The Pat Day Mile Stakes is a
Grade II
In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Irel ...
American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on dirt over a distance of one mile scheduled on
Kentucky Derby Day at
Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs is a horse racing complex located on Central Avenue in south Louisville, Kentucky, United States, famed for hosting the annual Kentucky Derby. It officially opened in 1875 and was named for Samuel Churchill, whose family was ...
in
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville ( , , ) is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the 28th most-populous city in the United States. Louisville is the historical seat and, since 2003, the nominal seat of Jefferson County, on the Indiana border ...
. The current purse is $500,000.
History
Race name
Originally, the event was known as the Derby Trial Stakes and was held one week before the
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a horse race held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, almost always on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The competition is a Grade I stakes race for three-year ...
. It was first run in 1924 and every year since, with the exception of 1928.
The race name was given similar to races in Britain which preceded the Epsom Derby such as
the Investec Derby Trial (now
Blue Riband Trial Stakes
The Blue Riband Trial Stakes is a Listed flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old horses. It is run over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 17 yards (2,027 metres) at ...
) and
Lingfield Derby Trial
The Derby Trial Stakes is a Listed flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old colts and geldings. It is run over a distance of 1 mile, 3 furlongs and 133 yards () a ...
and in Australia, the Geelong Derby Trial Stakes (now known as the ''Geelong Classic'').
In 2015, this race was renamed to the Pat Day Mile Stakes (in honor of the Hall of Fame jockey,
Pat Day
Patrick Alan "Pat" Day (born October 13, 1953, in Brush, Colorado) is a retired American jockey. He is a four-time winner of the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1991 an ...
) and moved to the undercard of Kentucky Derby day. Its purse was increased from $150,000 to $200,000. In 2016, the purse was raised to $250,000.
From 2010 through 2012, it had been named the Cliff's Edge Derby Trial.
[April 28, 2012](_blank)
/ref>
Distance and class
The distance was reduced between 1977 and 1981 to 7 furlongs. And once again the distance from 2007 to 2009 was furlongs. The Derby Trial Stakes was an ungraded event from 2006 to 2008.
Winners of the Trial and Derby
Four trainers have won the Derby Trial and the Kentucky Derby with the same horse. The feat was accomplished by Hanley Webb in 1924 with Black Gold and by Ben A. Jones
Benjamin Allyn Jones (December 31, 1882 – June 13, 1961) was an American thoroughbred horse trainer.
Ben Jones was born in Parnell, Missouri, and attended Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, Missouri for high school.
Jones went into the ...
who did it twice, first with the great Citation
A citation is a reference to a source. More precisely, a citation is an abbreviated alphanumeric expression embedded in the body of an intellectual work that denotes an entry in the bibliographic references section of the work for the purpose of ...
in 1948 and then with Hill Gail
Hill Gail (April 19, 1949 – May 27, 1968) was an American Thoroughbred horse racing, racehorse. One of the leading American two-year-olds of 1951, Hill Gail recorded his most important success the following spring when he won the 1952 Kentucky ...
in 1952. Eddie Hayward
Edward C. Hayward (February 13, 1903 – January, 1983) was a Canadian-born trainer in American Thoroughbred horse racing best known for winning the 1953 Kentucky Derby in which his colt Dark Star defeated Native Dancer.
Racing career
A nat ...
won both in 1953 with Dark Star and in 1958 Jimmy Jones, son of Ben, became the fourth and last to do it when he won the two races with Tim Tam
Tim Tam is a brand of chocolate biscuit introduced by the Australian biscuit company Arnott's in 1964. It consists of two malted biscuits separated by a light hard
chocolate cream filling and coated in a thin layer of textured chocolate.
Hi ...
.The Vindicator (Youngstown, Ohio) – April 28, 2003
/ref> Since Tim Tam, the gradual trend in training has been toward giving Derby contenders fewer prep races and more time between them. This practice has all but eliminated the Trial as a legitimate Derby prep race. Even the 1982 decision to move it from the Tuesday before the Derby to the Saturday before didn't help.
However, the three weeks between the Trial and the 1 3/16ths-mile Preakness in Baltimore
Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...
is perfect. In recent years, the Trial has sent the Preakness such horses as Key to the Mint
Key to the Mint (1969–1996) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse.
Background
Bred by Paul Mellon and raced under his Rokeby Stable colors, Key to the Mint was trained by future Hall of Fame inductee Elliott Burch.
Racing career
Key to the ...
(1972), No More Flowers (1987), Houston (1989), Honor Grades (1991), Alydeed (1992), Cherokee Run
Cherokee Run (March 15, 1990 – July 2, 2016) was an American thoroughbred racehorse and sire.
Background
He was bred by George Onett of Stone Gate Farm. Founder of Ocala Breeder Sales Company and first chairman of the board. sired by 1982 ...
(1993), Numerous (1994), Our Gatsby (1995), Black Cash (1998), Patience Game (1999), Sir Shackleton (2004), Flying First Class (2007), Macho Again
Macho Again (foaled 2005 in Florida) is a retired American thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was sired by the 2000 American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt Macho Uno, who in turn was a son of leading sire Holy Bull. He is out of the mare Go Donna Go ...
(2008), and Pleasant Prince (2010).
Although none of those Trial horses won the Preakness, Alydeed, Cherokee Run and Macho Again finished second at Pimlico Race Course
Pimlico Race Course is a thoroughbred horse racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland, most famous for hosting the Preakness Stakes. Its name is derived from the 1660s when English settlers named the area where the facility currently stands in honor of Ol ...
and Key to the Mint
Key to the Mint (1969–1996) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse.
Background
Bred by Paul Mellon and raced under his Rokeby Stable colors, Key to the Mint was trained by future Hall of Fame inductee Elliott Burch.
Racing career
Key to the ...
finished third. And two of trainer Woody Stephens
Woody Stephens (September 1, 1913 – August 22, 1998) was an American Thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame trainer.
Biography
Born Woodford Cefis Stephens in Stanton, Kentucky, he had a younger brother named William Ward Stephens who also b ...
' Trial winners Caveat
Caveat may refer to
Latin phrases:
* ''Caveat lector'' ("let the reader beware")
* '' Caveat emptor'' ("let the buyer beware")
* '' Caveat venditor'' ("let the seller beware")
Other:
* CAVEAT, a Canadian lobby group
* ''Caveat'', an album by N ...
in 1983 and Creme Fraiche in '85 went on to win the Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds run at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is run over 1.5 miles (2,400 m). Colts and geldings carry a weight of ; fillies carry . The race, nicknamed Th ...
(GI). Additionally, the 2008 Belmont Stakes was won by Da'Tara
Da' Tara (foaled April 26, 2005) is an American thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2008 Belmont Stakes in an upset over Big Brown. Da' Tara was a 38-1 underdog entering the post at Belmont. He is trained by Nick Zito, his jockey is Alan Garcia ...
, trained by Nick Zito
Nicholas Philip Zito (born February 6, 1948, in New York City, New York (state), New York) is an American Thoroughbred horse trainer.
Zito began his career as a hot walker and worked his way up to a groom, to an assistant trainer, and to a traine ...
, who finished in fifth place in the 2008 Derby Trial Stakes.
Calumet Farm had three horses that finished second in the Trial. In 1941, Whirlaway finished second to Blue Pair in the Trial, but then roared back to win the Triple Crown
Triple Crown may refer to:
Sports Horse racing
* Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
* Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing (United States)
** Triple Crown Trophy
** Triple Crown Productions
* Canadian Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
* Trip ...
. In 1949, Ponder was second to Olympia in the Trial, but came back five days later to take the Derby by three lengths over Capot
Capot (1946–1974) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse sired by Menow out of the mare Piquet. Owned and bred by Greentree Stable, Capot was trained by John M. Gaver, Sr.
Two-year-old season
Racing as a two-year-old, Capot won the Champ ...
.
In 1957, Middleground finished second in the Trial to Black George on a muddy track, but won the Kentucky Derby later on a fast track.
And then there was the ill-fated Gen. Duke in 1957. He came to Churchill Downs touted as a potential superstar, but finished second to Federal Hill in the Trial. Then, the morning of the Derby, Gen. Duke was scratched because of a foot injury suffered in the Trial.
In 1967, Barb's Delight became the last Trial horse to have a significant impact on the Derby, finishing second by a length to longshot Proud Clarion
Proud Clarion (January 19, 1964 – December 17, 1981) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 1967 Kentucky Derby.
Background
Owned and bred by John W. Galbreath, Proud Clarion was foaled at his Darby Dan Farm in Le ...
. Don't Get Mad finished fourth in the Derby in 2005.
The last horse to win the Saturday before the Derby and then win the roses was Cannonade
Cannonade (May 12, 1971 – August 3, 1993) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known as the winner of the 1974 Kentucky Derby.
Background
Owned and bred by prominent businessman John M. Olin, Cannonade was foaled at Gainesway Farm in ...
in 1974. But the race he won was the now-defunct 7f Stepping Stone Purse, not the Derby Trial.
Losers of the Trial and winners of the Derby
Several Kentucky Derby winners failed to win the Trial, but bounced back to win the "Run for the Roses." Most notable of those were Calumet Farm's Iron Liege
Iron Liege (March 11, 1954 – December 14, 1972) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 1957 Kentucky Derby.
Background
Iron Liege was a bay horse bred and owned by Calumet Farm. He was sired by Calumet's leading s ...
, who finished fifth in the Trial and returned to defeat a Kentucky Derby field that included champions Gallant Man
Gallant Man (March 20, 1954 – September 7, 1988) was a thoroughbred racehorse, named for a horse in a Don Ameche movie. He was one of the most successful racehorses foaled outside the United States with his near miss in the 1957 Kentucky D ...
, Round Table
The Round Table ( cy, y Ford Gron; kw, an Moos Krenn; br, an Daol Grenn; la, Mensa Rotunda) is King Arthur's famed table in the Arthurian legend, around which he and his knights congregate. As its name suggests, it has no head, implying that e ...
and Bold Ruler
Bold Ruler (April 6, 1954 – July 11, 1971) was an American Thoroughbred National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, Hall of Fame racehorse who was the 1957 American Horse of the Year, Horse of the Year. This following a three-year-old campaign t ...
and is generally considered to be the greatest field in Derby history. King Ranch
King Ranch is the largest ranch in the United States. At some it is larger than the state of Rhode Island and country of Luxembourg. It is mainly a cattle ranch, but also produced the Triple Crown winning racehorse Assault.
The ranch is loc ...
's Assault
An assault is the act of committing physical harm or unwanted physical contact upon a person or, in some specific legal definitions, a threat or attempt to commit such an action. It is both a crime and a tort and, therefore, may result in crim ...
finished fourth in the Trial, but returned to win the Derby and sweep the Triple Crown. In 1941, Triple Crown winner Whirlaway
Whirlaway (April 2, 1938 – April 6, 1953) was a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who is the fifth winner of the American Triple Crown. He also won the Travers Stakes after his Triple Crown sweep to become the first and only horse to ...
finished second in the Derby Trial, but returned to sweep the Derby, Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American thoroughbred horse race held on Armed Forces Day which is also the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs () on ...
and Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds run at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is run over 1.5 miles (2,400 m). Colts and geldings carry a weight of ; fillies carry . The race, nicknamed Th ...
.
Records
;Speed record
* 1:28.45 - Macho Again
Macho Again (foaled 2005 in Florida) is a retired American thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was sired by the 2000 American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt Macho Uno, who in turn was a son of leading sire Holy Bull. He is out of the mare Go Donna Go ...
(2008) (at distance of furlongs)
* 1:34.18 - Competitive Edge (2015) (at distance of one mile)
;Most wins by a jockey
A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used to describe the individual ...
* 4 - Eddie Arcaro
George Edward Arcaro (February 19, 1916 – November 14, 1997), was an American Thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey who won more American classic races than any other jockey in history and is the only rider to have won the U.S. Tripl ...
(1948, 1949, 1952, 1959)
* 4 - Pat Day
Patrick Alan "Pat" Day (born October 13, 1953, in Brush, Colorado) is a retired American jockey. He is a four-time winner of the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1991 an ...
(1987, 1991, 1993, 2000)
;Most wins by a trainer
* 5 - Ben A. Jones
Benjamin Allyn Jones (December 31, 1882 – June 13, 1961) was an American thoroughbred horse trainer.
Ben Jones was born in Parnell, Missouri, and attended Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, Missouri for high school.
Jones went into the ...
(1943, 1947, 1948, 1951, 1952)
;Most wins by an owner
* 9 - Calumet Farm
Calumet Farm is a Thoroughbred breeding and training farm established in 1924 in Lexington, Kentucky, United States by William Monroe Wright, founding owner of the Calumet Baking Powder Company. Calumet is located in the heart of the Bluegras ...
(1943, 1947, 1948, 1951, 1952, 1956, 1958, 2017, 2018)
Winners
See also
*Road to the Kentucky Derby
The Road to the Kentucky Derby is a points system by which horses qualify for a position in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby. It features dozens of stakes races for 2 and 3-year-old Thoroughbreds – the number and specific races have chang ...
References
The 2009 Derby Trial Stakes at the NTRA
{Dead link, date=May 2020 , bot=InternetArchiveBot , fix-attempted=yes
Churchill Downs horse races
Flat horse races for three-year-olds
Triple Crown Prep Races
Graded stakes races in the United States
Recurring sporting events established in 1924
1924 establishments in Kentucky
May events
Grade 3 stakes races in the United States