Kentucky Derby preps: How productive is the Louisiana Derby?

The Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds is one of the oldest Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifiers, dating back to 1894. It’s only 19 years younger than the Kentucky Derby (G1) itself.

For decades, the Louisiana Derby had minimal impact on the Kentucky Derby. But that has changed sharply since the 1990s. The race has produced four Kentucky Derby winners since the 1990s—four times as many winners as in the preceding 70 years—and the Louisiana Derby is on track to produce 34 Kentucky Derby starters in the 2020s, which would mark a 143% increase from 14 starters in the 1990s.

Furthermore, the percentage of Louisiana Derby alumni recording top-three finishes in the Kentucky Derby increased from 9% in the 1990s to as high as 24% in the 2010s. 

Performance of Louisiana Derby alumni in the Kentucky Derby, by decade

Note: The numbers of Kentucky Derby starters, runners-up, and third-place finishers produced by the Louisiana Derby prior to 1980 are not readily available.

Black Gold highlights tumultuous early years

The Louisiana Derby was held only sporadically during its early years. After the inaugural edition in 1894, another wasn’t contested until 1897. And following the 1908 running, the race wasn’t held again until 1920.

Partly as a result of its on-again, off-again scheduling, the Louisiana Derby yielded only one Kentucky Derby winner during these early years: Black Gold, who swept both races in 1924.

Seventy years of drought

With the exception of 1940, 1941, and 1942, the Louisiana Derby has been contested every year since 1923. But for decades, Black Gold remained the only Louisiana Derby starter to win the Kentucky Derby.

Some talented horses won the Louisiana Derby from the 1930s through the 1980s, including Master Derby (1975), who went on to win the Preakness (G1); Woodchopper (1981), who finished second in the Kentucky Derby; and champion Risen Star (1988), who ran third in the Kentucky Derby before winning the Preakness and Belmont (G1). But none could emulate Black Gold.

In 1985, the Louisiana Derby was downgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 3 status, reflecting its relatively minor ranking among Kentucky Derby prep races at the time.

Purse increases raise Louisiana Derby profile

Beginning in the 1990s, purse increases helped the Louisiana Derby regain its luster. At the start of the new decade it carried a $150,000 purse; by 2000 it had quintupled to $750,000.

Only 14 Kentucky Derby starters emerged from the Louisiana Derby during the 1990s, down from 17 in the 1980s. But the 1996 Louisiana Derby winner—Grindstone—put the race back on the map when he rallied boldly to win the Kentucky Derby by a nose. After 72 years, Black Gold’s double had been replicated.

The Louisiana Derby regained Grade 2 status in 1999, and in 2003 the race enjoyed a banner year. Peace Rules and Funny Cide, the top two finishers in the Louisiana Derby outran their odds when finishing third and first in the Kentucky Derby. Funny Cide became the first beaten Louisiana Derby runner to bounce back and win the Run for the Roses.

Hot streak through the 2010s and 2020s

In 2011, the Louisiana Derby purse climbed to $1 million. Two years later, the Road to the Kentucky Derby launched with the Louisiana Derby ranked as a top-tier qualifier awarding 100 qualification points to the winner.

These lucrative prizes further raised the Louisiana Derby’s profile. No fewer than seven Louisiana Derby starters recorded top-three Kentucky Derby finishes during the 2010s: Nehro (second in 2011), Mucho Macho Man (third in 2011), Golden Soul (second in 2013), Revolutionary (third in 2013), Commanding Curve (second in 2014), Gun Runner (third in 2016), and Country House (first in 2019).

The Louisiana Derby is rising even higher in the 2020s, driven perhaps in part by the lengthening of the race from 1 1/8 miles to 1 3/16 miles, only a sixteenth of a mile shorter than the Kentucky Derby. As the longest Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier in the United States, the Louisiana Derby is an ideal test of stamina ahead of the first Saturday in May.

In 2021, Louisiana Derby alumni Mandaloun and Hot Rod Charlie won first and second prize in the Kentucky Derby. The following year, Louisiana Derby winner Epicenter finished second by half a length in the Kentucky Derby and was later voted champion three-year-old male of 2022.

The future looks bright

During the first half of the 2020s, the Louisiana Derby produced 17 Kentucky Derby starters, on track for 34 Kentucky Derby starters by the end of the decade, eclipsing the previous high of 29 set during the 2010s.

The 2010s saw a record number of Louisiana Derby starters (seven) record top-three finishes in the Kentucky Derby. The 2020s have already yielded a trio of top-three finishers, and the way the data is trending, more are right around the corner.