Arkansas Derby

Live Arkansas Derby Odds from Bodog Racebook

Every April at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas, the Arkansas Derby is run. It's a Grade II horse race, which is the second highest grade in horse racing. The Arkansas Derby is run over 9 furlongs, which is 1 1/8th miles. It's your typical Grade II dirt stakes race. Many others, like the Florida Derby are run at this length.

However, unlike a lot of other Grade II stakes races, the Arkansas Derby has a nice purse. As of 2007, the purse was $1 million, which is twice as large as the average $500,000 you see at other Grade II stakes races.

The Arkansas Derby has come a long way from its first race in 1936. The total purse in the inaugural race was only $5,000 - still a decent amount in those days. Holl Image won that race.

Winners of the Arkansas Derby move on to bigger and better things. In 2006, Lawyer Ron won the race and went on to race in the 2006 Kentucky Derby. He was considered by many to be the favorite. However, he tired in the end and dropped all the way back to 12th.

In 2007, a horse named Curlin emerged as the winner of the Arkansas Derby. He went on to race in the 2007 Kentucky Derby where he made an impressive showing.

Curlin dropped back off the pace, but he began to charge forward at the one-mile mark. He was in 6th coming down the stretch and closed hard. He almost pulled it off, but it was Street Sense's day. Still, Curlin finished in third place.

By watching great stakes races like the Arkansas Derby, you can see what horses just might be making a Triple Crown run. The Arkansas Derby is one of many preps for the Kentucky Derby.