Getting Into and Succeeding in the Derby
Written by Andy Whiteley, originally published in Golden Retriever News, 2012
Here I go again … a new puppy.
DUH!!! What was I thinking … that my shoes need to be chewed, that my carpet needs to be soiled, that I have too much free time on my hands?!)
“Maverick” is my new project, my great gold hope, my aspiring FC2B! The problem is, however, we’re a long way from there … a very long way from running the “big dog stakes,” Opens and Amateurs. But we can play the game soon, it won’t be long before we’re running a Derby.
So what is a Derby, other than a horse race for 3 year old thoroughbreds held in Kentucky each year? From a field trialer’s point of view, it’s where we normally start. For everyone, and I mean everyone, their first field trial is intimidating, but the Derby stake is a good starting point for all. A Derby is for dogs that are at least 6 months but have not reached yet their second birthday as of the first day of the trial. A Derby stake consists of marks, just marks. There are no blinds in a Derby, and if a dog misses a mark and is handled to it, the dog must be dropped. The two judges have the discretion to have as many marks thrown in a series as they desire, but they generally have doubles thrown in each series, sometimes a single (rarely a triple). There is no prohibition on retiring gunners after the marks are thrown, but it is very rare to see this in a Derby, although the gunners may be difficult to see at times, such as when they sit down after throwing. There are no limits in the rule book as to how long or how short the marks can be … I’ve seen Derby marks as short as 40 yards and as long as 350 yards. But generally, they will fall into the 75 yards to 200 yard range. The rule book states that the dogs should be tested equally on land and water, so water marks will be included.
You can bring your dog to the line on lead if you wish, however before you signal to the judges that you are ready for the birds to be thrown, you must remove the lead because the dog should be steady. [Note: I say “should,” not “shall,” because in a Derby (and the Qualifying), if the dog makes a slight break and is immediately brought under control, they do not have to be eliminated, but shall be penalized for unsteadiness.](1) The dog is required to deliver the birds to hand.
Even though the marks are “just a single or a double,” they can be tough. The dastardly judges will utilize the cover, the terrain, the water, the bird placement, and the wind to test the dog’s natural abilities,2 and help them determine the placements.
If you have never run or even seen a Derby, go to a field trial and watch one to get an idea as to how all this is actually put together and practiced. And ask questions! If you don’t have that option, don’t let that stop you from entering and running a Derby. Go for it! When you arrive, find the stake Marshal and let them know that you are new to the sport. The Marshal can give you guidance and maybe direct you to someone with a bit of experience who can act as your mentor-for-the-day.
Derby stakes are exciting and fun, and a great place to jump into field trials.
[Andy co-owns, trains and handles Golden Retrievers in field trials, including FC AFC LaCrosse Max Q Jake JH OS FDHF and FC AFC Firemarks Elusive One, who was the first FC AFC female of the breed since 1990, … and Maverick, the youngster.]
1 This was a blessing for me when “Lucy” was running Derby stakes. I’ll just say that her desire to retrieve exceeded her desire to sit on multiple occasions… she was penalized a placement or two (or three), but was allowed to continue in the stakes.
2 The rule books states that in the Derby, judges are to test the dogs’ natural abilities over “trained abilities” (i.e. “… abilities acquired through training are of comparatively minor importance in the Derby stake.”)….unfortunately, on occasion it seems that judges forget this statement.