Epsom Derby ? Race Details:
When:	June
Track Location:	Epsom Downs, Epsom
Race Distance:	1 mile, 4 furlongs, 10 yards (2423metres)
Race Status:	Group 1
Race Conditions:	Three-year-old Thoroughbred Colts & Fillies
Stakes:	?1.25 million
Inaugurated:	1780

The Group 1 Epsom Derby is the second leg in the highly revered English Triple Crown series. With stakes set at ?1.25 million it is also Britain?s most lucrative thoroughbred race and was first run in 1780 when Diomed won, making it one of the country?s oldest races as well. The event is run over 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 10 yards at Epsom Downs each June and only three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies are allowed to contend this English Classic.

As Britain?s most important Classic race, the Epsom Derby has inspired countries all around the world to host their own version of the event. International adaptations include the Prix du Jockey Club, the Irish Derby, the Deutsches Derby and the Derby Italiano.

The best lead-up race to the Epsom is the first jewel in the English Triple Crown, the 2000 Guineas (1mile) held at Newmarket in late April or early May. Following this, many runners in the Epsom Derby will continue on and compete in the final leg of the Triple Crown with hopes of earning a spot in the history books with the first Triple Crown victory since Nijinsky II in 1970.

The Epsom Derby, as well as the other Triple Crown races, attracts top-quality competitors from right across the globe eager to win one of the world?s most famous flat races. When betting on the Derby, a great way to check out the form and fitness of the entries is to see how they ran and performed in the Derby Trial races. There are a number of trial races run between April and May every year in the lead-up to this important event, the most significant of which include:

Gr. 3 Ballysax Stakes (1 mile 2 furlongs) at Leopardstown in April
Gr. 3 Sandown Classic Trial (1 mile 2 furlongs) at Sandown Park in late April
Gr. 3 Chester Vase (1 mile 4 furlongs) in May
Gr.3 Dee Stakes (1 mile 2 furlongs) at Chester in May
Gr. 3 Lingfield Derby Trial (1 mile 3 furlongs) at Lingfield Park in May
Gr. 2 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial (1 mile 2 furlongs) at Leopardstown in May

All of these races have proved great guides to the Epsom Derby over the years. For example, Derby winners Galileo (2001) and High Chaparral (2002) both triumphed first in the Ballysax Stakes. Lots of horses have also finished within the top three of these earlier events before going on to place in the Epsom, so make sure you consider these dominant horses with your Place bets as well as your Win wagers. All of these events also make for some great betting doubles over the season when paired with the Epsom Derby and there is some fantastic money to be made if you successfully select a colt or filly to win two of these races.

Betting on the favourites for the Epsom Derby has proved to be a smart investment for punters as the top two horses in the betting markets have won 25 of the past 38 runnings of the race.

Epsom Derby ? Records:
Race Record:	2:32.31 set by Lammtarra in 1995
Largest Winning Margin:	Shergar by 10 lengths in 1981
Longest-Priced Winners:	Jedda (1898), Signorinetta (1908) and Aboyeur (1913) all at 100/1
Longest-Priced Placegetter:	Terimon placed second in 1989 at 500-1
Shortest ?Priced Winner:	Ladas (1894) at 2/9
Most Successful Jockey:	Lester Piggott amassed an amazing 9 Epsom Derby wins over his career with Never Say Die (1954), Crepello (1957), St. Paddy (1960), Sir Ivor (1968), Nijinsky (1970), Roberto (1972), Empery (1976), The Minstrel (1977) and Teenoso (1983).
Most Successful Trainer:	there have been three trainers to claim 7 victories in the Epsom Derby. Robert Robson with Waxy (1793), Tyrant (1802), Pope (1809) Whalebone (1810), Whisker (1815), Azor (1817) and Emilius (1823). John Porter with Blue Gown (1868), Shotover (1882), St. Blaise (1883), Ormonde (1886), Sainfoin (1890), Common (1891) and Flying Fox (1899). Fred Darling with Captain Cuttle (1922), Manna (1925), Coronach (1926), Cameronian (1931), Bois Roussel (1938), Pont l?Eveque (1940) and Owen Tudor (1941).

Epsom Derby ? Recent Race Results:

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Time
2009	Sea the Stars	Michael Kinane	John Oxx	Christoper Tsue	2:36.74
2008	New Approach	Kevin Manning	Jim Bolger	Princess Haya of Jordan	2:36.50
2007	Authorized	Frankie Dettori	Peter Chapple-Hyam	Al Homaizi / Al Sagar	2:34.77
2006	Sir Percy	Martin Dwyer	Marcus Tregoning	Anthony Pakenham	2:35.23
2005	Motivator	Johnny Murtagh	Michael Bell	Royal Ascot Racing Club	2:36.69
2004	North Light	Kieren Fallon	Sir Michael Stoute	Ballymacoll Stud	2:33.72
2003	Kris Kin	Kieren Fallon	Sir Michael Stoute	Saeed Suhail	2:33.35
2002	High Chaparral	Johnny Murtagh	Aidan O’Brien	Magnier / Tabor	2:39.45
2001	Galileo	Michael Kinane	Aidan O’Brien	Magnier / Tabor	2:33.27
2000	Sinndar	Johnny Murtagh	John Oxx	HH Aga Khan IV	2:36.75