With the Louisiana Derby approaching fast, we thought you might want to know some fun facts about the big event in March 2023. We know you want to read up about the TVG odds explained, contenders, and the upcoming big event itself, but those are all pretty stressful, aren’t they?
And besides, if you are new to the Louisiana Derby, a few fun facts might help you get introduced to the event. Also, you can use these fun facts as a party trick if you decide to watch the races with your friends and family. A little fun can’t hurt. With all that said, here are some fun facts you might want to know about the Louisiana Derby.
It’s a Prep Race
If you’re confused about the standing of Louisiana with the Kentucky Derby, the former is a prep race. There are four categories when it comes to prep races. This includes the Kentucky Derby Prep Season and the Championship Series, which includes the Louisiana Derby, Japan Road, and the Europe Road.
That said, how does a horse qualify for the Kentucky Championship? The qualifying factor for the horses is based on a point-earning system. For the Louisiana Derby, the top five will qualify for a 100-40-30-20-10 system, which is a stepping stone for the Kentucky Championship.
As Old as the Kentucky Derby
Do you know the Louisiana Derby is as old as the Kentucky Derby? The Louisiana Derby dates back to 1894. With this, you could say that the Louisiana Derby has as much history as the Kentucky Derby.
The Legend of Black Gold
Black Gold was the first to win the Louisiana Derby and went on to win the following Kentucky Derby back in 1924. This thoroughbred began its career back in 1923 and he started the following year with four consecutive wins, one of which was the Kentucky Derby. With its win in the Kentucky Derby, Rosa Hoots became the first-ever woman to have bred a Derby winner.
All in all, Black Gold won 18 wins in its lifetime, and just like other horses, his career ended with his death, and his remains were buried in the FairGrounds infields. And with that, a tradition where winning horses lay flowers on Black Gold’s grave as a tribute, making the legend live on.
Lucky Number 7
The lucky number seven is dubbed as the luckiest stall, as 13 Louisiana Derby winners have exited that stall in years past. However, no one horse has ever won from that post in over 25 years, so some people speculate whether the stall is either lucky or cursed. So if you’re ever betting on the Louisiana Derby, you might want to give it a wide berth.
What Happened from 1909 to 1919?
1909 to 1919 was a sad time for all horse racing enthusiasts in the state. This is because of the conception of the Locke Law, where horse racing was prohibited. People concluded that the Locke Law was implemented because this was the era when horse racing was put into unofficial books.
Because of this underground betting, many legal books became concerned that it could drive away business. It was in 1916 that the legislature repealed the Locke Law, and horse racing returned to its former glory.
Favorites Favored
Betting favorites fare very well in the Louisiana Derby. Favorites in this race win 47.8% of their races and 77.8% in the top three. If you’re looking to bet on the favorites for some easy money in horse racing, then the Louisiana Derby is an event you shouldn’t miss.
Only Two Fillies Won the Louisiana Derby
If you don’t know what a filly is, it’s a female horse that is too young to be a mare. That said, only Grecian Princess in 1964 and Carolyn A. in 1947 won the Louisiana Derby in all its histories. Fillies weren’t that common in horse racing back then, and they’re even much rarer nowadays. However, many people still hope to see a filly win a big horse racing event in their time.
The Louisiana Derby was Upgraded from Grade III to II Status
Did you know that races are also graded according to their consistency in providing the highest quality competition? In the US, the American Graded Stakes Committee identifies Grade III as the lowest and Grade I to be highest. With this, you could say that the Louisiana Derby of today provides a higher quality of competition than its former years as a Grade III. This upgrade happened back in 1999, from Grade III to II.
Final Words
With these facts, you would have more fun watching the Louisiana Derby with your friends and family. It might annoy them a bit, at least you know more than them about race, which is the most important thing. It might not win you a bet or two, but at least you’ll have a grand ‘ol time spitting out these facts to your loved ones.
About the Author/s
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.
