Wins The Derby, the form horse of 1893 romps home in that years classic Epsom Derby]]
, known colloquially as The Derby (pronounced "dar-bee" in SA/"der-bee" in countries using American English pronunciation) and internationally as the Epsom Derby, is considered one of the most prestigious flat Thoroughbred Horse Race s in the world. The race takes place each year in June (first weekend)at Epsom Downs Racecourse , Epsom , Surrey , England . (The race was held at Newmarket from 1915-1918 and called the New Derby Stakes.)
The Derby is one of the five British Classic Races and is the second leg of the English Triple Crown , preceded by the 2,000 Guineas and followed by the St Leger .
It is a Group 1 race for three-year-old Colts and Fillies - colts 9 st (126 lb or 57.2 kg), fillies 8 st 9 lb (121 lb or 54.9 kg). In modern times the race is almost always contested by colts only. Fillies and older horses also run the same course and distance for the Oaks and Coronation Cup respectively.
Many Derby contenders are prepared for the race by running in one or more of the recognised Derby Trials .
Derby winners will often go on to compete for the big international races later in the season, such as the Prix De L'Arc De Triomphe in France and the Breeders' Cup in the United States .
The first recorded race took place in 1661. The Derby, as it is known today, originated at a celebration following the first running of the in the inaugural running the following year on May 4 1780 collecting prize money of £1,065 15s.
The Earl achieved his first success in the race in 1787 with Sir Peter Teazle .
The first four runnings of the race were over a distance of 1 Mile (1,609 metres) but this was amended in 1784 to the current distance of 1 mile 4 Furlong s (2,414 metres).
As a result of measurement, official distance was changed to 1 mile 4 furlongs and 10 Yard s (2,423 metres) in 1991.
Six fillies have won the Derby: Eleanor (1801), Blink Bonny (1857), Shotover (1882), Signorinetta (1908), Tagalie (1912) and Fifinella (1916)
- - Lester Piggott , 9 wins
- - Robert Robson , John Porter and Fred Darling , 7 wins
- - 3rd Earl Of Egremont and Aga Khan III , 5 wins
- ''(at Epsom)'' - 2m 32.31s, Lammtarra (1995)
- - 10 lengths, Shergar (1981)
- - Jeddah (1898), Signorinetta (1908), Aboyeur (1913), 100/1
- - Ladas (1894), 2/9
- - 34 (1862)
- - 4 (1794)
'' www.racingbetter.co.uk - "50 Derby Facts".
- - One of the horses was brought down by a spectator.
- - Amato never raced before or after winning the Derby.
- - The original winner Running Rein was disqualified as he was actually an ineligible four-year-old horse named Maccabeus.
- - Iroquois became the first American-bred to win a leg of the British triple crown.
- - The race finished with a dead-heat between Harvester and St. Gatien.
- - Merry Hampton is the most recent horse to win the Derby with no previous victories.
- - The winner was owned by the Prime Minister at the time, the 5th Earl Of Rosebery .
- - The first year in which a mechanical starting gate was used.
- - Minoru was the first Derby winner owned by a reigning monarch, King Edward VII , who'd previously won twice as Prince Of Wales .
- - The Suffragette Emily Davison was killed after throwing herself in front of King George V's horse, Anmer.
- - The 6/4 favourite Craganour, owned by Charles B. Ismay , and brother of J. Bruce Ismay of the Titanic , was controversially disqualified and the race was awarded to the 100/1 outsider Aboyeur.
- - Fifinella , who also won the Oaks , is the most recent of 6 fillies to win the race. Both victories were at Newmarket where the meeting was transferred during World War I .
- - The winner Humorist died two weeks after the race.
- - April The Fifth is the most recent winner trained at Epsom
- - The first Derby to be broadcast by the BBC .
- - Airborne is the most recent of 4 grey horses to win the Derby.
- - Pinza was the first winner in the race for the jockey Sir Gordon Richards , after 27 unsuccessful attempts.
- - The runner-up Terimon is the longest-priced horse to finish placed in the Derby, at odds of 500/1.
- - Alex Greaves became the first (and so far only) lady jockey to ride in the race. She finished last on the filly Portuguese Lil.
- - The most recent filly to take part, the 1,000 Guineas winner Cape Verdi, started as 11/4 favourite but could only finish 9th.
- - Martin Dwyer 's winning ride on Sir Percy subsequently won the Lester Award for "Flat Ride of the Year".
- Winning margins are shown in "lengths" or shorter ( = dead-heat; '''shd''' = short-head; '''hd''' = head; '''snk''' = short-neck; '''nk''' = neck).
--- The 1828 race finished in a dead-heat, but Cadland won a run-off against The Colonel by ½ length.
--- The 1844 and 1913 winners were awarded victory after the disqualification of the first-placed horse.
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