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Let’s call a spade a spade — Delaware is a forgotten state in the grand scheme of things. It’s one of the smallest states, both in land size and population. But more than that, it’s low in recognition. We’d venture to guess there’s a swath of Americans that can’t correctly pick it out in an unmarked map.
Cause of that, Delaware has to do more to stand out. It has to legalize sports betting first after a Supreme Court ruling in 2018 (true story, by the way). And now it has to create a brand-new horse race to attract crowds and betting to Delaware. Well, mission accomplished.
On June 14, Delaware Park hosted the first-ever running of the Delaware Derby. Horses from around the country duked it out over a 1 and 1/16-mile track for the $200,000 prize. Onlookers, with glitzy outfits a la the Kentucky Derby, gambled to record numbers too. We want to take you into the inaugural event, including the betting ramifications of it all.
Race Day Excitement
Admiral Dennis entered the race as a 3-to-1 betting favorite among bookies and popular offshore sportsbooks, and the three-year-old delivered. In the end, Admiral Dennis strode to win by 3 and 1/4 lengths. For a race modeled after the Kentucky Derby, it was ironic that the Brad Cox-trained colt, based out of Keeneland, won it all. Admiral Dennis sat just off the early pace before taking control around the far turn under jockey Luan Machado, giving him his third career win.
“He was traveling like a winner the entire way,” said assistant trainer Trace Messina. “Once he took the lead, I felt pretty good.”
Barbadian Runner closed strongly to finish second, validating his dominant Jersey Derby performance and giving trainer Henry Walters another solid stakes result. Breaking from the rail, he settled in mid-pack early before launching a late move that picked off all but the winner. For a horse who’d previously done his best work on the front end, it was a versatile showing.
Kentucky Outlaw, the 9-5 favorite, grabbed the lead early and looked comfortable setting the tempo, but couldn’t hold off the top pair in the stretch. Still, the Long Branch Stakes winner held on for third and showed he belongs in this company. He’s now hit the board in four of his five starts, with continued upside for trainer-owner Felissa Dunn.
Surfside Moon once again had a tough trip, checking in just behind the top three. Trainer James Lawrence had noted some frustrating traffic issues in prior races, and this one followed the same script — another credible performance that could have been better with a cleaner run. National Law also faded late after making a mild bid into contention but couldn’t sustain the effort.
The rest of the field finished with mixed results. Omaha Omaha, returning off a break, showed early interest before fading down the lane. Sacred Thunder never quite got involved after a wide trip. La Houligan, Academy, and Pascaline all flashed potential at various points but didn’t factor late. With a strong pace and a legitimate stretch drive, the first Delaware Derby set the bar high — and gave several horses a springboard to bigger efforts down the road.
Record-Breaking Day at Delaware Park
The Delaware Derby didn’t just deliver on track — it also produced a historic day at the betting windows. The event drew a large crowd and drove a record handle of $6.5 million, breaking the track’s previous single-day record set in 2007 during the Delaware Handicap.
Much of that enthusiasm stemmed from the five consecutive stakes races on the 10-race card, with Admiral Dennis going off as the second betting choice and returning $6.40 to win. Fondly paid $9.80, rewarding bettors who believed in the Motion-Ortiz combo.
The Derby’s success marks a strong debut for the new race, which aims to become a mid-Atlantic staple. With the festive atmosphere, solid field, and high-caliber performances, Delaware Park made a convincing case that this event — and its betting action — deserves a permanent spot on the racing calendar.
Delaware Park Casino Has The Biggest Win
The biggest winner of the weekend? It has to be the Delaware Park Casino. The race was held at their historic track, and created a windfall — not just in revenue, but visibility. Remember: Delaware betting only has three licensed casinos, and Delaware Park is one of ‘em. The other two aren’t getting this type of buzz, we’ll tell you that.
Of course, Delaware Park has a storied history with thoroughbreds, dating back to 1937. Over the decades, it’s seen legends come through its gates — from future Kentucky Derby winners to Hall of Fame jockeys. But still, it hasn’t had a race like this in what seems like ages. The Delaware Derby gave it a new level of prestige, and more importantly, a reason for the racing world to pay attention.
And that attention matters. In a sport where tradition meets survival, creating something fresh that actually sticks is no small feat. The hope here is that it isn’t a one-and-done event, but a recurring thing. Year 1 certainly made a strong case for the latter.
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