You say Derby and I say Darby
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Divided by a common language
but not by horse racing
whether it’s Derby or Darby
Britain has many traditions. Americans cannot identify with many of them, but there is one, a horse race called, The Derby Stakes, known colloquially as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby. The race is ran at Epsom Downs Racecourse, Epsom, Surrey, England.
The 1821 running of The Derby
The horse race called the Epsom Derby was first run 1779, it was the idea of Lord Derby, hence the name. It has been run practically every year since then and has been copied around the world including the Kentucky Derby (Americans pronounce it Derby, the British is pronounced Darby) and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France. There is a classic race for three year-olds in most countries with a horse-racing tradition.
The race is the most prestigious race in Britain, as is the Kentucky Derby in America. Others are the Cheltenham Gold Cup, which is part of a week long festival of races over medium sized fences, the Irish owners and horse-lovers invade Cheltenham for a week and usually go home with a few prizes. The Grand National is another famous race for bigger horses, it is over 4 and half miles over 30 high jumps. It is a dangerous race which many riders fail to finish and unfortunately one or two horses often have to be put down after a serious accident.
For jockeys, winning the Derby is the pinnacle of their career, sometimes after many years of trying. Sir Gordon Richards, regarded in his time as the greatest jockey in the world, did not win the race until twenty eight years after his first ride, a year before he retired through injury. In contrast, this year’s race was won by a nineteen year old French lad at his first attempt riding a French horse. He nearly lost the race by standing in his irons and punching the air a few yards short of the finish. Luckily his horse kept going to a photo-finish. Lester Piggott the English jockey had the most wins at nine.
American-bred Epsom Derby winner
Winning owners have changed over the years. During the 19-century they were mostly dukes and earls (they had the money) but they have been superseded by more of the lower orders who now have the money to indulge their hobby, and other newcomers are the Arab princes. In 1881 it was won by an American-bred horse, Iroquis. The only time it has been won by a British monarch was by Edward VII in 1909 – he was a playboy and the despair of his mother Queen Victoria. In 1913 a suffragette was killed when throwing herself under the King’s horse.
The Queen is a racing enthusiast and has her own stud. A few years ago, in her early eighties, she was filmed literally running around the royal box to catch the finish of a race. She has had no luck with the Derby though.
She has had nine runners over the years but this will be her first since Church Parade finished fifth 30 years ago. She came closest to winning in 1953 when Aureole was second. This year she came third – she might have won but her horse was pushed to the outside on a bend and it lost a shoe half a furlong from the finish. Judging by her enthusiasm for life she will have a few more years to keep trying.
Iroquois – 1st American-bred horse to win the Epsom Derby, winning in 1881
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I used to have a flutter on the big races, but especially the Grand National, it was a lot fun for not much money, was a fan of the bigger horses that jumped over the sticks, those thoroughbreds looked in need of a good meal.