THE BROCK TALK

Derby Postponement

Brock Sheridan Editor-in-Chief Florida Equine Communications JOHN D. FILER PHOTO

Could be Florida Omen

With the Kentucky Derby being postponed this year from May 2 to Sept. 5 because of concerns over the coronavirus (COVID19) pandemic, it becomes the first time since 1945 that the Run for the Roses will not break from the starting gate on the traditional first Saturday in May, snapping a streak of 74 consecutive years.

While it will be run on a Saturday for the 90th consecutive time going back to the 1911 Derby won by Meridian, it will be only the third time the race will be not be conducted in May. (Prior to 1911, it was run on Wednesday 11 times, Tuesday nine times, Monday eight times, Thursday four times and Friday twice. The 1910 version of the Derby won by Donau was run on Tuesday, May 10.)

The first time it was not conducted in May was April 29, 1901 when His Eminence crossed the wire first. The only other year the Kentucky Derby was not conducted in May was 1945, when it was pushed back from May 5 to June 9 because Germany was surrendering to the Allied Forces at locations throughout the European theater during the first week of May with VE-Day officially coming on May 7. The 1945 Kentucky Derby was also a special one for Florida thoroughbred enthusiasts as that year Hoop Jr. took the Run for the Roses for Fred W. Hooper, jockey Eddie Arcaro and trainer Ivan Parke.

Although Hoop Jr. was not a Florida-bred, he was the first thoroughbred owned by Hooper, who would become a nationally renowned thoroughbred breeder from his 1,100-acre Hooper Farm in Ocala.

Unfortunately, Hooper would spend the rest of his life trying to win his second Kentucky Derby to no avail. However, before he died on Aug. 4, 2000 in Ocala at the age of 102, he became one of the giants of the sport having raced or bred more than 100 stakes winners including Susan’s Girl, the champion 3-year-old filly of 1972 and the champion older mare in 1973 and 1975; and 1985 champion sprinter Precisionist, both Hall of Fame inductees. Hooper was also the Eclipse Awardwinning outstanding breeder in 1975 and 1982 and was honored with an Eclipse Award Honor of Merit in 1992. He was a member of The Jockey Club, an honorary director of the Breeders’ Cup and one of the founders of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. He served as president of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association for eight consecutive years from 1971-79, considered to be a time when the organization experienced its greatest growth according to his FTBOA Hall of Fame plaque that hangs in the Association’s office lobby in Ocala.

Whether the postponement of the 2020 Kentucky Derby becomes a positive omen for Florida thoroughbred breeders, it remains to be seen. But with star Florida-breds such as Thousand Words, Untitled and As Seen on Tv on the Derby leaderboard this year, it is not out of the question.

Should any of the aforementioned Florida-breds don the blanket of roses beneath the twin spires of Churchill Downs on Sept. 5, they would become the seventh such Florida-bred to do so, joining Needles (1956), Carryback (1961), Foolish Pleasure (1975), Affirmed (1978), Unbridled (1990) and Silver Charm (1997).

And they would become the second thoroughbred with Florida connections to win a Kentucky Derby not conducted in the month of May. ■ “ Whether the postponement of the 2020 Kentucky Derby becomes a positive omen for Florida thoroughbred breeders, it remains to be seen. But with star Florida-breds such as Thousand Words, Untitled and As Seen on Tv on the Derby leaderboard this year, it is not out of the question.

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