Based on it's purse and (lack of) popularity amongst the biggest east coast outfits, I'd say the KY Derby was more of a regional race than a national fixture until around the time of the blackout of racing in NY. It did take off in a big enough way that by 1920, when MOW skipped it that his absence was worthy of note.
I like studying the historyof some of the great races. It's sad that some have lost favor. The Realization was once of the most important 3yo races and was initially a race you became eligible for by nominating to the Futurity. The name implied that the colt had "realized" the potential he had shown at two. The Suburban was also THE big summer race that any outfit with a good older horse wanted to win. I think it was the opening day feature at Belmont in 1905.
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RIP Monroe.
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