The Quad Cities Horse Derby is a small-town event in the heart of one of the nation’s largest urban areas. Held on the third Saturday of June each year, it’s also a unique tradition that has been passed down through generations. The Quad Cities Horse Derby is one of only two horse derbies left in the United States – and only 22 remain worldwide! The other one is held in West Virginia; it’s been held annually since 1969, with the exception of two years: 1968 and 1969. The Derby, like many rural communities, has seen its fair share of struggles throughout its history. As one example, from 1908 to 1948, six different railroads came into operation through Rock Island and Moline. These railroads connected cities and towns throughout southern Iowa and northern Illinois – but they also competed for business as well as territory.
How the Derby Began
The Quad Cities Horse Derby is named after the “Gentle Annie,” a small black horse with a large white streak on her tail. Annie was the only female of her litter and her large white tail stood out against the black of her coat. Annie was discovered in a field in the Quad Cities in the late 1800s and brought in as a stray horse. Annie was named after her rescuer, Annie Campbell, a 19-year-old schoolteacher in Moline. Campbell was known to her students as “Miss Anky” and they affectionately called Annie “Gentle Annie.” The horse came from a long line of race horses and one of the derby’s earliest champions was “Miss Anky’s” great grandfather, General Jackson.
The Early Years
The first horse race was held in 1899, and the local newspapers reported on the horse races for several years. In 1905, the newspaper editors decided to hold a racing event as a way to raise money for a local charity. The first race was sponsored by the Moline Press Association. That year, the event was held at a track in Rock Island, Illinois. The first race was held in early May, but the weather was so hot that some of the horses collapsed and died.
An early newspaper report estimated that only 20 people had shown up to watch the race. The reporters were surprised when a few local farmers showed up to see if they could make a profit betting on the race. They did so, winning $11. The event grew slowly at first, as many people believed that it was too far away to travel to the event. The event also coincided with the city’s Moline Rotary Club’s annual picnic, which further discouraged people from attending. In the first five years, the Derby drew around 500 people – a significant but small number in those days.
The Development of the Derby
By 1915, the Derby was gaining momentum, but still had no clear direction for the future. The Moline Rotary Club decided to sponsor the Derby again that year, but the local newspaper editors decided to take control of the event for the first time. They decided to hold the event in Moline as that was the largest city in the area. The newspaper editors also extended the Derby from a one-day event to a three-day event to accommodate more people. The editors also began to hold a series of horse shows in conjunction with the Derby.
The first show was held in 1918 and drew fewer than 500 people. The editors of the local newspapers saw that the show was an opportunity to earn some money and so were excited when they were able to add a number of additional events to the show. The show drew enough people that the editors realized they might be able to make money by holding the shows on their own. In 1920, they began to promote the show as the “Quad City Horse Show,” and began to charge admission. This event became the “Quad City Horse Show and Derby,” and it is still known today as the “Quad City Horse Show and Derby.”
A Shifting Landscape
The Derby’s popularity increased steadily throughout the early 20th century, but the Great Depression slowed the event’s growth. The Derby was still popular, but it was not drawing as many people as it once had. In the late 1930s, the Derby was experiencing a resurgence; however, World War II ended this growth short as the Derby drew small crowds for the next few decades. In the 1960s, the Derby began to grow again, and the local newspapers began to devote more resources to promoting the event. In 1968, the newspapers hired their first full-time Derby Director; in 1969, the newspapers added a full-time Derby Director and full-time publicity director.
Current-Day Derby Day
Today’s Derby has many of the same traditions as when the event began. The Derby has been held at the Moline Fairgrounds since 1949, and it is still the current location. The Derby uses the same entry fee for each horse: $350. The Derby is a three-day event, and the horses are assigned to different stables the first two nights. The Derby usually closes with a Grand Prix, which is the most difficult class of horse.
What’s Next for the Derby?
The Quad Cities Horse Derby will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2019. The event’s organizers are looking at ways to make the Derby even more unique and special. One of their top priorities is to celebrate the Derby’s history and make the Derby even more accessible to the public.
Conclusion
The Quad Cities Horse Derby is a unique event in the heart of one of the largest urban areas in the nation. It’s a tradition that has been passed down through generations, and it offers a unique opportunity to see some of the nation’s best horsemanship. The Derby also draws people from far-flung areas and is one of the few events in the region that brings people to Moline. Whether you are from Iowa or elsewhere, the Derby is a unique experience that is worth checking out.
