Saturday 3rd June is Derby Day. We trot out the usual tidbits and throw in some great number plates alongside to spur you on! And you heard it straight from the horse’s mouth!
History
The Epsom Derby, or Derby Stakes, is named after Edward Smith-Stanley, the 12th Earl of Derby, who founded the race along with Sir Charles Bunbury in 1780. The course, at Epsom Downs in Surrey, is a test of skill and stamina for both horses and jockeys and covers an undulating and challenging track over a distance of approximately one and a half miles.
Triple Crown
Winning the Epsom Derby counts towards the coveted Triple Crown of British horse racing, which also requires successes at both the 2000 Guineas Stakes and the St. Leger Stakes in the same year. Very few riders and runners have achieved this remarkable feat, the last being Lester Piggot on Nijinsky in 1970.
Lester also holds the record of nine Derby wins, but perhaps the event’s most famous horse was the legendary Shergar, ridden to victory by Walter Swinburn in 1981.
Go FD!
An interview with Frankie Dettori
Our own Frankie Dettori has galloped to victory twice, riding Authorized (2007) and Golden Horn (2015). This year, he rides hot favourite Arrest and hopes to bow out in style with what will probably be the jockey’s last-ever Derby.
We were pleased to feature Frankie in an extensive interview for our magazine, The World of Personal Number Plates in July 2010.
Attendance
The Epsom Derby is not only a prestigious sporting event but also a grand social occasion and a high point in the fashion calendar. Attendees, often including royalty and celebrities, contribute to the vibrant and glamorous atmosphere.
The annual event attracts around 150,000 spectators, although attendance in the early years was probably much higher. The 1895 event was filmed by the English pioneering cinematographer Birt Acres and his 50-second footage, which captures Sir Visto’s victory and the crowds swarming over the finishing line, is thought to be one of earliest-ever examples of moving film.
Culture
The carnival atmosphere inspired various works of literature, art, and music and has been celebrated and referenced in numerous films, including Love Actually (2003), Casino Royale (2006) and GoldenEye (1995).
Favourites
Major horse racing events like the Derby and the Grand National are seen by many as an excuse for a ‘little flutter’ often based solely on some association with the names of the horses, rather than any in-depth knowledge of form.
This year’s favourites include the usual inexplicable and bizarre array of names like Military Order, Auguste Rodin, Passenger, Arrest, The Foxes and Sprewell. Whatever your choice, always remember to gamble responsibly.
A winning plate
Unite your car with a personal number plate for a winning combination! A personal number plate is a great way of celebrating your association with horse racing or any other interest. Here are some great examples:
Widen your choice with any other word that describes your hobby or profession or type anything of interest in the search field at the top of the page and see what comes up.
