Arkansas Derby

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Watch the 2020 Arkansas Derby

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Arkansas Derby History

First staged in 1936, the Arkansas Derby is the climax of Oaklawn Park’s four races for early season 3-year-old races. As a grade one race worth $1 million, it’s a valuable event to win.

The Arkansas Derby is also a vitally important event in the Road to the Kentucky Derby series. It’s one of eight most important races in the series in terms of points earned: the first four finishers get points in the series on a 100-40-20-10 basis. It means the winner will definitely get a place in the Kentucky Derby field, and most likely the runner-up as well. Held three weeks before the Kentucky Derby, it’s also the last chance for a horse to win its way into the Derby.

The race wasn’t a particularly important part of the Triple Crown prep season until the 1970s, when Arkansas Derby winners No Le Hace (1972), Elocutionist (1976), Golden Act (1979), Temperance Hill (1980), and Bold Ego (1981) all won or were placed in Triple Crown races.

Canadian colt Sunny’s Halo became the first Arkansas Derby runner to win the Kentucky Derby in 1983. Five have followed in his path since: Lil E. Tee, Grindstone, Smarty Jones, Super Saver, and Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. Sunny’s Halo, Smarty Jones, and American Pharoah all won the Arkansas Derby; other winners since 1983 who then won Triple Crown races are Tank’s Prospect, Pine Bluff, Victory Gallop, Afleet Alex, Curlin, and Creator.

The Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park is the most important lead-up to the Arkansas Derby. Thirteen horses have won both races, the most recent being Omaha Beach in 2019

Previous Winners of the Arkansas Derby