In 2024, we can witness any other exciting season of the highly-anticipated Kentucky Derby, sometimes called the Run for the Roses. This grand horse racing match is the primary jewel of North The united states’s well-known Triple Crown Collection. Such extremely acclaimed horseracing spectacle showcases handiest the best thoroughbreds in their technology.
Earlier than the elite thoroughbreds qualify for this race, they’ll attempt to earn their stripes in numerous prep races, that are held between September and April. If you’re unfamiliar with those qualifying races, we can stroll you thru those competitions as they’ll give you a clearer image of the highest contenders within the Derby.
Earlier than it was once named the Holy Bull Stakes, this prep race was once inaugurated as Preview Stakes in 1990. 5 years later, in 1996, it was once renamed the Holy Bull Stakes in honor of the 1994 Horse of the Yr Holy Bull.
3 Kentucky Derby champions competed within the Holy Bull Stakes and used it as a stepping stone to qualify for the race. They’re Barbaro (2006), Humorous Cide (2003), and Opt for Gin (1994). The stakes are prime on this prep race, with the highest 5 finishers receiving issues on a 20-10-6-4-2 scoring foundation. In 2024, Hades clinched the profitable identify, an consequence subtly hinted at through platforms like TVG and equivalent websites that provide insights for such prep races.
Held in Keeneland, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile is a prep race with a hefty quantity of prize cash at $2 million. Annually, this prep race showcases the quickest 2-year-old colts, in a position to safe their spots for the primary leg of the Triple Crown Collection.
Alternatively, there’s a well-liked curse referred to as the “Juvenile Jinx,” the place fanatics would imagine {that a} horse can’t win each the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and the Kentucky Derby in the similar season. However within the 2006-2007 season, Boulevard Sense broke this jinx and received each races. Within the provide yr, a horse named Fierceness received this prep race, and fanatics are excited to peer if he’s going to carry an finish to the curse in 2024.
The Risen Megastar Stakes is likely one of the height manufacturers of Churchill Down starters. It’s held yearly at Honest Grounds and was once inaugurated in 1973 because the Louisiana Derby Trial. Probably the most notable thoroughbred that competed on this prep race was once Risen Megastar, who additionally received the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes, the opposite two jewels of the Triple Crown Collection.
The highest 5 finishers of the Risen Megastar Stakes will earn 50-25-15-10-5 issues, respectively, ensuring the quickest one a certain spot within the Churchill Downs beginning gate. Sierra Leone, fastened through Tyler Gaffalione, received the race this yr.
The Florida Derby is referred to as probably the most a hit prep race for the Run for the Roses. It’s raced each final week of March or the earliest week of April in Hallandale Seaside, Florida. In 2024, it’s going to be hung on March 30 in the similar venue, promising but any other exciting horseracing spectacle.
From 1952 to 2017, this horse racing match produced an excellent general of 24 winners within the Run for the Roses. Its prominence draws a tradition of elite horses vying for the beneficiant awarding issues of 100-40-30-20-10 for its height 5 finishers.
Providing qualifying issues of 100-50-25-15-10, the Santa Anita Derby is arguably one of the crucial expected prep races for the Kentucky Derby. For the file, this prep race has produced 3 winners of the Kentucky Derby in a four-year span. Those champs had been Hill Gail in 1952, Decide in 1954, and Swaps in 1955.
Santa Anita Derby has additionally long past directly to win two Triple Crowns with horses Affirmed in 1978 and Justify in 2018. It has additionally produced 8 Kentucky Derby winners. This yr, this prep race will occur on April 6, lower than a month nearer to the primary leg of the Triple Crown.
Held at Lexington, Kentucky, the Blue Grass Stakes be offering a 100-5-25-15-10 issues gadget disbursed to the highest 5 finishers of the prep race. It began in 1911 and has produced 19 victorious horses in Churchill Downs, with 10 thoroughbreds profitable each the prep race and the Would possibly Tournament.
Skip Away was once the quickest horse who has ever run within the Blue Grass Stakes, boasting a velocity file of one ⅛ miles in 1:47.29 in 1996. The mythical 1942 Triple Crown winner Whirlaway additionally competed in Keeneland, securing 2nd position within the prep race.
100 years after Arkansas was once granted statehood, the Arkansas Derby was once inaugurated in 1936. This 1 1/8-mile prep race is yearly held at Scorching Springs, Oaklawn Park. It’s one of the crucial celebrated Kentucky Derby prep races because it has produced more than one Triple Crown and Vintage winners.
It gives a 100-40-35-10 foundation for awarding qualification issues, disbursed to the 4 height finishers of the prep race. It is going to be finished on March 30 and can function the best 3-year-old starters in their technology.
The Louisiana Derby is the oldest prep race for the Run for the Roses. It was once inaugurated in 1894, making it handiest 19 years more youthful than the Kentucky Derby itself. But even so being probably the most senior race on this record, the Louisiana Derby may be in style for generating fan-favorite thoroughbreds like Humorous Cide in 2003 and Nation Area in 2019, who used the prep race as a springboard to the outlet jewel of the Triple Crown.
With a 100-50-25-15-10 qualifying level foundation awarded to the highest 5 finishers, this qualifying race is referred to as a top-tier prep race. It’s scheduled to occur this March 23, every week previous than the Arkansas Derby.
Ultimate Ideas
America Street to Kentucky Derby comprised 37 prep races. The racing occasions discussed on this record are handiest 8 of this intensive collection of equestrian spectacles. However needless to say, those races are the occasions you wouldn’t wish to leave out as you wait for the once a year “Run for the Roses” this coming Would possibly 4. But even so recreational and adrenaline rush, following those races provides you with an edge as you speculate which three-year-old thoroughbreds will ace the 2024’s Maximum Thrilling Two Mins in Sports activities.
