FLORIDA DERBY

Gulfstream Park · Hallandale Beach, Florida

Saturday
75th Running

The Florida
Derby.

47Triple Crown Starters

26Kentucky Derby Winners

63Triple Crown Events

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Winning Jockeys · First Four Florida Derbys

1952

Sky Ship — First Florida Derby

The Beginning · 1952

Brookmeade's
'Ship'
Came In

Eight years had passed since James Donn Sr. reopened Gulfstream Park with tremendous success — but something was still missing. A marquee event to showcase the thriving Thoroughbred track.

A Derby, to be exact. The Florida Derby was born on March 15, 1952. Sky Ship, a last-minute entry after the Flamingo Stakes winner withdrew, broke well from outside the gate and beat Handsome Teddy by a head under jockey Ronnie Nash — going off at 11-1 and returning $24.10.

17,915Opening attendance

$17K+Winner's purse

18Horses entered

2000

Hal's Hope — Winner's Circle

David vs. Goliath · 2000

'Hope'
Springs
Eternal

Harold Rose approached the winner's circle that March afternoon swathed in hugs, kisses, cheers and tumult. With tears in his eyes, the 88-year-old said: "I have realized part of a dream, to win the Florida Derby."

Three decades of training mostly claimers. Quadruple-bypass surgery eight months prior. Back at the barn at 4:30 a.m. three weeks after surgery. His modest homebred against High Yield — a $1.05 million yearling trained by the D. Wayne Lukas Stable.

"Heck, if I was going to lose, there is nobody I'd rather lose to than Mr. Rose."

— D. Wayne Lukas

75^th

Seven decades of greatness on the turf.

From Dixieland bands and Shriner Parades to Irish stepdancers, jousting knights and ostrich races — the Florida Derby has always been more than a horse race. It's a living chronicle of American thoroughbred racing at its finest, with 47 starters going on to compete in 63 Triple Crown events.

Record Holder

Count 'em,
Eight for Pletcher

No trainer comes close to winning Florida Derbys than Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher — including four of five between 2014 and 2018.

2007

Scat Daddy

Win № 1

2014

Constitution

Win № 2

2015

Materiality

Win № 3

2017

Always Dreaming

Win № 4

2018

Audible

Win № 5

2021

Known Agenda

Win № 6

2023

Forte

Win № 7

2024

Fierceness

Win № 8

1956

Needles — Florida's First

A First for Florida · 1956

The Horse That
Built an
Industry

If there was one horse who put the Florida Thoroughbred breeding industry on the map, it was Needles. A modestly bred colt who nearly died of equine pneumonia at five weeks old, Needles persevered to win the Florida Derby and the Kentucky Derby — the first Florida-bred to win the Run for the Roses and the Belmont Stakes.

Described as "tough" by his vet and "cantankerous" by jockey Dave Erb, Needles transformed an industry overnight.

4Marion County farms · 1952

21Marion County farms · post-Needles

90-1

Largest payout in Florida Derby history · 1966

Williamston Kid entered the 1966 Florida Derby with a single victory in five starts. He didn't cross the finish line first — Abe's Hope did — but after 15 minutes studying race tapes, the stewards disqualified the leader and placed the Kid first. Favored Kauai King was never a factor, but would go on to win the Kentucky Derby.

$183.60 Paid on a
$2 ticket

2003

Empire Maker — Record Margin

Record Victory · 2003

Empire Maker
Runs Away

Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel wasn't kidding when he told everyone before the 2003 Florida Derby that Empire Maker was the best 3-year-old in his barn. Making just his fourth career start, Empire Maker ran away from his opponents under Jerry Bailey.

He won by 9¾ lengths — the largest margin of victory in Florida Derby history, a record that still stands today.

9¾Lengths — record margin

4thCareer start

Empty stands · March 2020

The 69th Running · 2020

A Ghost Race
for the Ages

The Miami Herald called it a "ghost race." In the middle of Covid, Gulfstream played host to the 69th running of the Florida Derby in front of empty stands as the facility was closed to the public. Managing partner Jack Knowlton watched from a nearby condominium as Sackatoga Stable's Tiz the Law won by 4¼ lengths under jockey Manny Franco.

4¼Lengths of victory

BelmontNext race won

TraversAlso won in 2020