Nearly 8,000 horse racing enthusiasts from around the globe, including attendees from as far as Qatar, gathered at the 113th running of the Magnolia Derby at Crescent Downs on Saturday, where a $1 million purse was up for grabs.
Spanish jockey Luis Ortega piloted Market Pulse to a razor-thin victory at the finish line, defying seven-to-one odds. With this win, Market Pulse is now a leading contender for the Bluegrass Derby in May.
The Magnolia Derby, a cornerstone event now in its 113th year, marks the culmination of the city’s annual racing calendar. It serves as the final qualifier in the state for the prestigious Bluegrass Derby.
“We’re seeing a much more international crowd this Saturday, which is a change from the usual race day at Crescent Downs,” said Laura Simmons, vice president and general manager of Crescent Downs.
The 154-year-old track holds the distinction of being the oldest thoroughbred racing venue in the United States.
Hometown jockey Marcus Bernard, riding on Celestial, finished in fourth place, narrowly missing the points required to secure a Bluegrass Derby berth. Bernard’s father, a retired jockey himself, acted as his valet for the event.
“He’s my valet. So he and my younger brother, we pretty much share the same space back there, and it’s always a great time,” Bernard remarked.
The racing season will conclude with a series of memorial runs on Sunday, just ahead of another local tradition.
“Once the races end on Sunday, the Crescent Music Festival takes over, and we shift from being a full-time racetrack to a full-time supporter of the festival,” Simmons added.
