It was run as the Hindoo Stakes from inception in 1883 to 1886 in honor of the Kentucky-bred U.S.
[2] The race usually attracted the Kentucky Derby winner; it became so popular that in 1912 a motion picture was made by Independent Motion Picture Co. entitled Winning the Latonia Derby, featuring silent film star King Baggot.
Future Derby winners Kingman (1891), Halma (1895), Ben Brush (1896), Lieut.
Gibson (1900), Elwood (1904) and Sir Huon (1906) also won the race; the 1918 edition was won by Harry Payne Whitney's Belmont Stakes-winning colt, Johren.
In 1936, Rushaway won the Illinois Derby during the afternoon, then was shipped 300 miles (480 km) overnight to win the Latonia Derby the following afternoon.