First Epsom Derby
- When
- 1779–1780
- Where
- celebration following the first Oaks Stakes; Epsom Downs Racecourse, Surrey
- Episodes
- 2
The inaugural Derby Stakes was run on Epsom Downs in Surrey on Thursday 4 May 1780, following the success of the 1779 Oaks Stakes. The new race was named after the 12th Earl of Derby, who hosted the celebration at which it was conceived. The supplied passages do not name the first winner, so the legacy claim that Diomed won cannot be confirmed.
Episodes
- Origins after the 1779 Oaks
The Derby was conceived at a celebration following the first running of the Oaks Stakes in 1779.
- First Running of the Derby, 4 May 1780
The inaugural Derby Stakes was held on Thursday 4 May 1780 at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey.
Background and detail
Background. The Derby originated at a celebration following the first running of the Oaks Stakes in 1779. The Stanley family, Earls of Derby, had a long history of horse-racing; James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby, had earlier instituted racing on the Isle of Man, donating a cup for the 'Manx Derby'.
Naming the Race. A new race was planned at the 1779 celebration, and it was decided it should be named after either the host, the 12th Earl of Derby, or his guest Sir Charles Bunbury. The Bunbury Cup at Newmarket would later honour Bunbury instead.
The Inaugural Running. The first Derby Stakes was held on Thursday 4 May 1780 at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey. The race was open to three-year-old colts and fillies, and would grow into Britain's most prestigious Classic.
People involved
- 12th Earl of Derby · host of the 1779 celebration and namesake of the race
- Sir Charles Bunbury · guest at the 1779 celebration; the naming choice fell between him and Lord Derby
Sources
- Epsom Derby Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-03
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.