Victoria Derby

src: bluebloods.com.au

The Victoria Derby is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held under Set Weights conditions over a distance of 2,500 metres at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia scheduled annually on the first day of VRC Spring Carnival, Victoria Derby Day. Total prize money for the race is A$1,500,000 and $10,000 trophy.

Video Victoria Derby

History

Originally run at a distance of 1 ¹/₂ miles, in 1972 it was changed to 2,400 metres to conform to the metric system. However, the new distance brought potential danger from too short a run from the start to the first turn and as such it was changed again in 1973 to its present distance of 2,500 metres.

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

Distance

• 1855-1971 - 1¹/₂ miles (~2400 metres)
• 1972 - 2400 metres
• 1973 onwards - 2500 metres

Grade

• 1855-1978 - Principal Race
• 1979 onwards - Group 1

Maps Victoria Derby

Records

Time record: (at current 2,500 metres distance)

• 2:33.60 - Star Of The Realm (1991)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 8 - Bobbie Lewis (1900, 1901, 1904, 1908, 1912, 1914, 1921, 1927)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 8 - James Scobie : (1900, 1901, 1903, 1904, 1908, 1912, 1927, 1937)

src: i.ytimg.com

Social attraction

While the major focus of 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 VRC Spring 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 by men. The flower of the day is a blue cornflower. 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.

src: i.ytimg.com

Winners

1933 racebook

src: i.ytimg.com

See also

• List of Australian Group races
• Group races
• Thoroughbred racing in Australia
• Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival
• White shift dress of Jean Shrimpton

src: i.ytimg.com

References

src: i.ytimg.com

External links

• Victoria Derby Homepage (Official)

• Everything you need to know on Victoria Derby

Source of article : Wikipedia