The Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park,1st April, is the track's most important Kentucky Derby trial.
Run at a distance of 1 1/8m, on the dirt track; winners have had a fair bit of success in the first leg of the Triple Crown but the last duel Florida-Kentucky Derby winner was Orb in 2013.
But before the main course, there's a whole buffet of appetisers to enjoy.
Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park (4th March)
(last year's race, shown below in the video)
The Gotham Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct (4th March)
San Felipe Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita (4th March)
Tampa Bay Derby (G2) Tampa Bay Downs (11th March)
More U.S. Racing News
It was announced last week that Del Mar will be hosting the Breeders' Cup in 2024. It is the third time that the iconic seaside track has been given the chance to host one of the world's most prestigious global racing meetings.
Steve Asmussen created history last week when he became the first trainer to win 10,000 races in North America. Asmussen reached this historic milestone at Oaklawn Park, Arizona, last Monday, when Bet He's Ready (above) landed an inauspicious 6f maiden claimer under Ricardo Santana Jr. Asmussen had previously become the most successful trainer in North American history back in August 2021m when he achieved his his 9,446th success, but this record takes him into a whole new strata.
North American Thoroughbred racing pools are now accessible across all digital platforms for Tote customers (partnered with 1/ST). The North American pools were available to Tote users for the first time last week, which saw $43 million wagered across the Pegasus World Cup card at Gulfstream Park.
Frankie Dettori left Santa Anita for his Saudi sojourn with a four-timer at the track on 18th February. Dettori is back in California to ride Newgrange, trained by Phil D'Amato, in the Santa Anita Handicap on 4th March.
XB Net is now part of 1/ST CONTENT, the innovative operating group for 1/ST's media and content companies. 1/ST is the biggest racing company in North America, with a mission statement dedicated to redefining and supporting Thoroughbred horse racing and the ecosystem that drives it.
