Derby (horse race)

The start of the 2009 Hong Kong Derby.

A derby (UK /ˈdɑːbɪ/ DAH-bee or US /ˈdɜːrbɪ/ 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

  1. ↑ Reeves 1997, p.134.
  2. ↑ Vesey 2003, p. 135.
  3. ↑ Freeman 1997, p. 68.
  4. ↑ Schreifer & Sivell 1996.
  5. ↑ Only run once between 1905 and 1925.
  6. ↑ Sun Kingdom wins Bangalore Derby Retrieved 2011-2-6

References

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