the derby | RacingQuestions.co.uk

Which horse holds the course record for the Derby?

The record for the widest winning margin in the history of the Derby is still held by Shergar, who cantered home ten lengths ahead of his nearest rival, Glint Of Gold, in 1981. Interestingly, though, while Shergar was visually highly impressive, his winning time of 2 minutes 44.21 seconds was the slowest since Airborne covered the mile-and-a-half Derby Course in 2 minutes 44.6 seconds, on soft going, in 1946.

Shergar was, of course, trained by Michael Stoute; as Sir Michael Stoute, following his knighthood for services to tourism in his native Barbados in 1998, he also saddled the 2010 Derby winner, Workforce, who recorded the fastest winning time in the history of the Epsom Classic. Despite being one of the least experienced horses in the field, the twice-raced son of King’s Best tackled the long-time leader At First Sight with just over a furlong to run and soon went clear, staying on well in the closing stages to win by seven lengths. On the prevailing good to firm going, his winning time of 2 minutes 31.33 seconds eclipsed the previous course record of 2 minutes 32.31 seconds, set by Cartier Champion Three-year-old Colt, Lammtarra, in 1995.

Which was the longest priced winner of the Derby ever?

The Derby, or Derby Stakes, to give the race its full title, was famously co-founded by Edward Smith-Stanley, Twelfth Earl of Derby and Sir Charles Bunbury, Senior Steward of the Jockey Club, in 1780. The Derby is, and always has been, a conditions stakes race, in which the weight carried by each horse is dictated not by its official rating, or handicap mark, but by the race conditions. Notwithstanding the fact that ‘handicapping’ did not exist until the mid-nineteenth century, it is still remarkable that, in 240 runnings, what has become the most prestigious race in Britain has produced three winners at 100/1.

The first of the triple-figure winners was Jeddah, trained by Richard Marsh and ridden by Herbert ‘Otto’ Madden, in 1898; his victory was apparently greeted with ‘solemn silence’. A decade later, Signorinetta, trained by Cavaliere Edoardo Ginistrelli and ridden by William Bullock, had the distinction of being just the fourth filly to win the Derby and, two days later, won the Oaks as well. Last, but by no means least, completing the unlikely trio came Aboyeur, trained by Tom Lewis and ridden by Edwin Piper, in 1913; in a race marred by fatal injuries to suffragette Emily Davison, Aboyeur, who originally finished second, in a blanket finish, was promoted to first place on the disqualification of 6/4 favourite Craganour.