The Victoria Derby, also known as the

Penfolds Penfolds is an Australian wine producer that was founded in Adelaide in 1844 by Christopher Rawson Penfold, an English physician who emigrated to Australia, and his wife Mary Penfold. It is one of Australia's oldest wineries, and is currently p ...

Victoria Derby, is a

Victoria Racing Club The Victoria Racing Club was founded in 1864. It was formed following the disbanding of the Victoria Turf Club and the Victoria Jockey Club. A legacy passed from the Victoria Turf Club was the annual "race that stops a nation", the Melbourne Cup ...

Group 1 Group 1 may refer to: * Alkali metal, a chemical element classification for Alkali metal * Group 1 (racing), a historic (until 1981) classification for Touring car racing, applied to standard touring cars. Comparable to modern FIA Group N * Group On ...

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are c ...

horse race for three-year-olds held under

Set Weights Set Weights (SW) is a condition for a Thoroughbred horse racing, Thoroughbred horse race. Horses carry a weight based on their age and sex. In a mixed-sex race, fillies and mares will usually carry less than colts, geldings and horses. Additional we ...

conditions over a distance of 2,500 metres at Flemington Racecourse, in

Melbourne, Australia Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a metropol ...

scheduled annually on the first day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival. Total prize money for the race is A$2,000,000.

History

Originally run at a distance of miles, in 1972 it was changed to 2,400 metres to conform to the

metric system The metric system is a system of measurement that succeeded the Decimal, decimalised system based on the metre that had been introduced in French Revolution, France in the 1790s. The historical development of these systems culminated in the d ...

. It was changed again in 1973 to its present distance of 2,500 metres. Delta 1950 VRC St Leger Flemington Racecourse Jockey Neville Sellwood Trainer Maurice McCarten

Delta 1950 VRC St Leger Flemington Racecourse Jockey Neville Sellwood Trainer Maurice McCarten

LUCRATIVE 1940 VRC DERBY MAURICE McCARTEN

First run in 1855, the first three editions were won by fillies but the last time a filly won was in 1923 when Frances Tressady claimed victory. In its history, only one horse has ever won the Victoria Derby more than once. Fireworks accomplished the feat, winning back-to-back runnings in November 1867 and again in 1868 after a change of the race date to New Year's Day. Between 1931 and 1956 geldings were not permitted to compete. Three horses have won their first race with a win in the Victoria Derby. In 1883, the

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

-bred horse Martini Henry won the Victoria Derby at his first start. Fire Oak in 1990, Redding in 1992 and Preferment in 2014 are the only other maidens to win the Victoria Derby. In 2005, Clare Lindop became the first female jockey to ride in the Victoria Derby and became the first female to win in 2008.

Gai Waterhouse Gabriel Marie "Gai" Waterhouse (née Smith; born 2 September 1954) is an Australian horse trainer and businesswoman. The daughter of Tommy J. Smith, a leading trainer of Thoroughbred racehorses, Waterhouse was born and raised in Sydney. After ...

became the first woman to train a winner when Nothin' Leica Dane won the 1995 running.

Distance

*1855–1971 - 1 miles (~2400 metres) *1972 – 2400 metres *1973 onwards - 2500 metres

Grade

*1855–1978 - Principal Race *1979 onwards - Group 1

1933 & 1954 racebooks

File: 1933 VRC Derby Racebook P1.jpg, Front cover of the 1933 VRC Derby racebook. File: 1933 VRC Derby Racebook P22.jpg, Starters and jockeys showing the winner, Hall Mark. File: 1933 VRC Derby Racebook P3.jpg, Back cover showing train timetables. File:1954 VRC LKS Mackinnon Stakes Racebook P1.jpg, Front cover 1954 VRC Derby racebook. File:1954 VRC LKS Mackinnon Stakes Racebook P2.jpg, 1954 VRC Derby raceday officials. File:1954 VRC Derby Racebook P3.jpg, Starters and results 1954 VRC Derby. File:1954 VRC Derby Racebook P4.jpg, Starters and results showing the winner, Pride of Egypt. File:1954 VRC LKS Mackinnon Stakes Racebook P5.jpg, Back cover showing enclosure information for visitors.

Gallery of noted winners

File:Poseidon 1906 VRC Melbourne Cup Owner Sir Hugh Denison Randwick Trainer Isaac Earnshaw.jpg, 1906 winner –

Poseidon Poseidon (; grc-gre, Ποσειδῶν) was one of the Twelve Olympians in ancient Greek religion and myth, god of the sea, storms, earthquakes and horses.Burkert 1985pp. 136–139 In pre-Olympian Bronze Age Greece, he was venerated as a ch ...

. File:NUFFIELD 1938 AJC SIRES PRODUCE STAKES HAROLD BADGER.jpg, 1938 winner – Nuffield. File:Biplane 1917 AJC & VRC Derby Jockey B Deeley Trainer Tom Scully.jpg, 1917 winner – Biplane. File:Jockey riding race horse Manfred, New South Wales, April 1936.jpg, 1925 winner –

Manfred ''Manfred: A dramatic poem'' is a closet drama written in 1816–1817 by Lord Byron. It contains supernatural elements, in keeping with the popularity of the ghost story in England at the time. It is a typical example of a Gothic fiction. Byr ...

. File:Talking 1936 VRC Derby Flemington Racecourse Jockey Andy Knox Trainer Alf Papworth.jpg, 1936 winner – Talking

Records

Time record: (at current 2,500 metres distance) * 2:33.60 - Star Of The Realm (1991) 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 ...

: * 8 - Bobbie Lewis (1900, 1901, 1904, 1908, 1912, 1914, 1921, 1927) Most wins by a trainer: * 8 -

James Scobie James Scobie (29 November 1826 – 7 October 1854) was a Scottish gold digger murdered at Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. His death was associated with a sequence of events which led to the Eureka Rebellion. At the later Supreme Court trial in ...

: (1900, 1901, 1903, 1904, 1908, 1912, 1927, 1937)

Social attraction

While the major focus of AAMI Victoria Derby Day is the racing (since it is the only race day in Australia where each and every race has Group Status), in recent years the annual Fashions on the Field held on the fourth and last day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival celebrations have shared the limelight. Derby Day has become Men's Day in the Fashion Stakes, and every year increasing numbers of fashionable gentlemen competing for prizes and a spot in the social columns. Traditionally black and white are worn on this day by women and

morning dress Morning dress, also known as formal day dress, is the Formal attire, formal Western dress code for day attire, consisting chiefly of, for men, a morning coat, waistcoat, and formal trousers, and an appropriate gown for women. Men may also wear ...

by men. The flower of the day is a blue

cornflower ''Centaurea cyanus'', commonly known as cornflower or bachelor's button, is an annual flowering plant in the family Asteraceae native to Europe. In the past, it often grew as a weed in cornfields (in the broad sense of "corn", referring to Foo ...

. The idea of wearing a cornflower on Derby Day was introduced in 1962 by Mrs Sheelah Wood, wife of prominent VRC committeeman of the time, Mr Samuel Richard Creswick Wood. The 2006 Victoria Derby drew the event's largest crowd, with 129,069 in attendance.

Attendance

*2021 – 5,000 (restricted attendance due to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...

) *2020 – 0 (no attendance due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions) *2019 – 80,214 *2018 – 91,194 *2017 – 87,526 *2016 – 90,136 *2015 – 85,943 *2014 – 90,244 *2013 – 95,223 *2012 – 98,823 *2011 – 92,336 *2010 – 90,361 *2009 – 108,178 *2008 – 117,776 *2007 – 115,705 *2006 – 129,089 *2005 – 115,660 *2004 – 115,542 *2003 – 97,059 *2002 – 101,898 *2001 – 93,029 *2000 – 92,581 *1999 – 76,514 *1998 – 75,805 *1997 – 64,528 *1996 – 64,099 *1995 – 60,404 *1994 – 54,467 *1993 – 49,029 *1992 – 45,729 *1991 – 46,781 *1990 – 47,497 *1989 – 47,226 *1988 – 44,848 *1987 – 41,878 *1986 – 42,824 *1985 – 40,522 *1984 – 39,771 *1983 – 40,017 *1982 – 42,519 *1981 – 39,729 *1980 – 38,032

Winners

* 2022 - Manzoice * 2021 - Hitotsu * 2020 -

Johnny Get Angry "Johnny Get Angry" is a song written by Hal David and Sherman Edwards and performed by Joanie Sommers. It reached #7 on the U.S. pop chart in 1962. It was featured on her 1962 album ''Johnny Get Angry''. The song was arranged and produced b ...

* 2019 - Warning * 2018 - Extra Brut * 2017 - Ace High * 2016 - Prized Icon *2015 - Tarzino *2014 - Preferment *2013 - Polanski *2012 - Fiveandahalfstar *2011 - Sangster *2010 - Lion Tamer *2009 - Monaco Consul *2008 - Rebel Raider *2007 - Kibbutz *2006 - Efficient *2005 - Benicio *2004 - Plastered *2003 -

Elvstroem Elvstroem (foaled 14 November 2000 in Australia) was a bay Thoroughbred racehorse, by world champion sire Danehill from the former champion three-year-old filly, Circles of Gold. Dam Circles of Gold, is a 1991 chestnut mare by the Australasia ...

*2002 - Helenus *2001 - Amalfi *2000 - Hit The Roof *1999 - Blackfriars *1998 - Arena *1997 - Second Coming *1996 - Portland Player *1995 - Nothin' Leica Dane *1994 - Blevic *1993 -

Mahogany Mahogany is a straight-grained, reddish-brown timber of three tropical hardwood species of the genus ''Swietenia'', indigenous to the AmericasBridgewater, Samuel (2012). ''A Natural History of Belize: Inside the Maya Forest''. Austin: Unive ...

*1992 - Redding *1991 - Star Of The Realm *1990 - Fire Oak *1989 - Stylish Century *1988 - King's High *1987 - Omnicorp *1986 - Raveneaux *1985 - Handy Proverb *1984 - Red Anchor *1983 - Bounty Hawk *1982 - Grosvenor *1981 - Brewery Boy *1980 - Sovereign Red *1979 - Big Print *1978 -

Dulcify Dulcify (14 October 1975– 6 November 1979) was a New Zealand-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. His British-bred sire was the 1970 Irish 2,000 Guineas winner, Decies (GB), a grandson of Pharis (FR), the very important French sire whom ''Thoroughb ...

*1977 - Stormy Rex *1976 - Unaware *1975 - Galena Boy *1974 - Haymaker *1973 -

Taj Rossi Taj Rossi (foaled 1970) was a champion Australian Thoroughbred racehorse. Background Taj Rossi was sired by Matrice from the mare Dark Queen. He was trained throughout his career by Bart Cummings who bought him at the 1972 Adelaide yearling s ...

*1972 - Dayana *1971 - Classic Mission *1970 - Silver Sharpe *1969 -

Daryl's Joy Daryl’s Joy was a notable New Zealand Thoroughbred race horse. A son of Stunning (GB) from the mare Rutha (NZ), he was foaled in 1966 and was trained by Syd Brown in New Zealand and later in his career by Charlie Whittingham in the United Stat ...

*1968 - Always There *1967 - Savoy *1966 - Khalif *1965 -

Tobin Bronze Brass is an alloy of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn), in proportions which can be varied to achieve different mechanical, electrical, and chemical properties. It is a substitutional alloy: atoms of the two constituents may replace each other with ...

*1964 - Royal Sovereign *1963 - Craftsman *1962 - Coppelius *1961 - New Statesman *1960 - Sky High *1959 - Travel Boy *1958 - Sir Blink *1957 -

Tulloch Tulloch may refer to: People with the surname *Alexander Bruce Tulloch (1838–1920), Major-general in the British Army, author *Bert Tulloch, English footballer *Bitsie Tulloch, American actress *Francis Tulloch (born 1940), Jamaican politician ...

*1956 - Monte Carlo *1955 -

Sailor's Guide Sailor's Guide was an outstanding Thoroughbred racehorse that was conceived in England and foaled in Australia. He is notable in that he won races in the United States, Canada, and a number of principal Australian races, and was a high stakes ea ...

*1954 - Pride Of Egypt *1953 - Prince Morvi *1952 - Advocate *1951 -

Hydrogen Hydrogen is the chemical element with the symbol H and atomic number 1. Hydrogen is the lightest element. At standard conditions hydrogen is a gas of diatomic molecules having the formula . It is colorless, odorless, tasteless, non-toxic, an ...

*1950 - Alister *1949 -

Delta Delta commonly refers to: * Delta (letter) (Δ or δ), a letter of the Greek alphabet * River delta, at a river mouth * D ( NATO phonetic alphabet: "Delta") * Delta Air Lines, US * Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19 Delta may also ...

*1948 -

Comic Court Comic Court (1945–1973) was a most versatile post-war Australian bred Thoroughbred racehorse who set race records at distances of 6 furlongs (1,200 metres) and 2 miles (3,200 metres). He won the 1950 Melbourne Cup carrying and set an Australa ...

*1947 - Beau Gem *1946 - Prince Standard *1945 - Magnificent *1944 - San Martin *1943 - Precept *1942 - Great Britain *1941 - Skipton *1940 - Lucrative *1939 - Reading *1938 - Nuffield *1937 - Hua *1936 - Talking *1935 - Feldspar *1934 - Theo *1933 -

Hall Mark A hallmark is an official mark or series of marks struck on items made of metal, mostly to certify the content of noble metals—such as platinum, gold, silver and in some nations, palladium. In a more general sense, the term ''hallmark'' can als ...

*1932 - Liberal *1931 - Johnnie Jason *1930 - Balloon King *1929 -

Phar Lap Phar Lap (4 October 1926 – 5 April 1932) was a champion New Zealand–bred Thoroughbred racehorse who is widely regarded as New Zealand's greatest racehorse ever. Achieving incredible success during his distinguished career, his initial ...

*1928 - Strephon *1927 - Trivalve *1926 - Rampion *1925 -

*1924 - Spearfelt *1923 - Frances Tressady *1922 - Whittier *1921 - Furious *1920 - Salitros *1919 - Richmond Main *1918 - Eusebius *1917 - Biplane *1916 - Wolaroi *1915 - Patrobas *1914 - Carlita *1913 - Beragoon *1912 - Wolawa *1911 - Wilari *1910 - Beverage *1909 - Prince Foote *1908 - Alawa *1907 - Mountain King *1906 -

*1905 - Lady Wallace *1904 - Sylvanite *1903 - F.J.A *1902 - Abundance *1901 - Hautvilliers *1900 - Maltster *1899 - Merriwee *1898 - Cocos *1897 - Amberite *1896 - Newhaven *1895 - Wallace *1894 - The Harvester *1893 - Carnage *1892 - Carmoola *1891 - Strathmore *1890 - The Admiral *1889 - Dreadnought *1888 - Ensign *1887 - The Australian Peer *1886 - Trident *1885 - Nordenfeldt *1884 - Rufus *1883 - Martini Henry *1882 - Navigator *1881 - Darebin *1880 -

Grand Flaneur Grand Flaneur (1877-1900) was an outstanding Australian Thoroughbred racehorse and sire, who won nine successive races, including the AJC Derby, the Victoria Derby and the 1880 Melbourne Cup, before he retired undefeated. He had won races ove ...

*1879 - Suwarrow *1878 - Wellington *1877 -

Chester Chester is a cathedral city and the county town of Cheshire, England. It is located on the River Dee, close to the English–Welsh border. With a population of 79,645 in 2011,"2011 Census results: People and Population Profile: Chester Loca ...

*1876 - Briseis *1875 - Robin Hood *1874 - Melbourne *1873 - Lapidist *1872 - Loup Garou *1871 - Miss Jessie *1870 - Florence *1869 - Charon *1869 - My Dream (run New Year's Day) *1868 - Fireworks (run New Year's Day) *1867 - Fireworks *1866 - Sea Gull *1865 - Angler *1864 -

Lantern A lantern is an often portable source of lighting, typically featuring a protective enclosure for the light sourcehistorically usually a candle or a wick in oil, and often a battery-powered light in modern timesto make it easier to carry and h ...

*1863 - Oriflamme *1862 - Barwon *1861 - Camden *1860 - Flying Colours *1859 - Buzzard *1858 - Brownlock *1857 - Tricolor *1856 - Flying Doe *1855 - Rose Of May

References

External links

Victoria Derby Homepage (Official)Everything you need to know on Victoria Derby
{{VRC Race Days and Events Flat horse races for three-year-olds Group 1 stakes races in Australia Flemington Racecourse