TheHollywood Derby is aGrade I AmericanThoroughbred horse race held annually in late November/early December. Now held atDel Mar racetrack inSan Diego, California, until 2014 it was held atHollywood Park Racetrack inInglewood, California. The race is open to horses aged three and contested at a mile and an eighth onturf. It currently offers a purse of $300,000.

Inaugurated in 1938, the race has been aGrade I event since 1973 when grading was first introduced. There was no race from 1942 through 1944 as a result of World War II and it was not run in 2005 as a safety precaution after new grass had been planted on the turf course. It was contested in two divisions from 1981 through 1987.

Known as theWesterner Stakes from 1948–1958, the race was held atSanta Anita Park in 1949 after a fire destroyed the Hollywood Park grandstand and clubhouse. When Hollywood Park closed in December 2013, the race was transferred to Del Mar. Due to the layout of the turf course at Del Mar, the race was shortened to1+1⁄8 miles (1.8 km).^[1]

Only fivefillies have ever won the race:Busher (1945),Honeymoon (1946),A Gleam (1952),De La Rose (1981) andRoyal Heroine (1983).

In 2014,California Chrome accomplished a rare feat when, having won theSanta Anita Derby,Kentucky Derby andPreakness Stakes on dirt earlier in the year, he won the Hollywood Derby in his first appearance on the turf.^[2]

The Hollywood Derby has been contested at various distances on both dirt and turf:

• 1+1⁄8 miles (1.8 km) on dirt : 1945, 1950, 1976–1980
• 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) on dirt : 1938–1941, 1946–1949, 1951–1972
• 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) on turf : 1973–1975
• 1+1⁄8 miles (1.8 km) on turf : 1981–2002
• 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) on turf : 2003 to 2013
• 1+1⁄8 miles (1.8 km) on turf: 2014 to present

Speed record: on turf

• 1:45.82 –Super Quercus (1999) (at current distance of1+1⁄8 miles (1.8 km))
• 1:59.35 –Showing Up (2006) (at previous distance of1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km))
• 2:27.80 – Amen II (1973) (at previous distance of1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km))

Speed record: on dirt

• 1:59.40 – Count of Honor (1956) (at1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km))
• 1:47.40 –Codex (1980) (at1+1⁄8 miles (1.8 km))

Most wins by ajockey:

• 8 –Bill Shoemaker (1951, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1974, 1976, 1982, 1986)

Most wins by atrainer:

• 4 –Charlie Whittingham (1967, 1969, 1986, 1989)
• 4 –Chad C. Brown (2016, 2018, 2020, 2023)

Most wins by anOwner:

• 3 –Klaravich Stables (1997, 2016, 2023)