Editing Epsom Derby (section)

==History==
The Stanley family, Earls of Derby, had a long history of horse-racing, and [[James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby]], who gained the Lordship of Mann in 1627, instituted horse-racing on the [[Langness Peninsula]] on the [[Isle of Man]], donating a cup for what became known as the "[[Manx Derby]]".<ref>''Mona Miscellany'' Second Series, Volume 21 pp183-187, The Manx Society (1873), [http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/manxsoc/msvol21/p183.htm] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053806/http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/manxsoc/msvol21/p183.htm|date=4 March 2016}}</ref>
 
The Derby originated at a celebration following the first running of the [[Epsom Oaks|Oaks Stakes]] in 1779. A new race was planned, and it was decided that it should be named after either the host of the party, the [[Edward Smith-Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby|12th Earl of Derby]], or one of his guests, [[Sir Charles Bunbury, 6th Baronet|Sir Charles Bunbury]] (the [[Bunbury Cup]] run at Newmarket would later be named in his honour). According to legend the decision was made by the toss of a coin, but it is probable that Bunbury, the Steward of the [[Jockey Club]], deferred to his host.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/in_depth/2001/epsom_derby/1347923.stm |title=The Epsom Derby uncovered |work=BBC Sport |date=2 June 2001 |access-date=2 June 2012 |archive-date=11 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070911150846/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/in_depth/2001/epsom_derby/1347923.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> The inaugural running of the Derby was held on Thursday 4 May 1780. It was won by [[Diomed]], a colt owned by Sir Charles Bunbury, who collected prize money of £1,065 15s. The first four runnings were contested over the last mile of the old Orbicular course <49>, this extended in line with the Oaks to the current distance of 1½ miles in 1784. Lord Derby achieved his first success in the event in 1787, with a horse called [[Sir Peter Teazle]].

The starting point of the race was moved twice during the 19th century. The first move, suggested by [[Lord George Bentinck]], was in 1848, and the second was in 1872. It was discovered in 1991 that the exact length of the race was one mile, four furlongs and 10 yards.<ref name="century">{{cite web | url=https://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/epsom-derby/ | title=The Derby Festival }}</ref>

Initially, the Derby was run on a Thursday in late May or early June, depending on when Easter occurred. In 1838 the race was moved to a Wednesday to fit in with the railways' [[timetables]], but still followed the moveable feast of Easter. In the 20th century, the race was run mainly on a Wednesday in late May or early June until 1994, after which it was changed to a Saturday in early June.<ref name="greyhound">{{cite web|url=http://www.greyhoundderby.com/Epsom%20Derby%20Homepage.html |title=The Epsom Derby |access-date=23 November 2022}}</ref> From 1915 to 1918 (during [[World War I]]), it was on a Tuesday, with the race's latest ever date being 31 July 1917.<ref name="latest ever">{{cite web|url=https://www.michaelchurchracingbooks.com/31-july-1917-the-latest-epsom-derby-day/ |title=31 July 1917 – The latest ever Epsom Derby day|date=9 June 2020 }}</ref> From 1942 to 1945 (during [[World War II]]), 1947 to 1950, and in 1953, the race was run on a Saturday.<ref name="century"/> From 1969 to 1994, it was on the first Wednesday in June. From 2003 to at least 2022, it has been on the first Saturday in June, apart from a race on [[2020 Epsom Derby|4 July 2020]] without spectators, owing to [[COVID-19]].

The Derby has been run at Epsom in all years except during the [[world war]]s; from 1915 to 1918 and from 1940 to 1945, the Derby was run at [[Newmarket Racecourse|Newmarket]] as the 'New Derby'.

With the race's close association with gambling, the most controversial running of the Epsom Derby took place in 1844. The winner, Running Rein, was disqualified on discovery that a four-year-old imposter, a horse by the name Maccabeus, had been substituted in his place as part of a betting coup.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Byles|first=Tony|title=In Search of Running Rein: The Amazing Fraud of the 1844 Derby|publisher=Apex Publishing Ltd|year=2011|isbn=978-1906358945}}</ref>

The Derby has inspired many similar events around the world. European variations include the [[Derby Italiano]], the [[Deutsches Derby]], the [[Irish Derby]] and the [[Prix du Jockey Club]] (popularly known in the British Isles as the "French Derby"). Several races in the United States include the "Derby" name, including the oldest, the [[Kentucky Derby]]. Other national equivalents include the [[Australian Derby]], the [[New Zealand Derby]], and the [[Tokyo Yūshun|Japanese Derby]].

In 1931, the Derby became the world's first outdoor sporting event to be televised.<ref name="www.bairdtelevision.com">{{cite news |author=Baird, Iain Logie |date=1 April 2021 |title=Televising the Derby (1931) |work=Bairdtelevision.com |url=https://www.bairdtelevision.com/televising-the-derby-1931.html}}</ref>

There is a maximum of 20 runners allowed in the race.<ref>{{cite web |title=Epsom Derby Runners 2023 – Favourites, Contenders, Longshots & Much More |url=https://www.horseracing.co.uk/news/preview/epsom-derby/runners/ |website=www.horseracing.co.uk |access-date=9 May 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

Since the 1993 edition, The Derby has introduced yearling entry. The system were canceled from 2024 edition and 2022 during COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>[https://www.racingpost.com/news/derby-entry-rules-changed-to-allow-more-flexibility-for-owners-and-trainers-a4s6b6f5PIQL/ Derby entry rules changed to allow 'more flexibility for owners and trainers']</ref>