The Illinois Derby is a race for Thoroughbred horses held in early April each year. First run in 1923, the Derby takes place at Hawthorne Race Course located in Stickney/Cicero, Illinois, just west of Chicago. It is open to horses, age three, willing to race one and one-eighth miles (9 furlongs) on the dirt. It is a Grade II Stakes race offering a purse of $500,000.

After being run at Aurora Downs Racetrack in 1938, the race was on hiatus until 1963 when it was revived at Sportsman’s Park Racetrack where it remained util 2003.

Since 2001, the Illinois Derby is a prep race to the Kentucky Derby. Prior to that it was run between the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. The 2002 Illinois Derby won by War Emblem was the last one run at Sportsman’s Park Racetrack.

2004 winner Pollard’s Vision, a colt whose right eye is blind, was named in honor of Seabiscuit’s jockey Red Pollard, who also lost sight in his right eye.

In 1997, at Sportsman’s Park, Wild Rush set the record for the fastest time in the Illinois Derby at 1:47.51.

The Illinois Derby was first run in 1923 at Hawthorne Race Course located in Stickney/Cicero, Illinois just west of Chicago. After being run at Aurora in 1938, it was discontinued and was only revived at Sportsman’s Park in 1963.

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Apparently, horse racing handicappers convinced Bill Johnston, the late Sportsman’s Park president, into resurrecting the 1 1/8-mile race.

“Good idea, Dave,” Johnston said when it was first suggested in 1960. But his racing secretary, the late Robert P. McAuliffe, said, “Feldman is crazy. This race won’t draw flies at 1 1/8 miles.”

The purse, at that time, was only $25,000, but a full field competed, and Lemon Twist won it before a packed house.

The Illinois Derby was such a success that owners and trainers started to ship horses from everywhere. The race has grown to be one of the richest for 3-year-olds.

Since 2001, the Illinois Derby is a prep race to the Kentucky Derby. Prior to that it was run between the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. The 2002 Illinois Derby won by War Emblem was the last one run at Sportsman’s Park Racetrack.

The Santa Anita Derby is an American Grade 1 thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds run each April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California and carries a purse of $750,000. Inaugurated in 1935, it is considered the most important West Coast stepping-stone to the Kentucky Derby. Since its inception, six Santa Anita Derby winners have gone on to win the Kentucky Derby.

Now run at a distance of 1 1/8 miles (9 Furlongs), for the first three years it was 1 1/16th miles, and at 1 1/4 miles in 1947.

Prep races to the Santa Anita Derby include the San Rafael Stakes, San Miguel Stakes, San Felipe Stakes, Sham Stakes, San Vicente Stakes and the Santa Catalina Stakes, all run at Santa Anita Park.

As a result of World War II, there were no races held from 1942 to 1944.

Records:

* At age 17, Pat Valenzuela became the youngest jockey to win the Santa Anita Derby when he rode Codex to victory in the 1980 race.
* In 2000, Jenine Sahadi became the first woman trainer to win the Santa Anita Derby.
* In 2005, Jeff Mullins became the first trainer to win three consecutive editions of the Santa Anita Derby.

Speed Record:
Three horses share the record for the fastest winning time of 1:47.00:

* Lucky Debonair (1965)
* Sham (1973)
* Indian Charlie (1998)

Most wins by an owner:

* 3 – Rex C. Ellsworth
* 2 – Calumet Farm, C.V. Whitney

Most wins by a jockey:

* 9 – Gary Stevens
* 8 – Bill Shoemaker
* 7 – Laffit Pincay, Jr.

Most wins by a Trainer:

* 5 – Bob Baffert (1996, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2009)
* 4 – D. Wayne Lukas (1980, 1982, 1983, 1988)