy Spur Bill Hartack Paul L. Kelley Spring Hill Farm1:47.201958 Tim Tam Bill Hartack Horace A. Jones Calumet Farm1:49.201957 Gen. Duke Bill Hartack Horace A. Jones Calumet Farm1:46.801956 Needles David Erb Hugh L. Fontaine D & H Stable (Jack Dudley & Bonnie Heath)1:48.601955 Nashua Eddie Arcaro Jim Fitzsimmons Belair Stud1:53.201954 Correlation Bill Shoemaker Noble Threewitt Robert S. Lytle1:55.201953 Money Broker Alfred Popara Vester R. Wright G. & G. Stable (T. Alie Grissom & Edward Grosfield)1:53.801952 Sky Ship Ronnie Nash Preston M. Burch Brookmeade Stable1:50.80

See also Florida Derby "top three finishers" and starters Road to the Kentucky Derby

References