Epsom Derby History

The Derby Stakes, also known as the Derby or the Epsom Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in England open to three-year-old colts and fillies. It is run at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey on the first Saturday of June each year, over a distance of one mile, four furlongs and 10 yards (2,423 metres), or about 1½ miles.^[1] It was first run in 1780. 

It is Britain's richest flat horse race, and the most prestigious of the five Classics. It is sometimes referred to as the "Blue Riband" of the turf. The race serves as the middle leg of the historically significant Triple Crown of British horse racing, preceded by the 2000 Guineas and followed by the St Leger, although the feat of winning all three is rarely attempted in the modern era due to changing priorities in racing and breeding, and the demands it places on horses. 

The name "Derby" (deriving from the sponsorship of the Earl of Derby) has been borrowed many times, notably by the Kentucky Derby in the United States, and to describe many other key racing and sporting events. The term "Epsom Derby" is often used in the United States and elsewhere, in order to differentiate The Derby from other races such as the Irish Derby or German Derby.^[2] The Derby run at Epsom is usually referred to as "the Derby" in Great Britain. It is one of Britain's great national sporting events^[3] and has a large worldwide TV audience.^[4]

 Initially, the Derby was run on a Thursday in late May or early June, depending on when Easter occurred. In 1838 the race was moved to a Wednesday to fit in with the railways' timetables, but still followed the moveable feast of Easter. In the 20th century, the race was run mainly on a Wednesday in late May or early June until 1994, after which it was changed to a Saturday in early June.^[8] From 1915 to 1918 (during World War I), it was on a Tuesday, with the race's latest ever date being 31 July 1917.^[9] From 1942 to 1945 (during World War II), 1947 to 1950, and in 1953, the race was run on a Saturday.^[7] From 1969 to 1994, it was on the first Wednesday in June. From 2003 to at least 2022, it has been on the first Saturday in June, apart from a race on 4 July 2020 without spectators, owing to COVID-19.

^{DERBY STAKES RECORDS} 

WINNING TRAINERS

10 wins (2001-2024) Aidan O’Brien

WINNING JOCKEYS

9 wins (1954-1983) Lester Piggott

FASTEST TIMES  

2 min. 31.33 sec. WORKFORCE 2010

WINNING DISTANCE LONGEST 

10 lengths SHERGAR 1981

LONGEST PRICED WINNERS

(100-1  JEDDAH 1898)(100-1 SIGNORINETTA 1908) (100-1 ABOYEUR 1913)

SHORTEST PRICED WINNERS 

(2-9 LADAS 1894) 

FIELD LARGEST 

34 – 1862

FIELD SMALLEST 

4 – 1794

FAVOURITES TO £10 WIN LEVEL STAKE (Joint favourites , stakes divided )

1780 – 1829        -£25.54

1830 – 1879        -£29.17

1880 – 1929         -£5.25

1930 – 1979     +£194.66

1980 – 2024        -£16.85

TOTAL + £117.85 

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(2025 Epsom Derby preview will be posted on Thursday 5th June 2025 )