Watched by millions of racing fans worldwide, the Epsom Derby is famously the richest flat race in the UK. Held at the renowned Epsom Racecourse in Surrey, the Epsom Derby is categorised as a Group 1 flat horse race and is widely accepted as the most significant fixture of the ‘Five Classics’. In 2021, the race’s purse came in at £1,125,000, with the winning owners enjoying a sizable £637,998 in prize money.

Making up part of the ‘Triple Crown’, this showpiece race is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. The race, which is referred to as simply ‘The Derby’ in the racing world, is run on the first Saturday of June every year with an official distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 6 yards. The event is also known as the Derby Stakes, the Blue Riband of the Turf as well as the Cazoo Derby (for sponsorship purposes).

The Epsom Derby boasts roots dating back to the 18th Century, with the race inaugurated in 1780. The Derby has been run at Epsom Racecourse in all years except during the world wars and was run over just 1 mile until 1784. There was a slight alteration to the event in 2020 when it was run in July, a month later than it is traditionally held. This was due to the Coronavirus pandemic and the many restrictions placed on sporting events.

With such a rich and long history, there have been many important Epsom Derby race records formed, with the event attracting world-famous horses, jockeys, trainers and owners.

Workforce holds the record for the shortest winning time, completing the course in a mere 2m 31.33s in 2010.

When it comes to jockeys, no individual is more worthy of a mention than Lester Piggott who has ridden 9 winners of this iconic race. These include Never Say Die (1954), Crepello (1957), St. Paddy (1960), Sir Ivor (1968), Nijinsky (1970), Roberto (1972), Empery (1976), The Minstrel (1977) and Teenoso (1983).