The Florida Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse raceĀ for three-year-old horses held annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, FloridaĀ on the Saturday closest to the end of March or the first of April. Added to the racing schedule in 1952, the Grade 1Ā race is run at 1Ā 1ā8 miles on the dirt for a purse currently set at $1 Million.Ā Winners of the Florida Derby usually go on to compete in the Kentucky Derby…..as Proud Truth did after winning the 1985 Florida Derby.