California Derby


The California Derby was a race for Thoroughbred horses held early in the year at Golden Gate Fields until the track's closure on June 9, 2024. An ungraded stakes, it was open to three-year-olds at a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on a Tapeta surface. The Derby last offered a purse of $100,000.
In a March 29, 1898 column, the Daily Racing Form wrote that the California Derby was one of the most important races in California and the most important for three-year-old horse.
Northern California's first major test for horses hoping to run for the Triple Crown, the California Derby was also the main local prep race for the $200,000 El Camino Real Derby also run at Golden Gate.
The California Derby had been run since 1873. At that time it was set at twelve furlongs or a mile and a half and was won by Camilla Urso. Mollie McCarty won the 1876 edition and in 1909, African-American jockey James Lee won the race aboard High Private. Royal Orbit, who ran third in the California Derby, won the 1959 Preakness Stakes, and in 1909 Joe Madden, who ran second in the California Derby to High Private, won the Belmont Stakes. The 1996 winner, Pike Place Dancer won the Kentucky Oaks.

Winners of the California Derby since 1991

Winners before 1991


  • 1990 - Stalwart Charger
  • 1989 - Endow
  • 1988 - All Thee Power
  • 1987 - Simply Majestic
  • 1986 - Vernon Castle
  • 1985 - Hajjis Treasure
  • 1984 - Distant Ryder
  • 1983 - Paris Prince
  • 1982 - Rockwall
  • 1981 - Always a Cinch
  • 1980 - Jaklin Klugman
  • 1979 - Beau's Eagle
  • 1978 - Noble Bronze
  • 1977 - Cuzwuzwrong
  • 1976 - Telly's Pop
  • 1975 - Diabolo
  • 1974 - Agitate
  • 1973 - Linda's Chief
  • 1972 - Quack
  • 1971 - Unconscious
  • 1970 - George Lewis


  • 1969 - Jay Ray
  • 1968 - Proper Proof
  • 1967 - Reason to Hail
  • 1966 - Tragniew
  • 1965 - Perfect Sky
  • 1964 - Real Good Deal
  • 1963 - On My Honor
  • 1962 - Doc Jocoy
  • 1961 - Mr. Consistency
  • 1960 - Noble Noor
  • 1959 - Finnegan
  • 1958 - Nice Guy
  • 1957 - NOT RUN
  • 1956 - No Regrets
  • 1955 - Trackmaster
  • 1954 - Miz Clementine
  • 1949 - 1953 - NOT RUN
  • 1948 - May Reward
  • 1947 - NOT RUN
  • 1946 - War Spun
  • 1945 - NOT RUN


  • 1944 - Jade Boy
  • 1942 & 1943 - NOT RUN
  • 1941 - Pirate
  • 1939 & 1940 - NOT RUN
  • 1938 - Grim Reaper
  • 1937 - Rockwood
  • 1936 - Lloyd Pan
  • 1935 - Toro Flight
  • 1923 - Victoire
  • 1910 - Turrets
  • 1909 - High Private
  • 1908 - Meelick
  • 1907 - Temaceo
  • 1906 - Good Luck
  • 1905 - Dr Leggo
  • 1904 - Bombardier
  • 1903 - Claude
  • 1902 - Sombrero
  • 1901 - Joe Frey
  • 1900 - NOT RUN
  • 1899 - Corsini


  • 1898 - Traverser
  • 1897 - Scarborough
  • 1890 - Muta
  • 1889 - Hotspur
  • 1888 - Peel
  • 1887 - Jim Duffy
  • 1886 - May Blossom
  • 1885 - Ned Cook
  • 1884 - Phillip S
  • 1883 - Augusta E
  • 1882 - Duke of Monday
  • 1881 - Jim Douglas
  • 1880 - Sally Black
  • 1879 - Sister Anne
  • 1878 - Mark L
  • 1877 - Lena Dunbar
  • 1876 - Mollie McCarty
  • 1875 - Bradley
  • 1874 - NOT RUN
  • 1873 - Camilla Urso