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Victoria Derby
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Race Name |
Grade |
Track |
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| Victoria Derby |
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Flemington Racecourse |
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Victoria Derby |
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The Victoria Derby is a Grade I race for thoroughbred 3-year-old horses raced over a distance of 2500 meters. The race is held each year on the first day of Melbourne's Spring Carnival which is known as Victorian Derby Day. The purse is AU$1.5 million.
The original race distance was 1 and a half miles but was seen to be slightly dangerous due to the short distance between the start and the first turn. It was changed in 1973 to its current distance.
The race was inaugurated in 1855 and the first 3 races were won by fillies but the last time a filly won was in 1923. In the entire history of the race, only 1 horse has ever won more than once. Fireworks is the horse that managed this record; winning in 1867 and 1868. Since the race is now only open to three-year-olds it is impossible for any horse to win it more than once.
The largest crowd at the race was in 2006 when just under 130 000 people attended. |
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Victoria Derby Racecourse |
Flemington |
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The Flemington racectrack is shaped like a pear and has a 1200 meter straight which is known as the "Straight Six". Races held here are run in an anticlockwise direction. The racecourse is host to many of the top Australian races; such as the Melbourne Cup, Australian Cup and Lightening Stakes amongst others. |
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In 2006 it was announced that the Flemington Racecourse had been given National Heritage Site status joining the likes of the Sydney Opera House in this honour. |
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Victoria Derby -
Past Winners |
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2003 Elvstroem
2004 Plastered
2005 Benico
2006 Efficient
2007 Kibbutz
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