 |
Santa Anita DerbyLive Santa Anita Derby Odds from Bodog RacebookThe Santa Anita Derby is a Grade I derby for 3-year-old thoroughbreds. Grade I is the highest grade of horse racing. The race takes place of 1 and 1/8th mile and has a purse of $750,000. It's a dirt race. The Santa Anita Derby is held annually at the Santa Anita Race Track in Arcadia, California. The first running of the Santa Anita Derby was back in 1935. Santa Anita Derby is in California and many trainers regard the derby as an important race. It's used as a prep for the Kentucky Derby. The last Triple Crown winner, Affirmed (1978), was a Santa Anita Derby winner. So the history and importance of this event is there. If a horse wins the Santa Anita Derby, it's a sign to the trainer and owner that a run at the Kentucky Derby might be in order. Six horses that have won the Santa Anita Derby have gone on to run in and win the Kentucky Derby. Because of this, the Santa Anita Derby is closely watched by many in the horse racing world. To prep for the Santa Anita Derby, horses are run in a variety of stakes races at Santa Anita Park that lead up to derby day. Some of those races are: San Rafael Stakes, San Miguel Stakes, San Felipe Stakes, Sham Stakes, and others. The three greatest jockeys of the Santa Anita Derby are Gary Stevens, Willie Shoemaker, and Laffit Pincay, Jr. - all three are known by many horse bettors. And well-known trainer, Bob Baffert, has four wins in the Santa Anita Derby, which is tied for the most by any trainer. In 2007, Tiago won the Santa Anita Derby. He was ridden by Mike E. Smith and trained by John Shirreffs. 
|