The Epsom Derby is Britain’s richest horse race. It is a Group 1 race for three-year-old colts and fillies over 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 10 yards, held at Epsom Downs in Surrey in early June.

• Race Type: Group 1, Set weights, 3YO colts and fillies
• Distance: 1 mile 4 furlongs 10 yards (2423 metres)
• Track: Epsom Downs Racecourse, Surrey, England
• Date: Saturday, 7 June 2025 (10:30 pm Saturday AEST)

The first Derby was held in 1780 over 1 mile and was won by a colt called Diomed. The distance was increased to a mile and a half in 1784. It has been held at Epsom for all years except the world war years of 1915 to 1918 and 1940 to 1945 when it was run at Newmarket. This makes it the oldest continually run sporting event in the world.

More than 140 races around the world have adopted the word “Derby” but the Epsom Derby is the original. It is the middle leg of the UK Triple Crown, between the 2,000 Guineas and the St Leger, although it is rare for a horse to attempt all three. The Epsom Derby is held on a Saturday following the running of The Oaks on the Friday. Prizemoney for 2016 was £1.325 million.

In 2022 for the first time in its 242 year history the race was ran in honour of an individual, Lester Piggott, who passed away at the age of 86 the week before.

In 2023 it was moved from the normal UK start time of 4.30 pm to 1.30 pm due to it clashing with the FA Cup final between Manchester United and Manchester City at Wembley.

Previous winners of the Epsom Derby:

Only six fillies have ever won the Epsom Derby and the most recent was Fifinella in 1916. Aidan O’Brien has trained the winner 8 times. Three trainers have each had 7 winners in the race with Robert Robson between 1793 and 1823, John Porter between 1868 and 1899 and Fred Darling between 1922 and 1941. Lester Piggott has been the most successful jockey winning 9 times between 1954 and 1983. Frankie Dettori rode his first winner in 2007 at his 15th attempt.

From the archives:

Epsom Derby Preview & Tips 2016

Track: Soft Weather: Showers

There are 18 runners in the Epsom Derby and the betting is fairly open. The early favourite is the lightly-raced Wings Of Desire who won the Dante Stakes at York. He is trained by John Gosden and ridden by Frankie Dettori who combined to win the race last year with Golden Horn. Second favourite is US Army Ranger who is one of 5 runners for Aidan O’Brien and won the Chester Vase. Third favourite is Cloth Of Stars who won the Group Two Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud last outing. He is trained in France and is by 2009 Derby winner Sea The Stars.

Ulysses is beautifully bred and won a maiden at Newbury by 8 lengths but is really stepping up in class. Deauville was 2^nd in the Dante Stakes. Port Douglas meets his stablemate better at the weights for 2^nd in the Chester Vase. Moonlight Magic was tenacious when winning the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown last month. Harzand has won his last 2 starts and will be suited by the softer going. All other runners are currently 16 to 1 or longer.