The Epsom Derby

The first recorded race took place on the Epsom Downs in 1661.

1_OP_3105_An_engraving_by_I_N_Sartorius_1791
An engraving by I N Sartorius 1791
Courtesy of Bourne Hall Museum

In 1780 Lord Derby and his friend Sir Charles Bunbury supposedly flipped a coin to decide the title of a new race. Lord Derby had the race named after him, but Sir Charles’s horse, Diomed, won the first race, run over 1 mile.

The Derby is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. Derby winners have been owned by Kings, Dukes, Indian Princes, and a Prime Minister.

The first French Colt winner was hailed as the Avenger of Waterloo. The first American-bred winner brought business on Wall Street to a halt. In the 19th century, the race became one of the highlights of the English social and sporting calendar. It was requested that parliament close to allow members to attend.

The winner now receives over a million pounds.

The Derby is an important traditional meeting place for the Gypsy community. In 1937 when Gypsies did not have a place to camp, Lady Sybil Grant provided them with a large field. The Conservators now manage the land and it is set aside every year for the traditional Gypsy gathering 2 weeks before the Derby until a week afterwards.

The Derby course is now 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 10 yards.

Epsom Racing Firsts

1779 The Oaks Stakes first run – organised by Edward Smith Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby.	1780 The first Epsom Derby.
1794 The fewest ever runners take part in The Derby with just four horses lining up.	1797 A horse with no name owned by The Duke of Bedford wins The Derby.
1828 After a Dead Heat between Cadland and the Colonel, Cadland won the runoff by half a length.	1844 Running Rein wins The Derby but is later exposed as a four year old colt called Maccabeus. The race was later awarded to the second placed Orlando.
1862 The most ever runners take part in The Derby when 34 horses lined up.	1881 Iroquois ridden by Fred Archer becomes the first American owned and bred Derby winner.
1884 St Gatien and Harvester record the first ever Dead Heat in The Derby.	1954 Lester Piggott, aged 18 yrs, won the first his nine Derby winners aboard the 33/1 Never Say Die.
1981 The Aga Khan’s Shergar wins The Derby spectacularly and records the largest ever winning margin of 10 Lengths.	2007 Frankie Dettori won The Derby on Authorised after 14 previous unsuccessful attempts.
2010 Workforce beat the course record, winning in 2 minutes 31.33 seconds