Ohio Derby Back to 1 1/8 Miles in 2016

The Ohio Derby will return to the distance of 1 1/8 miles and for the second year in a row will be worth $500,000 for its 82nd running June 25, 2016, at ThistleDown Racino in North Randall, Ohio.



The race's distance was changed to 1 1/16 miles following the 2010 renewal.



"The change in distance represents ThistleDown's commitment to improving the Ohio Derby each year," said Patrick Ellsworth, racing secretary for ThistleDown. "While many racetracks have shortened their stakes races to attract a higher number of horses, a longer race tends to attract the best of the best. The longer distance will raise the quality of horses in the 2016 running, many of which will go on to compete in other signature races. 



"Last year's enhanced purse attracted an extraordinary stable of horses, and we expect the Ohio Derby to be even better this year as word has spread throughout the industry that this race is back on the map,"



With 54 nominations, the largest in more than a decade, the 2015 Ohio Derby was won by multiple grade I-placed Mr. Z, who took his first lifetime stakes race for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas and earned his first win after being purchased by Calumet Farm from previous owner Zayat Stables.