The Epsom Derby is one of the most historic sporting events in the world, having first been run at the famous Epsom Downs back in 1780.
The Derby headlines day two of the Epsom Derby Festival. The race remains as popular as ever, with millions of punters clamouring to place their bets when the Derby rolls around every year.
Epsom Derby Key Facts
Date
Saturday June 1, 2024
Track
Epsom Downs
Distance
1m4f
Class
Group 1
Race Type
Set weights
Prizemoney
£1.625 million
Age
3YO
Worth £1.625 million, the Epsom Derby is one of the biggest races in Europe.
Held at Epsom Downs every June as a part of the Oaks/Derby two-day festival, the Derby attracts huge crowds and it currently holds the title of Britain's richest race.
Epsom Derby Odds
No odds are currently available for the Epsom Derby.
Epsom Derby Tips
Our guide to the Epsom Derby will be published when the field has been finalised.
Epsom Derby Day Card
There are seven premier races on Derby Day at Epsom, including the Group 1 Diomed Stakes and Listed Princess Elizabeth Stakes.
Race No.
Race Name
1
Private Banking Handicap
2
Princess Elizabeth Stakes
3
Diomed Stakes
4
Investec Dash
5
Epsom Derby
6
Zebra Handicap
7
Investec Handicap
2023 Epsom Derby Result
Position
Name
SP
1st
Auguste Rodin
9/2
2nd
King Of Steel
66/1
3rd
White Birch
16/1
Epsom Derby History
Named in honour of the party host, 12th Earl of Derby, the race was first run at Epsom Downs racecourse in 1780. The first Epsom Derby was won by Diomed, of which the Diomed Stakes takes its name from.
The Derby idea inspired the likes of the Kentucky Derby, the Irish Derby and the French Derby, known as the Prix du Jockey Club.
The Derby is the middle leg of the fabled Triple Crown. Any colt who can with the 2000 Guineas, the Derby and the St Leger will be called a Triple Crown winner.
West Australia was the first horse to win the Triple Crown in 1853. 14 horses have gone on to repeat that incredible feat since, with the most recent Triple Crown winner being Nijinsky in 1970.
In the latter half of the 20th century, Derby Day became more and more popular with the working class. The Derby was then moved to a Saturday, in order to appeal to it's new demographic.
During World War Two, the Derby was run at Newmarket for six years. Dante won the final running of the Derby at Newmarket in 1945.
Champion jockey, Lester Piggott scored nine wins in the Epsom Derby. His most memorable win came aboard the great Nijinsky.
The quickest time ever recorded in the Derby at Epsom was recorded by Workforce, who stopped the clock in 2:31 under Ryan Moore for Sir Michael Stoute in 2010.
Three trainers have won the Derby on seven occasions. Robert Robson, John Porter and Fred Darling are all three-time winners respectively.
The ownership pairing of Sue Magnier and Michael Tabor, which run Coolmore Stud, have owned seven winners and it's a great list of champion winners and future stallions.
Shergar holds the record for length of winning margin. He scored by 10 lengths in 1981 and never gave his opposition a chance.
Galileo, High Chaparral and Pour Moi all became champion stallions and winning the Derby is a significant black type achievement.
Legendary horses like Camelot, New Approach, Motivator and Sea The Stars all won the Epsom Derby after the turn of the millennium.
Wings Of Eagles pulled off an upset in 2017, beating Cliffs Of Moher and Cracksman, despite carrying lengthy odds of 40/1 to post.
In a thrilling finish to the 2019 race, Anthony Van Dyck prevailed ahead of Madhmoon and three of his Ballydoyle stablemates.
There was a huge shock in the 2020 Epsom Derby, as 25/1 outsider Serpentine made all to win for Aidan O'Brien, with 50/1 and 66/1 chances filling the other two places. Charlie Appleby and Godolphin then celebrated their second Derby win, when Adayar joined 2018 winner Masar on the roll of honour.
Sir Michael Stoute ended his ten-year wait for another Derby win when well-backed favourite, Desert Crown bolted up under Richard Kingscote in 2022.
Epsom Derby Trials
Many people often see the 2000 Guineas, despite being run over a mile, as the best trial for the Derby.
Sandown and Lingfield hold their own Classic Trials races. Chester have two Derby Trials, the Dee Stakes and the Chester Vase.
The Craven Stakes at Newmarket is often used as a Derby Trial. As is the Dante Stakes, run at York between the Guineas and the Derby.
Only two horses - Lammtarra and Shaamit - have won the Derby without some sort of warm-up race that season.
