The Kentucky Derby is only three months away. Yes, only three months. That may sound like a lot of time to some, but for a horse hopeful of filling one of the 20 slots in the Derby field that means that he (or she) has about three races in which to earn enough graded stakes to make the limited field. The 20 horses with the most graded stakes will have the opportunity to run in the Kentucky Derby.
Beginning next week, we’ll look at one prep race a week and get to know the horses hoping to become the 138th Kentucky Derby winner. So, print the schedule below and get ready to talk Derby!
| DATE | STAKES | DISTANCE | PURSE | RACE TRACK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/21/12 | LeComte Stakes (G3) | 1 Mile 40 Yds. | $175,000 | Fair Grounds |
| 01/29/12 | Holy Bull (G3) | 1 Mile | $400,000 | Gulfstream Park |
| 02/04/12 | Robert B. Lewis (G2) | 1 1/16 Mile | $200,000 | Santa Anita |
| 02/04/12 | Sam F. Davis (G3) | 1 1/16 Mile | $200,000 | Tampa Bay Downs |
| 02/04/12 | Withers (G3) | 1 1/16 Mile | $200,000 | Aqueduct |
| 02/09/12 | UAE 2,000 Guineas (G3) | 1 Mile (Synthetic) | $250,000 | Meydan Race Course |
| 02/11/12 | Hutcheson (G2) | 7 Furlongs | $150,000 | Gulfstream Park |
| 02/18/12 | El Camino Real Derby (G3) | 1 1/8 Mile (Synthetic) | $200,000 | Golden Gate |
| 02/19/12 | San Vicente (G2) | 7 Furlongs | $150,000 | Santa Anita |
| 02/20/12 | Southwest (G3) | 1 Mile | $250,000 | Oaklawn Park |
| 02/25/12 | Risen Star (G2) | 1 1/16 Mile | $300,000 | Fair Grounds |
| 02/26/12 | Fountain of Youth (G2) | 1 1/16 Mile | $400,000 | Gulfstream Park |
| 03/03/12 | Gotham (G3) | 1 1/16 Mile | $400,000 | Aqueduct |
| 03/10/12 | Tampa Bay Derby (G2) | 1 1/16 Mile | $350,000 | Tampa Bay Downs |
| 03/10/12 | San Felipe (G2) | 1 1/16 Mile | $300,000 | Santa Anita |
| 03/10/12 | Swale (G3) | 7 Furlongs | $150,000 | Gulfstream Park |
| 03/11/12 | Palm Beach (G3) | 1 1/8 Mile (Turf) | $150,000 | Gulfstream Park |
| 03/17/12 | Rebel (G2) | 1 1/16 Mile | $500,000 | Oaklawn Park |
| 03/24/12 | Vinery Spiral (G3) | 1 1/8 Mile (Synthetic) | $500,000 | Turfway Park |
| 03/25/12 | Sunland Derby (G3) | 1 1/8 Mile | $800,000 | Sunland Park |
| 03/31/12 | Florida Derby (G1) | 1 1/8 Mile | $1,000,000 | Gulfstream Park |
| 03/31/12 | UAE Derby (G2) | 1 3/16 Mile (Synthetic) | $2,000,000 | Meydan Race Course |
| 04/01/12 | Louisiana Derby (G2) | 1 1/8 Mile | $1,000,000 | Fair Grounds |
| 04/06/12 | Transylvania (G3) | 1 1/16 Mile (Turf) | $100,000 | Keeneland |
| 04/07/12 | Resorts World Casino New York City Wood Memorial (G1) | 1 1/8 Mile | $1,000,000 | Aqueduct |
| 04/07/12 | Santa Anita Derby (G1) | 1 1/8 Mile | $1,000,000 | Santa Anita |
| 04/07/12 | Illinois Derby (G3) | 1 1/8 Mile | $500,000 | Hawthorne |
| 04/07/12 | Bay Shore (G3) | 7 Furlongs | $250,000 | Aqueduct |
| 04/14/12 | Arkansas Derby (G1) | 1 1/8 Mile | $1,000,000 | Oaklawn Park |
| 04/14/12 | Toyota Blue Grass (G1) | 1 1/8 Mile (Synthetic) | $750,000 | Keeneland |
| 04/21/12 | Coolmore Lexington (G3) | 1 1/16 Mile (Synthetic) | $200,000 | Keeneland |
| 04/21/12 | Jerome (G2) | 1 Mile | $200,000 | Aqueduct |
| 04/28/12 | The Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial (G3) | 1 Mile | $200,000 | Churchill Downs |
| 05/05/12 | KENTUCKY DERBY Presented by YUM! Brands (G1) | 1 ¼ Mile | $2,000,000 | Churchill Downs |
Photo: Courtesy Kentucky Derby