2007 The Derby Stakes (Epsom Derby)

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The Derby is one of five classic races, and is held each year in June at Epsom Downs, in Epson, Surrey. It is the second leg of the English Triple Crown; the Two Thousand Guineas is the first leg and the St. Leger is the final leg.

It is a Group 1 race for three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies run over a mile and a half (2400 meters). Although fillies are eligible, the race is almost always contested by colts.
The first recorded race was held in 1661, but The Derby, as it is known today, started in 1779 after the first running of the Epsom Oaks.

Sir Percy, with Martin Dwyer in the irons and trained by Marcus Tregoning, won the 2006 running of the Derby by a head over Dragon Dancer. Dylan Thomas was third, a head behind Dylan Thomas.

Sir Percy’ winning time was 2:35.23, well off the track record of 2:32.21 set by Lammatarra in 1995. Eighteen horses battled for a total purse of £304,500 in 2006.

Other recent winners of The Derby are: Motivator, 2005; North Light, 2004; Kris Kin, 2003; High Chaparral, 2002; Galileo, 2001; Sinndar, 2000; Oath, 1999; High-Rise, 1998; Benny the Dip, 1997 and Shaamit, 1996.

Jockeys Johnny Murtagh and Kieren Fallon have won six of the last eight Derbies. Murtagh won in 2000, 2002 and 2005 and Fallon’s wins came in 1999, 2003 and 2004.
Two trainers, Aidan O’Brien and Sir Michael Stoute, have saddled two winners each since 2001. O’Brien’s winners were Galileo in 2001 and High Chaparral in 2002. Stoute’s champions were Kris Kin in 2003 and North Light in 2004.

Epson Downs is a grade-one racecourse and is regarded as a demanding, complex course that is a challenge for inexperienced horses and an endurance test for the more experienced runners.

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