2008 Santa Anita Derby

Santa anita derby kentucky derby preparatory race

Stakes - Grade I For Thoroughbred Three Year Old One And One Eighth Miles On The Dirt

Purse: $750,000

The Santa Anita Derby is considered the most important 3-year old race in the West. While some trainers based there, notably Neil Drysdale and Bobby Frankel, prefer the Wood Memorial or Blue Grass for their final Kentucky Derby preps, the vast majority of West Coast contenders tend to stay put.

The Santa Anita Derby has a rich history as an important prep race for the Derby, which leads to the Triple Crown big event for thoroughbred horse racing. It has yielded Derby winners such as Silver Charm, Sunday Silence, and Winning Colors plus Triple Crown winner Affirmed.

With a total purse of US$750,000, the Santa Anita Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three year old thoroughbred horses, run at a distance of 1 1/8 miles (9 furlongs) on the dirt. The Santa Anita Derby stands out with the third highest number of winners - at a total of 14 - who have made it to the Kentucky Derby.

Latest Santa Anita Derby Articles ...

2008 Breeders? Cup Host Santa Anita Park To Overhaul Synthetic Track Santa Anita Park will completely overhaul its troubled synthetic surface in July, four months before the track hosts the 2008 Breeders' Cup scheduled on October 24-25. The project calls for removing ...

Emirates Airline Becomes Title Sponsor of $3 Million Breeders? Cup Turf Breeders' Cup and Emirates Airline today announced a renewal of their sponsorship agreement through which Emirates, the world's fastest-growing intercontinental airline based in Dubai (United Arab Emi...

Colonel John Rallies To Win Santa Anita Derby In the West Coast's major prep for the 2008 Kentucky Derby or Run for the Roses, the Santa Anita Derby, Colonel John added to his credentials as the best in the West and a massive on-track crowd of 50...