53°33′58″N 113°27′30″W / 53.56611°N 113.45833°W / 53.56611; -113.45833
44-706: The Canadian Derby is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually at the Century Mile Racetrack and Casino in Leduc County , Alberta. A Grade III event held in August, it is open to three-year-old horses and is raced on dirt over a distance of one mile and a quarter (10 furlongs ). The race was the creation of future Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee R. James Speers and first run in 1930 at his Polo Park Racetrack in Winnipeg, Manitoba . Inaugurated as
88-696: A Thoroughbred . It must also reside permanently at the yard of a trainer licensed by the BHA or a permit holder. Similarly the horse's owner or owners must be registered as owners. Thoroughbred racing is governed on a state-by-state basis in Australia. Racing NSW administers racing in New South Wales , Racing Victoria is the responsible entity in Victoria , the Brisbane Racing Club was an amalgamation in 2009 of
132-638: A jockey : Most wins by an owner: Thoroughbred horse race Thoroughbred racing is a sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses . It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport – flat racing and jump racing, the latter known as National Hunt racing in the UK and steeplechasing in the US. Jump racing can be further divided into hurdling and steeplechasing . Traditionally, racehorses have been owned by wealthy individuals. It has become increasingly common in
176-675: A fairground in operation on the Friday and Saturday. The walk-in nature of the Hill typically sees Derby attendances exceed 100,000 spectators, making it one of the largest sporting events in the United Kingdom. In 2021 and 2022 the race, along with seven other races at the Derby festival, was sponsored by Cazoo . Cazoo declined an option to extend their sponsorship and in April 2023 the bookmaker Betfred agreed
220-485: A race horse in training for one year is in the order of £15,000 in the United Kingdom and as much as $ 35,000 at major race tracks in North America. The facilities available to trainers vary enormously. Some trainers have only a few horses in the yard and pay to use other trainers' gallops. Other trainers have every conceivable training asset. It is a feature of racing that a modest establishment often holds its own against
264-480: A three-year deal to sponsor the Derby and Oaks. Investec was the previous sponsor of the Derby between 2009 and 2020. The race was previously backed by Ever Ready (1984–94) and Vodafone (1995–2008). Winning distances are shown in lengths or shorter ( dh = dead-heat; shd = short-head; hd = head; snk = short-neck; nk = neck). 49. Kevin McCarthy and Michael Church's 17 page Academic Essay, "Where did
308-410: Is distinguished between hurdles races and chases: the former are run over low obstacles and the latter over larger fences that are much more difficult to jump. National Hunt races are started by flag, which means that horses line up at the start behind a tape. Jump racing is popular in the UK, Ireland, France and parts of Central Europe, but only a minor sport or completely unknown in most other regions of
352-542: Is generally seen as serving the purpose of gambling rather than identifying the fastest horses, some of the best known races in the world, such as the Grand National or Melbourne Cup are run as handicaps. Flat races can be run under varying distances and on different terms. Historically, the major flat racing countries were Australia, England, Ireland, France and the United States, but other countries, such as Japan and
396-613: Is often used in the United States and elsewhere, in order to differentiate The Derby from other races such as the Irish Derby or German Derby . The Derby run at Epsom is usually referred to as "the Derby" in Great Britain. It is one of Britain's great national sporting events and has a large worldwide TV audience. The Stanley family, Earls of Derby, had a long history of horse-racing, and James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby , who gained
440-527: Is run at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey on the first Saturday of June each year, over a distance of one mile, four furlongs and 10 yards (2,423 metres), or about 1½ miles. It was first run in 1780. It is Britain's richest flat horse race, and the most prestigious of the five Classics . It is sometimes referred to as the "Blue Riband" of the turf. The race serves as the middle leg of the historically significant Triple Crown of British horse racing, preceded by
484-511: Is the rulemaking and enforcement body, whilst Horse Racing Ireland governs and promotes racing. In 2013, Ireland exported more than 4,800 Thoroughbreds to 37 countries worldwide with a total value in excess of €205 million ($ 278 million). This is double the number of horses exported annually from the U.S. In Great Britain , Thoroughbred horse racing is governed by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) which makes and enforces
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#1732869962491528-611: The 2000 Guineas and followed by the St ;Leger , although the feat of winning all three is rarely attempted in the modern era due to changing priorities in racing and breeding, and the demands it places on horses. The name "Derby" (deriving from the sponsorship of the Earl of Derby ) has been borrowed many times, notably by the Kentucky Derby in the United States, and to describe many other key racing and sporting events. The term "Epsom Derby"
572-639: The Woodbine Entertainment Group , formerly Ontario Jockey Club. While British Columbia's major venue is Hastings Racecourse with popular events like the annual BC Derby. Thoroughbred racing is divided into two codes: flat racing and jump races. The most significant races are categorised as Group races or Graded stakes races . Every governing body is free to set its own standards, so the quality of races may differ. Horses are also run under different conditions, for example Handicap races , Weight for Age races or Scale-Weight. Although handicapping
616-518: The world wars ; from 1915 to 1918 and from 1940 to 1945, the Derby was run at Newmarket as the 'New Derby'. With the race's close association with gambling, the most controversial running of the Epsom Derby took place in 1844. The winner, Running Rein, was disqualified on discovery that a four-year-old imposter, a horse by the name Maccabeus, had been substituted in his place as part of a betting coup. The Derby has inspired many similar events around
660-409: The Derby became the world's first outdoor sporting event to be televised. There is a maximum of 20 runners allowed in the race. Since the 1993 edition, The Derby has introduced yearling entry. The system were canceled from 2024 edition and 2022 during COVID-19 pandemic. For many years the Derby was run on a Wednesday or a Thursday and on the day huge crowds would come from London, not only to see
704-427: The Derby was run on a Thursday in late May or early June, depending on when Easter occurred. In 1838 the race was moved to a Wednesday to fit in with the railways' timetables , but still followed the moveable feast of Easter. In the 20th century, the race was run mainly on a Wednesday in late May or early June until 1994, after which it was changed to a Saturday in early June. From 1915 to 1918 (during World War I ), it
748-736: The King's Plate as well as the Prince of Wales Stakes and according to Time magazine was being called "the greatest Canadian horse of all time." Not only was Ten To Ace defeated in the Canadian Derby, he finished dead last. In 1956, Polo Park Racetrack was closed and the race was moved to Northlands Park in Edmonton, Alberta. In 2019, the race moved to its present location at the Century Mile Racetrack and Casino south of Edmonton. The Canadian Derby
792-791: The Lordship of Mann in 1627, instituted horse-racing on the Langness Peninsula on the Isle of Man , donating a cup for what became known as the " Manx Derby ". The Derby originated at a celebration following the first running of the Oaks Stakes in 1779. A new race was planned, and it was decided that it should be named after either the host of the party, the 12th Earl of Derby , or one of his guests, Sir Charles Bunbury (the Bunbury Cup run at Newmarket would later be named in his honour). According to legend
836-656: The Manitoba Stakes, it was restricted to Manitoba-bred horses until 1936 when the race was renamed the Manitoba Derby and made open to three-year-old horses bred in Canada. In 1941, the name was changed again to its present form as the Canadian Derby. In 1942, future Canadian and U.S. Racing Hall of Fame jockey Johnny Longden won this race. As the Canadian Derby grew in prestige and its purse money increased, top horses from Toronto and Montreal began coming west to compete in
880-484: The Oaks to the current distance of 1½ miles in 1784. Lord Derby achieved his first success in the event in 1787, with a horse called Sir Peter Teazle . The starting point of the race was moved twice during the 19th century. The first move, suggested by Lord George Bentinck , was in 1848, and the second was in 1872. It was discovered in 1991 that the exact length of the race was one mile, four furlongs and 10 yards. Initially,
924-740: The Queensland Turf Club and Brisbane Racing Club, and administers racing in Queensland . Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne is home to the Melbourne Cup , the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races. The race is held on the first Tuesday in November during the Spring Racing Carnival , and is publicised in Australia as "the race that stops a nation". In
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#1732869962491968-555: The United Arab Emirates, have emerged in recent decades. Some countries and regions have a long tradition as major breeding centers, namely Ireland and Kentucky. In Europe and Australia, virtually all major races are run on turf (grass) courses, while in the United States, dirt surfaces (or, lately, artificial surfaces such as Polytrack ) are prevalent. In Canada, South America and Asia, both surface types are common. Jump races and steeplechases , called National Hunt racing in
1012-482: The United Kingdom and Ireland, are run over long distances, usually from two miles (3,200 m) up to four and a half miles (7,200 m), and horses carry more weight. Many jump racers, especially those bred in France, are not Thoroughbreds, being classified as AQPS . Novice jumping races involve horses that are starting out a jumping career, including horses that previously were trained in flat racing. National Hunt racing
1056-513: The United States, safety regulations and drug restrictions are primarily controlled at the federal level by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority . Other aspects of racing regulation are highly fragmented. Generally, a racing commission or other state government entity in each U.S. state that conducts racing will license owners, trainers and others involved in the industry, set racing dates, and oversee wagering. Pedigree matters and
1100-541: The bigger players even in a top race. This is particularly true of national hunt racing . In 1976, Canadian Bound became the first Thoroughbred yearling racehorse ever to be sold for more than US$ 1 million when he was purchased at the Keeneland July sale by Canadians, Ted Burnett and John Sikura Jr. Per the Oxford English Dictionary the concept of a jockey club dates to at least 1775 and is, in
1144-464: The commercial breeding industry became significantly more important in North America , Europe and Australasia , the result of which being that a substantial portion of Thoroughbreds are now sold by their breeders, either at public auction or through private sales. Additionally, owners may acquire Thoroughbreds by "claiming" them out of a race (see discussion of types of races below). A horse runs in
1188-532: The decision was made by the toss of a coin, but it is probable that Bunbury, the Steward of the Jockey Club , deferred to his host. The inaugural running of the Derby was held on Thursday 4 May 1780. It was won by Diomed , a colt owned by Sir Charles Bunbury, who collected prize money of £1,065 15s. The first four runnings were contested over the last mile of the old Orbicular course <49>, this extended in line with
1232-436: The generic, a "club or association for the promotion and regulation of horse racing." There are scores of national and regional jockey clubs, also called racing associations, worldwide. In addition to thoroughbreds, jockey clubs may race standardbred horses, Quarter Horses , or Arabians . Racing is governed on an All-Ireland basis, with two bodies sharing organising responsibility. The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board
1276-561: The last few decades for horses to be owned by syndicates or partnerships. Notable examples include the 2005 Epsom Derby winner Motivator , owned by the Royal Ascot Racing Club, 2003 Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide, owned by a group of 10 partners organized as Sackatoga Stable, and 2008 Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown, owned by IEAH stables, a horse racing hedgefund organization. Historically, most race horses have been bred and raced by their owners. Beginning after World War II ,
1320-412: The latter half of the 20th century, Derby Day became less popular and the race was moved from Wednesday to Saturday in 1995 with the hope of reviving high attendance. As the number of people attending the fair dwindled in the face of competition for attention and changing tastes, its length was reduced from 10 days to three or four. Today, the free-admission Hill still provides a festival atmosphere with
1364-676: The matter was appealed to the Alberta Horse Racing Appeal Tribunal which in July 2018 ruled in favour of the owner of Double Bear. An appeal of the Tribunal's order resulted in an August 2018 Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta ruling that Chief Know It All had interfered and declared Double Bear the winner. Established in 2023, the Canadian Derby is the second jewel of the Western Canadian Triple Crown . Most wins by
Canadian Derby - Misplaced Pages Continue
1408-429: The race but to enjoy other entertainment (during some of the 19th century and most of the 20th, Parliament would adjourn to allow members to attend the meeting). By the time that Charles Dickens visited Epsom Downs to view the race in the 1850s, entertainers such as musicians, clowns, and conjurers plied their trades and entertained the crowds; other forms of entertainment included coconut stalls. The crowded meeting
1452-524: The race. In 1937 Goldlure won Canada's most prestigious race, the King's Plate . For owner Harry Hatch , trainer Bill Bringloe would later ship the colt 1,300 miles by rail transport from Toronto and win the Derby. Budpath , another King's Plate winner, won the 1941 edition of the Canadian Derby. However, not all eastern-based horses have fared so well. In 1942, Ten To Ace was shipped in from Toronto by leading owner/trainer Harry Giddings Jr. The colt had won
1496-625: The racetrack or for male horses, possibly its success as a sire, little publicity is given to the brood mares. Such is the case of La Troienne , one of the most important mares of the 20th century to whom many of the greatest Thoroughbred champions, and dams of champions can be traced. Epsom Derby The Derby Stakes , also known as the Derby or the Epsom Derby , is a Group 1 flat horse race in England open to three-year-old colts and fillies . It
1540-563: The registration of racing colors are the province of The Jockey Club , which maintains the American Stud Book and approves the names of all Thoroughbreds. The National Steeplechase Association is the official sanctioning body of American steeplechase horse racing. Regulation of horse racing in Canada is under the Jockey Club of Canada . There are a few racing venues across Canada, but the major events are mainly in Ontario and managed by
1584-433: The rules, issues licences or permits to trainers and jockeys, and runs the races through their race course officials. The Jockey Club in the UK has been released from its regulatory function but still performs various supporting roles. A significant part of the BHA's work relates to the disciplining of trainers and jockeys, including appeals from decisions made by the course stewards. Disciplinary enquiries usually relate to
1628-399: The running of a horse, for example: failure to run a horse on its merits, interference with other runners, excessive use of the whip. The emergence of internet betting exchanges has created opportunities for the public to lay horses and this development has been associated with some high-profile disciplinary proceedings. In order to run under rules a horse must be registered at Weatherbys as
1672-527: The same race then some slight variant in colours is often used (normally a different coloured cap) or the race club colours may be used. The horse owner typically pays a monthly retainer or, in North America, a "day rate" to his or her trainer , together with fees for use of the training center or gallops (if the horse is not stabled at a race track), veterinarian and farrier (horseshoer) fees and other expenses such as mortality insurance premiums, stakes entry fees and jockeys' fees. The typical cost of owning
1716-466: The unique colours of its owner. These colours must be registered under the national governing bodies and no two owners may have the same colours. The rights to certain colour arrangements ("cherished colours") are valuable in the same way that distinctive car registration numbers are of value. It is said that Sue Magnier (owner of George Washington, Galileo etc.) paid £50,000 for her distinctive dark blue colours. If an owner has more than one horse running in
1760-423: The world. National Hunt flat races (or "bumpers") without fences or hurdles are also staged to provide experience for horses which have not taken part in flat racing . In the world's major Thoroughbred racing countries, breeding of racehorses is a huge industry providing over a million jobs worldwide. While the attention of horseracing fans and the media is focused almost exclusively on the horse's performance on
1804-807: The world. European variations include the Derby Italiano , the Deutsches Derby , the Irish Derby and the Prix du Jockey Club (popularly known in the British Isles as the "French Derby"). Several races in the United States include the "Derby" name, including the oldest, the Kentucky Derby . Other national equivalents include the Australian Derby , the New Zealand Derby , and the Japanese Derby . In 1931,
Canadian Derby - Misplaced Pages Continue
1848-406: Was contested at 1 mile from 1930 to 1933, 1 + 1 ⁄ 4 miles from 1934 to 1956, and 1 + 3 ⁄ 8 miles from 1957 until 2018. The race returned to 1 + 1 ⁄ 4 miles in 2019 when it was moved to Century Mile Racetrack. In 2017, Chief Know It All finished first but the jockey of runner-up Double Bear filed a claim of interference. When the claim was rejected by track stewards
1892-487: Was on a Tuesday, with the race's latest ever date being 31 July 1917. From 1942 to 1945 (during World War II ), 1947 to 1950, and in 1953, the race was run on a Saturday. From 1969 to 1994, it was on the first Wednesday in June. From 2003 to at least 2022, it has been on the first Saturday in June, apart from a race on 4 July 2020 without spectators, owing to COVID-19 . The Derby has been run at Epsom in all years except during
1936-506: Was the subject of a painting by William Powell Frith painted in the 1858 and titled The Derby Day ; critics have noted that the foreground of the painting features the entertainment attractions, while the racing is relegated to the margins. In the 1870s, the steam-driven rides were introduced. They were located at the Tattenham Corner end of the grounds and the fair was on for ten days and entertained hundreds of thousands. During
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