The Indonesia Derby is a flat horse race in Indonesia held for three-year-old colts and fillies. It is run over a distance of 2,000 meters (approximately 1.25 miles or 10 furlongs), usually in late July or early August. It is part of the Indonesia's Horse Racing series.
It was first officially run by the Equestrian Association of Indonesia in 1972, and, under official regulations, is one of the two official classic races, along with the Indonesia Oaks (Pertiwi Cup). The Derby is also part of the first leg of the National Championships (Kejurnas) since 1975, followed by the Super Sprint and the Star of Stars in the second leg. Additionally, It is the final leg of the Indonesian Triple Crown (Indonesian: Piala Tiga Mahkota), preceded by the Triple Crown Series 1 over a distance of 1,200 meters and the Triple Crown Series 2 over a distance of 1,600 meters.
Thoroughbred horses are considered ineligible to run in the Indonesia Derby, as well as the other Indonesian classic races. Almost all of the participating racehorses are crossbreeds, although there were successful local sandel horses in the earlier decades. One notable example was in 1976 where Cempaka, a local horse from East Java, won the Indonesian Derby.
The Derby is the highest points-awarding race in the National Championships, with 16.5, 11, and 5.5 points awarded to the first, second, and third placed horses respectively. The provincial contingent with the most points in the National Championships are awarded the President of the Republic of Indonesia's Cup.
History
Pre-Derby: the Soeharto Cup
In October 1966, the Equestrian Association of Indonesia (PORDASI) was inaugurated by the government as the sole parent organization for equestrianism in Indonesia, with General Suharto as its patron. In the same year, PORDASI carried out the first National Championship in Bogor. The event was an Open Class A race for the Soeharto Cup, which was a rolling trophy. The first edition was won by Diana which was owned by Suharto himself.
The Soeharto Cup continued on with a one race format up until 1974. In 1975, the National Championships format was changed to two legs, the first being the Indonesia Derby, and the second features several races classified by height. Since then, the Soeharto Cup was won by the most successful provincial contingent in both legs of the National Championships. After the fall of Suharto, the cup was renamed to the Bhayangkara Cup, and now the President of the Republic of Indonesia's Cup.
An equivalent to the Soeharto Cup in its single race format today would be the Star of Stars.
Indonesia Derby The Indonesia Derby was first inaugurated in 1972. For the first three years of its existence, it existed alongside the Soeharto Cup. In 1972 and 1973, the race was open to any horse of any breed, including thoroughbreds. Ever since 1974 however, the race was exclusively for 3-year-old crossbreeds and locals. In 1975 and onwards, the Derby was part of the National Championships, and thus, before 1997, part of the Soeharto Cup.
In 1976 to 1978 the Indonesian Triple Crown was first held. Unlike the current format, the Indonesian Derby was the first race, and is followed by a 1200 and 1600 meter race held by PORDASI. The 1976 and 1977 featured double crown winners, which were Cempaka, a local breed, and Bayu Kartika. Both Cempaka and Bayu Kartika were successful in the first two races, but lost in the final 1600 meter race. The Triple Crown was eventually won by Mystere in 1978. His achievement however, is disputed and unrecognized by PORDASI, as the Triple Crown series was discontinued in 1979.
In 1981, the Indonesian government imposed a nationwide ban on gambling. Thus, the totalizator, as well as all gambling operations, were removed from Pulomas Racecourse. Ever since then, the horse racing industry declined in popularity and earnings.
The Derby changed in length several times during the New Order. From 1200 to 1400 meters in 1975, 1400 to 1600 meters in 1990, and 1600 to 1850 meters in 1995.
The Reformasi era, which is the ongoing era in Indonesia marked by the fall of Suharto, saw the revival of Triple Crown winners. In 2002 Manik Trisula won the Indonesia Derby to achieve the Triple Crown, and Djohar Manik did the same in 2014.
Despite the achievements of several racehorses, Indonesia's horse racing industry continued to plummet in both popularity and revenue in the 21st century. Pulomas Racecourse, Indonesia's flagship racecourse, gradually lost its prominence as facilities were neglected and damaged from floods. The venue was eventually closed in 2016 to make way for the Jakarta International Equestrian Park, an equestrian venue for the 18th Asian Games.
For 39 years the Indonesia Derby had been held at the Pulomas Racecourse, and ever since its abolishment the Derby moved to Tegalwaton Racecourse, Central Java for four years until before the COVID-19 pandemic. After the pandemic, the event's racecourse changes every few years, depending on PORDASI's decision. The Derby was held at Legokjawa Racecourse, West Java in 2021, then Ki Ageng Astrojoyo Racecourse, East Java in 2022, then Kandih (Sawahlunto) Racecourse, West Sumatra, in 2023, then Sultan Agung Racecourse, DI Yogyakarta in 2024 and 2025. The upcoming 2026 Indonesia Derby is planned to be held at the Legokjawa Racecourse once more.
In 2023, horse racing promotors and organizers, SARGA.CO, was founded by now chairman of PORDASI, Aryo Djojohadikusumo. SARGA.CO collaborated with PORDASI to organize horse racing events, with the goal of rebuilding, developing, and popularizing Indonesian horse racing. Since 2025 SARGA.CO introduced the national calendar in the form of a racing circuit, Indonesia's Horse Racing. The Indonesia Derby, along with other national level races including the Triple Crown and the National Championships, is part of Indonesia's Horse Racing.
In 2025, King Argentin won the Indonesia Derby and achieved the Triple Crown.
Qualification
Classification Horses competing in the Indonesia Derby must meet several requirements in terms of breed, age, and height. As with most horse races in Indonesia, thoroughred horses are not allowed to compete. Only crossbreeds between thoroughbreds and local breeds (called G/KP), including the Kuda Pacu Indonesia, are qualified to race.
The Indonesia Derby is exclusive for horses in the Derby Class, which is a classification for three year old colts and fillies with a height of 156.1 cm or taller. Three year old horses under the height requirement are not eligible to compete in the 2000m Indonesia Derby, and compete in the Juvenile (Remaja) Class instead. Additionally, the additional weight carried by horses differ by sex, with colts carrying 51 kg and fillies carrying 50 kg based on national horse racing regulations. +Horse classifications for the Indonesia Derby. ClassificationNotesBreedG/KP/Kuda Pacu Indonesia-Age3-year-oldBirth dates are standardized to 1 August.HeightDerby Class (≥156.1 cm)Horses who had qualified for the Derby Class at least once cannot move down to the Juvenile Class despite latest measurements.
Preliminary races There are no step races that give direct qualification for the Indonesia Derby. Instead, horses go through a preliminary round. The horses are drawn with consideration of their previous races results. Favorable major races include the previous two Triple Crown races, the Pertiwi Cup, as well as other pre-Derby races including, but not limited to, the Jateng Derby, the King Hamengkubuwono X Cup 3-year-old Derby race, the Sawahlunto Derby, and the previous year's Indonesia Derby 2-year-old Beginner A/B Class race.
The preliminary round, usually two weeks before the race, and are divided into two heats of ten to twelve horses. The top six horses in each heat qualify for the Indonesia Derby, with the seventh place horses becoming reserve racers. The horses that do not qualify for the Indonesia Derby compete in the Non-Finalist 3-year-old Derby race. +Preliminary races for the Indonesia DerbyNoRace nameGradeDistanceQualification13-year-old Derby Heat IEliminationDirt 2000mTop 623-year-old Derby Heat IIEliminationDirt 2000mTop 6
Locations Over the years the race has been held at the following racetracks:
+YearsRacecourseTimes1974Ranomuut Racecourse(1 time)1975Arcamanik Racecourse(1 time)1976 – 2015Pulomas Racecourse(39 times)2016 – 2019Tegalwaton Racecourse(3 times)2020 Not held due to COVID-19 pandemic2021, 2026Legokjawa Racecourse(2 times)2022Ki Ageng Astrojoyo Racecourse(1 time)2023Kandih Racecourse(1 time)2024 – 2025Sultan Agung Racecourse(2 times)
Records Most wins by a jockey: 5 wins – Coen Singal (1988, 1990, 1999, 2000, 2004) 5 wins – Jemmy Runtu (2016, 2018, 2021, 2024, 2025) 3 wins – Welly Mewengkang (1982, 1985, 1997) 3 wins – Harny Pantouw (1981, 2005, 2010) 2 wins – Buce Pantouw 1976, 1978) 2 wins – J. Sumuweng (1984, 1992) 2 wins – Suwarno (1989, 1995) 2 wins – Ara Suhara (1987, 2002) 2 wins – Mecky Tewuh (1993, 2011) 2 wins – Hanny Suoth (1994, 2019) 2 wins – Falentino Sangian (2022, 2026)
Most wins by a trainer: 5 wins – Karlan (2018, 2019, 2021, 2024, 2025) 5 wins – Edwin Basuki (1988, 1990, 2000, 2005, 2014) 4 wins – Wahono A.T (1996, 1997, 1999, 2001) 3 wins – H. Ermy Bahar (2004, 2008, 2010) 2 wins – E. Lanujaya (1992, 1993) 2 wins – Martin Supit (1979, 1981) 2 wins – M. Udis (1989, 2013)
Most wins by an owner: 14 wins – Pamulang Stud & Stable (1976, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2008, 2010) 6 wins – King Halim Stable (2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2024, 2025) 3 wins – Dago Stable (1995, 2001, 2009) 2 wins – Aragon Stable (2003, 2014) 2 wins – Bendang Stable (2004, 2008) 2 wins – Totemboan Stable (1975, 1982) 2 wins – Ir. Jeane (1993, 1996) 2 wins – Albert "Abe" C.J Mantiri (1974, 1977)
Winners (Note on Indonesian words in the names; dh. indicates the former name of the horse.)
Italic indicates filly Bold indicates Triple Crown winner
Year WinnerBreed Jockey Trainer Owner(s) (Stable) Distance Venue Time(Open to all breeds) 1972 SampaniLocal Memed Atang Sobandi 1200 m 1973 JimmyForeign breed Sukarya Leidayasi 1200 m(3-years-old Derby Class) 1974 Priamdh. Mahesa DjenarG1 Maxi Singal KaboriA.C.J. Mantiri
Prihartono, SH. 1200 m Ranomuut 1975 ValenciaG1 Jori Lampus H. Pandegirot (Totemboan Stable) 1400 m Arcamanik 1976 CempakaLocal Buce Pantouw Mas Slamet (Pamulang Stud & Stable) 1400 m Pulomas 1977 Bayu KartikaG1 Alo Turangan Berth Supit B. Mamahit 1400 m 1978 MystereG1 Buce Pantouw Abdullah S (Pamulang Stud & Stable) 1400 m1:36.4 1979 TrisoelaG1 Jimmy Roring Martin Supit H. Subagyo 1400 m1:33.6 1980 Ken AyuG1 L. Rawis Abdullah (Pamulang Stud & Stable) 1400 m1:31.2 1981 PejoeangG2 Harny Pantouw Martin Supit Century Stable 1400 m1:40.16 1982 Leonardodh. SawanganG2 Welly Mewengkang G.A. Siwu Tontemboan Stable 1400 m 1983 Rio Bravodh. Maha PutraG2 Ary Rori J. Frederik Ny. M. Frederik 1400 m 1984 Mawar MelatiG2 J. Sumuweng A. Lanujaya Mawar Merah Stable 1400 m 1985 LibertyG1 Welly Mewengkang E. Darusman Liberty Stable 1400 m 1986 Putra SulutG2 Jemmy Roring A. Supit 1400 m 1987 Sari Pohacidh. SelindoG2 Ara Suhara Mumuh Hiswara Dharma Putera 1400 m1:31.9 1988 GaligoG2 Coen Singal Edwin Basuki Dr. Achmad Rizal 1400 m1:46.03 1989 Putri PajajaranG3 Suwarno M. Udis Airspin Stable 1400 m 1990 Big BenG2 Coen Singal Edwin Basuki Dr. Achmad Faizal 1600 m 1991 MulawarmanG3 E. Kosasih B. Wowiling Sonny Baksono, SH (Pamulang Stud & Stable) 1600 m1:44.34 1992 Ratu AdriaG3 J. Sumuweng E. Lanujaya Amris Hassan (Pamulang Stud & Stable) 1600 m 1993 Roofcryldh. Jaka BandungG3 Mecky Tewuh E. Lanujaya Ir. Jeane