The Epsom Derby is a prestigious British horse race held in Surrey, open to three-year-old horses and considered one of the British Classic Races. It takes place over a mile and a half and is part of the Der Festival, which includes other races and events. The race has cultural significance and has been won by both colts and fillies, with six fillies winning in its history. Other races around the world, such as the Kentucky Derby, are named after it.
The Epsom Der is a prestigious British horse race which takes place on the plain of Epsom Downs, in the county of Surrey. The Der is the second race of the British Triple Crown and is considered one of the British Classic Races. The Der weekend is a big event in Surrey, as thousands of spectators descend on the racecourse for Epsom Derby races and other events, including high-profile members of society such as the reigning monarch of England.
Epsom Downs has been a venue for horse racing and informal gatherings for several hundred years. In 1779, Edward Smith Stanley, the 12th Earl of Derby established a breed called the Epsom Oaks, which was run by fillies on the plains. The race proved to be a huge success and the first Epsom Derby was run the following year. The Epsom Der is open to both colts and fillies, and has been won by six fillies in its history.
Entry to the Epsom Der is limited to three-year-old horses, which are by convention considered the cream of the crop. Horses that win the Epsom Derivatives can fetch high stallion prices, since the race has so much social and cultural significance, and is a demanding and grueling course that requires a large number of equine athletes to participate. Traditionally, the Epsom Dersi runs over a mile and a half, a distance which is sometimes referred to as the ‘DerDistance’ in reference to the Epsom Dersis itself.
Traditionally, the Epsom Dersi is held the first weekend in June, as part of the DerFestival. Other races, including the Epsom Oaks, take place over the festival weekend, which also includes receptions, dinners, dances and other events. Some festival events are open to the public, while others require tickets or invitations to attend. Likewise, any member of the public can attend the Epsom Derby, although tickets for good seats can be hard to come by.
Around the world, other prestigious races are named after the Epsom Derby, probably in the hope of building positive associations. In the United States, for example, horses compete in the Kentucky Dere, and fillies can also compete in the Kentucky Oaks, which is traditionally held the day before the Derby. The Kentucky Derby, however, is not held over the traditional Derby distance; this distance is instead reserved for the Belmont Stakes, another race in the American Triple Crown.
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