Derby (horse race)

The start of the 2009 Hong Kong Derby.

A derby (UK /ˈdɑːbɪ/ DAH-bee or US /ˈdɜrbɪ/ DUR-bee) is a type of horse race named after the Derby Stakes run at Epsom Downs Racecourse in England.[1] That was in turn named after Edward Smith-Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby, who inaugurated the race in 1780.[2] Perhaps the best-known example after the original is the Kentucky Derby in the United States.[3][4]

Traditionally, the term "derby" is used strictly to refer to races restricted to three-year-olds, as the English and U.S. Triple Crown races all are. The most notable exceptions to this rule are the Hong Kong Derby and Singapore Derby, restricted to four-year-old Thoroughbreds, and the Canadian Pacing Derby, an annual harness race for "aged pacers" (Standardbreds) four years old and up.

In Scandinavian harness racing Derby is restricted to four-year-olds. Exception is the Finnhorse Derby, which is restricted to five-year-olds.

NamePlaceDistanceRestrictionsFirst
race
DayNotes
American DerbyArlington Park, Arlington Heights, Illinois, USA[t 1]1 3/16 miles[t 2]1884[5]
Australian Derby (also known as AJC Derby)Randwick Racecourse, Sydney2,400 metres3 yr olds1861Late March or early April
Bangalore Derby[6]2,400 metres4 yr olds & up
Epsom Derby (also known as The Derby, Derby Stakes and the English Derby)Epsom Downs Racecourse, England1 mile, 4 furlongs and 10 yards3 yr olds colts and fillies17801st Saturday in June[t 3]
French Derby (more often known as Prix du Jockey Club)Chantilly Racecourse2,100 metres (about 1 mile and 2½ furlongs)3 yr olds colts and fillies1836Early June
German Derby (Deutsches Derby)Horner Rennbahn, Hamburg2,400 metres (about 1½ miles) 3 yr olds colts and fillies 1869 Early July
Hong Kong DerbySha Tin Racecourse 2,000 metres 4 yr olds 1873 mid March
Italian Derby (Derby Italiano)Capannelle Racecourse22001884
Indian DerbyMahalaxmi Racecourse, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India2,400 metres4 yr olds19431st Sunday in Feb.
Irish Derby The Curragh, County Kildare, Ireland 1½ miles 3 yr olds 1866 Last Sunday in June[t 4]
Kentucky Derby Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky, USA 1¼ miles 3 yr olds 1875 1st Saturday in May
New Zealand DerbyEllerslie Racecourse, Auckland2,400 metres (12 furlongs)3yr olds18601st Saturday in March
Queensland Derby
Singapore Derby Kranji Racecourse 2,000 metres 4 yr olds 1880 Mid July
Swedish Trotting Derby (Svenskt Travderby)Jägersro Racetrack, Malmö2,640 metres (1,64 miles)4yr olds19281st Sunday in September
Tokyo Yushun
Japanese Derby
Tokyo Racecourse 2,400 metres 3 yr olds colts and fillies1932 late May or Early June Currently the richest Derby.
Victoria Derby Flemington Racecourse 2,500 metres 3 yr olds1855
WATC Derby
Footnotes:
  1. Location has varied
  2. Distance has varied
  3. Before 1995, 1st Wednesday in June
  4. Current race date. Dates have varied over time, but have always been in late June or early July.
Other

Notes

References