1978 Manitoba Derby Overskate (Gerry Hart)
By Track Historian Bob Gates
Most of us already know the fastest Manitoba Derby on record. You need only look at the track record holder for 1&1/8 miles, and etched in stone you’ll find the name “Overskate.” Go beyond the Stafford Farms star of the 1978 Derby, and finding the fastest times gets tougher.
This week’s history blog will revisit the fastest running times, and we’re going to do it with photos. There’s only one place to start, and that’s with Overskate, who absolutely crushed five unsuspecting foes in the 30th running of the Manitoba Derby on September 9, 1978. As impressive as his time was, it was even more about how he won. Overskate stopped the Derby clock at 1:47 3/5, breaking the previous track record (1:48) that had been set by Speedy Zephyr in the 1971 Derby.
Overskate’s race amounted to little more than a brisk workout, and it was all jockey Robin Platts could do to hold the margin of victory to 13½ lengths. The race was over shortly after starter Nick Cizik sent them on their way. The colt loped along with the greatest of ease on the front end. He was all by himself, extending his lead with every effortless stride. Overskate was so fresh at the end of the race that it took everything Platts had to pull him up and get back to the winner’s enclosure for photos.
1971 Manitoba Derby Speedy Zephyr (Gerry Hart)
All told, eight horses have run the Derby in less than 1:50. Our discussion about Overskate pretty much tips off the Derby’s second-fastest time. Runner-up honours go to Speedy Zephyr, who set a new track record for the 1&1/8 miles when he covered the distance in 1:48 during a heavy prairie rainstorm on July 17, 1971. The skies literally opened as the horses were being saddled. The rain came too late to change the condition of the track, but Speedy took to the surface like a bee to honey.
He was unhurried out of the gate but was easily in control of the race by the quarter pole. He made every post a winning one. Speedy ran the perfect race, bettering the track record at each point of call and, in the process, took a full second off the existing track record (1:49), running the Derby in 1:48 flat. In addition to setting a new Downs record, his time was also a new Canadian record.
1984 Manitoba Derby Ten Gold Potts (Gerry Hart)
On September 3, 1984, Ten Gold Potts registered the third-fastest Manitoba Derby time—1:48 2/5.
1997 Manitoba Derby My Imperial Slew (Gerry Hart)
On August 4, 1997, My Imperial Slew recorded his Derby victory in a time of 1:49.
1974 Manitoba Derby Ruston's Corsair (Gerry Hart)
Ruston’s Corsair won the Derby in 1:49 1/5 on July 14, 1974, and Phil Kives’ Plenty Chilly matched that time on August 5, 1991.
1991 Manitoba Derby Plenty Chilly (Assiniboia Downs Archives)
On July 15, 1973, Zaca Spirit won the 25th running of the Manitoba Derby in 1:49 2/5.
1973 Manitoba Derby Zaca Spirit (Gerry Hart)
Almost 20 years later, on August 3, 1992, longshot Jan Artic fooled them all when he won the Manitoba classic and paid a Derby-record win price of $101.80, also in the time of 1:49 2/5. Jan Artic was the last horse to run the Derby in less than 1:50.
1992 Manitoba Derby Jan Artic (Gerry Hart)
We could go on, but we’re going to stop with the winning Derby time of 1:50. Through the years, there have been three horses that won the Derby in 1:50 flat. They include the 1977 winner Giboulee, the 1980 champion Country Free, and Sky Promise.
2018 Manitoba Derby Sky Promise (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Downs Photo)
Here’s where we’re going to take a brief pause to honour the third horse to share the 1:50 winning time. Why, because Sky Promise’s performance in the 2018 Derby was exceptional! He was a Multiple Graded Stakes Winner that ran the best Derby time in 26 years when he crossed the finish line on August 6, 2018.
As of 2026 his Derby time is still the best effort in last 34 years and that’s something that needs to be recognized. In addition, to his win in the Manitoba Derby, he also won the Canadian and British Columbia Derbies in 2018.
And there you have it, the top times of the Manitoba Derby since the distance was shortened from 1&1/4-miles to 1&1/8-miles in 1968, almost 60 years ago.
Will the 2026 Derby winner, the 78th running, join this illustrious group? You just never know, so let’s all plan to be there. I’ll see you track side on Derby Day, Monday August 3, 2026, as always, post time is 7:30.
Happy Manitoba Derby to one and all!