Hollywood Derby

Grade I race
Hollywood Derby
Location	Hollywood Park Racetrack Inglewood, California
Inaugurated	1938
Race type	Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website	Hollywood Park Racetrack
Race information
Distance	1¼ miles (10 furlongs
Track	Turf, left-handed
Qualification	Three-year-olds
Weight	122 lbs. (allowances)
Purse	$500,000

The Hollywood Derby is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in late November/early December at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. The race is open to horses, age three willing to race a mile and a quarter on turf. It currently offers a purse of $500,000.

Inaugurated in 1938, the 2010 edition will mark the 69th running of the Hollywood Derby. It has been a Grade I event since 1973. There was no race from 1942 through 1944 as a result of World War II and it was not run in 2005 as a safety precaution after new grass had been planted on the turf course. It was contested in two divisions from 1981 through 1987.

Known as the Westerner Stakes from 1948-1958, the race was held at Santa Anita Park in 1949 after a fire destroyed the Hollywood Park grandstand and clubhouse.

Only three fillies have ever won the race: Busher (1945), Honeymoon (1946), A Gleam (1952).

Inaugurated at its current 1¼ miles, the Hollywood Derby has been contested at various distances on both dirt and turf:

• 1⅛ miles on dirt : 1945, 1950, 1976-1980
• 1⅛ miles on turf : 1981-2002
• 1¼ miles on dirt : 1938-1941, 1946-1949, 1951-1972
• 1¼ miles on turf : 2003 to present
• 1½ miles on turf : 1973-1975

Records

Speed record:

• 1:59.35 - Showing Up (2006) (at current distance of 1¼ miles on turf)
• 1:45.82 - Super Quercus (1999) (at previous distance of 1⅛ miles on turf)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 8 - Bill Shoemaker (1951, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1974, 1976, 1982, 1986)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 4 - Charlie Whittingham (1967, 1969, 1986, 1989)

Winners of the Hollywood Derby since 1989

* In 2001, Designed for Luck won but was disqualified for drifting out in the stretch and was set back to fifth.

Earlier winners

References

• The Hollywood Derby at the NTRA
• The Hollywood Derby at the Pedigree Query