Derby (horse race) facts for kids
A derby is a special type of horse race. It's named after the Derby Stakes race in England, which started way back in 1780. That race was named after a person, Edward Smith-Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby, who helped create it. One of the most famous derby races today, besides the original English one, is the Kentucky Derby in the United States.
Traditionally, a "derby" race is only for horses that are three years old. These races are often part of a series called the Triple Crown, both in England and the United States. However, some derbies are different. For example, the Hong Kong Derby and Singapore Derby are for four-year-old horses. The Canadian Pacing Derby is even for older horses, four years old and up, and it's a harness race where horses pull a driver in a cart.
In countries like Scandinavia, harness racing derbies are usually for four-year-olds. But there's an exception: the Finnhorse Derby is for five-year-old horses.
Famous Derby Races Around the World
Many countries have their own important derby races. These races are often a big deal in the horse racing world. They usually have specific rules about the age of the horses and the distance they run.
| Name | Place | Distance | Horse Age | First Race | When It Happens |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Derby | Arlington Park, Arlington Heights, Illinois, USA | 1 mile, 3/16 (about 1900 meters) | 1884 | ||
| Australian Derby (also known as AJC Derby) | Randwick Racecourse, Sydney | 2400 meters (about 1.5 miles) | 3-year-olds | 1861 | Late March or early April |
| Bangalore Derby | Bangalore Turf Club | 2,000 meters (about 1.2 miles) | 4-year-olds & up | Mid July | |
| Danish Derby | Klampenborg Galopbane | 2400 meters (about 1.5 miles) | 3-year-olds | 1910 | 1st Saturday in August |
| Epsom Derby (The original Derby) | Epsom Downs Racecourse, England | 1 mile, 4 furlongs, 10 yards (about 2420 meters) | 3-year-old colts and fillies | 1780 | 1st Saturday in June |
| French Derby (Prix du Jockey Club) | Chantilly Racecourse | 2100 meters (about 1.3 miles) | 3-year-old colts and fillies | 1836 | Early June |
| German Derby (Deutsches Derby) | Horner Rennbahn, Hamburg | 2400 meters (about 1.5 miles) | 3-year-old colts and fillies | 1869 | Early July |
| Hong Kong Derby | Sha Tin Racecourse | 2,000 meters (about 1.2 miles) | 4-year-olds | 1873 | Mid March |
| Hungarian Derby (Magyar Derby) | Kincsem Park, Budapest | 2,400 meters (about 1.5 miles) | 3-year-olds | 1921 | Early July |
| Italian Derby (Derby Italiano) | Capannelle Racecourse | 2200 meters (about 1.3 miles) | 1884 | ||
| Indian Derby | Mahalaxmi Racecourse, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India | 2,400 meters (about 1.5 miles) | 4-year-olds | 1943 | 1st Sunday in February |
| Irish Derby | The Curragh, County Kildare, Ireland | 1.5 miles (about 2.4 km) | 3-year-olds | 1866 | Last Sunday in June |
| Kentucky Derby | Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky, USA | 1.25 miles (about 2 km) | 3-year-olds | 1875 | 1st Saturday in May |
| New Zealand Derby | Ellerslie Racecourse, Auckland | 2400 meters (about 1.5 miles) | 3-year-olds | 1860 | 1st Saturday in March |
| Queensland Derby | Eagle Farm Racecourse, Brisbane | 2400 meters (about 1.5 miles) | 3-year-olds | 1868 | June |
| Romanian Derby (Derby Român) | Ploiești Hippodrome | 2,400 meters (about 1.5 miles) | 3-year-old colts and fillies | 1875 | June |
| Singapore Derby | Kranji Racecourse | 1,800 meters (about 1.1 miles) | 4-year-olds | 1880 | Mid July |
| Swedish Trotting Derby (Svenskt Travderby) | Jägersro Racetrack, Malmö | 2640 meters (about 1.6 miles) | 4-year-olds | 1928 | 1st Sunday in September |
| Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) | Tokyo Racecourse | 2,400 meters (about 1.5 miles) | 3-year-old colts and fillies | 1932 | Late May or Early June |
| Victoria Derby | Flemington Racecourse | 2,500 meters (about 1.5 miles) | 3-year-olds | 1855 | |
| WATC Derby | Ascot Racecourse, Perth | 2,400 meters (about 1.5 miles) | 3-year-olds | 1888 | New Year's Day or nearby Saturday |
Related Horse Racing Topics
- American Classic Races
- British Classic Races
- French Classic Races
- Thoroughbred horse racing
- Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
See also
In Spanish: Derby (hípica) para niños
