THE WORLDS MOST FAMOUS HORSE RACE by FROSTY

On the first weekend in June,anually the worlds greatest horse race takes place at Epsom Downs in Surrey England.The Derby was originally concieved in 1779 during an after race party following that years Oaks. Edward Smith-Stanley and Sir Charles Bunbury decided to set up a race for Englands top thoroughbreds and spun a coin to decide who would have the race named after them, Smith-Stanley (the 12th Earl of Derby) won the toss,the race so easily could of been called the Bunbury! Originally the race was run over a mile but was amended to 1 mile 4 furlongs in 1784 and changed to its present distance of 1 mile 4 furlongs and 10 yards in 1991. The most contraversial race in Derby history is undoubtably the race of 1913. Emily Davison a well known suffragette (a campaigner for the right for women to vote) threw herself in front of the Kings horse and later died from head injuries. The winner of the 1913 Derby was a horse named Craganour who was then disqualified and the result was awarded to Aboyeur who was a 100/1 shot. The disqualification of Craganour was shrouded in controversy,the horse was owned by Bower Ismay who was the brother of the then infamous Bruce Ismay a man who had been accused of disguising himself as a woman to enable himself a place on a lifeboat to escape the sinking Titanic. In 1991 the race was won by the widest winning margin ever, 10 lengths, by Shergar who was later to be abducted by the IRA and whose body has never been recovered. The great Lester Piggott holds the record for the most Derby wins with 9, only one woman, Alex Greaves, has ridden in the Derby to date. The fastest winner was Lammtara in 1991 and the 1838 winner Amato never raced before or after his win. There are few races that capture the imagination of the racing public quite like the English Derby, for over two hundred years the best thoroughbreds of their generation have showed their best at the Epsom course, long may it continue. Crowded House is this years current favourite if you would like to bet on the race or look at this years runners visit www.betrite.co.uk.