West Virginia Derby

West Virginia Derby

Grade II race
Location	Mountaineer Park Chester, West Virginia
Inaugurated	1981
Race type	Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website	www.mtrgaming.com/racing/liveracing.html
Race information
Distance	​1 1⁄8 miles (9 furlongs)
Surface	Dirt
Track	left-handed
Qualification	Three-year-olds
Weight	122 lbs and allowances
Purse	$750,000

The West Virginia Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Mountaineer Race Track in Chester, West Virginia. The race is open to three-year-old horses and is run over a distance of ​1 ¹⁄₈ miles. A Grade II stakes race since 2009, it currently offers a purse of $750,000.

Inaugurated in 1923, the race has been run at three different West Virginia racetracks:

• Tri State Park Racetrack in Huntington, West Virginia (1923, 1924, 1926)
• Wheeling Downs in Wheeling, West Virginia (1958, 1959, 1961)
• Mountaineer Park (1963–present)

There was no race in 1925, 1927, 1957, 1960, 1962, 1982–1987, and 1991-1997. In 1926 it was raced at a distance of ​1 ¹⁄₁₆ miles.

Records

Time record: (at current ​1 ¹⁄₈ miles)

• 1:46:29 - Soto (2003) (Stakes and track record)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 4 - Floyd Green (1963, 1964, 1965, 1966)

Winners of the West Virginia Derby since 2000

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Time
2015	Madefromlucky	Joe Bravo	Todd Pletcher	Cheyenne Stables/Nichol	1:51.40
2014	Tapiture	Rosie Napravnik	Steve Asmussen	Winchell Thoroughbreds	1:50.66
2013	Departing	Robby Albarado	Albert M. Stall, Jr.	Claiborne Farm/Dilschneider	1:51.47
2012	Macho Macho	Corey S. Nakatani	Steven Asmussen	Jerry Durant	1:49.98
2011	Prayer for Relief	Rafael Bejarano	Bob Baffert	Gerry Aschinger	1:50.68
2010	Concord Point	Martin Garcia	Bob Baffert	Kaleem Shah	1:51.12
2009	Soul Warrior	Dale Beckner	Steve Asmussen	Zayat Stables	1:51.46
2008	Ready Set	Julien Leparoux	Michael Matz	Lael Stables	1:52.03
2007	Zanjero	Shaun Bridgmohan	Steven M. Asmussen	Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC	1:53.04
2006	Bright One	Mark Guidry	Dale L. Romans	C. S. Bruder & Delmar Daubs	1:50.08
2005	Real Dandy	Mark Guidry	Steven M. Asmussen	Cathy & Bob Zollars	1:50.29
2004	Sir Shackleton	Rafael Bejarano	Nick Zito	Tracy Farmer	1:49.16
2003	Soto	Ramon Dominguez	Michael W. Dickinson	Baron George Von Ullman	1:46.29
2002	Wisemans Ferry	Jorge Chavez	Niall O'Callaghan	Morton Fink et al.	1:49.63
2001	Western Pride	Dana G. Whitney	Richard Estvanko	Theresa McArthur	1:47.20
2000	Mass Market	Rick Wilson	Benjamin W. Perkins, Jr.	Lane's End Racing et al.	1:49.94

Earlier winners

• 1999 - Stellar Brush
• 1998 - Da Devil
• 1990 - Challenge My Duty
• 1989 - Doc's Leader
• 1988 - Old Stories
• 1981 - Park's Policy
• 1981 - Johnny Dance
• 1980 - Summer Advocate
• 1979 - Architect
• 1978 - Beau Sham
• 1977 - Best Person
• 1976 - Wardlaw
• 1975 - At the Front
• 1974 - Park Guard
• 1973 - Blue Chip Dan
• 1972 - Family Table
• 1972 - Bold Nobleman
• 1971 - Trico O'Erin
• 1970 - Two Joys
• 1969 - Roman Partner
• 1968 - Chargertown
• 1967 - Miracle Hill
• 1966 - Kerensa
• 1965 - Pantuity
• 1964 - Peter Le Grand
• 1963 - Etimota
• 1962 - No race
• 1961 - Dip and Whirl
• 1959 - Redbird Wish
• 1958 - Sea Hymn
• 1926 - Nine Sixty
• 1924 - Norah
• 1923 - Tender Seth

• Captain Nash won the 1970 race but was disqualified and set back to second.
• Run in two divisions in 1972 and 1981.