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Epsom Derby

Flat horse race in Britain / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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The Derby Stakes, also known as the Epsom Derby or the 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.

Quick facts: Location, Inaugurated, Race type, Sponsor, We...
Derby Stakes
Group 1 race
Jean_Louis_Th%C3%A9odore_G%C3%A9ricault_001.jpg
LocationEpsom Downs
Epsom, Surrey, England
Inaugurated1780
Race typeFlat / Thoroughbred
SponsorBetfred
WebsiteEpsom Derby
Race information
Distance1m 4f 10y (2,423m), or about 1½ miles
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationThree-year-olds
excluding geldings
Weight9 st 0 lb
Allowances
3 lb for fillies
Purse£1,604,000 (2022)
1st: £909,628
Close
Derby%2C_the_Paddock.jpg
Derby, the Paddock (1892)
Isinglass-Wins-The-De.jpg
Isinglass wins the Derby (1893)

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. The name "Epsom Derby" is often used in the United States, in order to differentiate The Derby from races such as the Kentucky Derby or Florida 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]