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WHAT JOCKEY HOLDS THE RECORD FOR WINNING THE ARKANSAS DERBY?

WHAT JOCKEY HOLDS THE RECORD FOR WINNING THE ARKANSAS DERBY?
4/12/2019

 The Arkansas Derby (GI) was first run in 1936 for a purse of $5,000. This weekend will be its 84 running with a purse of $1,000,000 which is 200 times greater than the 1936 purse. Notable horses like Tanks Prospect (1985 + Preakness Stakes), Victory Gallop (1998 + Belmont Stakes), Curlin (2007 + Preakness Stakes) and American Pharoah (2015+ Triple Crown) have won the Arkansas Derby to go on to perform well in Triple Crown races. The record for the best time in the Arkansas Derby was recorded in 1984 by Althea at 1:46.80. Pat Day holds the current record for the most wins at three ---Rampage (1986), Demons Begone (1987) and Crypto Star (1997). This year two jockeys in the race could tie Day with a win. Mike Smith who won the race in 2008 with Gayego and in 2012 with Bodemeister is riding Omaha Beach. Jon Court won in 2010 on Line of David and in 2011 on Archarcharch. This weekend he riding Long Range Toddy at odds of 5-1.