Did You Know?: Links between the Kentucky Derby and Epsom Derby

Jun 01, 2022 Vance Hanson/Brisnet.com

The Epsom Derby, the progenitor of the Kentucky Derby, will
have its 243rd running at Epsom Downs outside London on Saturday, June 4.
Although contested over a different surface (turf) and distance (1 1/2 miles),
there are numerous historical links connecting the English classic to its
younger Kentucky counterpart beyond just the name.

Did you know?

*The first person to own the winner of both a Kentucky Derby
and Epsom Derby was John Galbreath. The
founder of Darby Dan Farm, Galbreath won the Kentucky Derby in 1963 with
Chateaugay and again in 1967 with Proud Clarion. In 1972, the Galbreath-owned
Roberto narrowly captured the Epsom Derby with Lester Piggott riding. The
legendary Piggott just passed away on Sunday.

Others who have seen their silks carried to victory in both
races are Paul
Mellon, Michael Tabor, Prince Ahmed bin Salman, and Juddmonte Farms.

*Although a number of jockeys have attempted to win both
races, Steve Cauthen is the only one
thus far to have accomplished the feat. Cauthen won the 1978 Kentucky Derby and
Triple Crown aboard Affirmed, and later added wins at Epsom with Slip Anchor
(1985) and Reference Point (1987).

*Only two horses have ever run in both the Kentucky Derby
and Epsom Derby. Bold Arrangement
finished second in the 1986 Kentucky Derby but only 14th at Epsom. In 1992 Dr Devious finished seventh at Churchill
Downs before rebounding to win the original Derby by two lengths.

*Northern Dancer
(1964) is the only Kentucky Derby winner ever to sire a winner of the Epsom
Derby. The influential stallion in fact did it three times, with English Triple
Crown winner Nijinsky (1970), The Minstrel (1977), and Secreto (1984).

*Nijinsky, in
turn, is one of only three Epsom Derby winners to sire a Kentucky Derby winner,
his
being Ferdinand (1986). Blenheim II,
who won at Epsom in 1930, later sired Kentucky Derby winners Whirlaway (1941)
and Jet Pilot (1947), while 1933 Epsom hero Hyperion sired 1944 Kentucky Derby winner Pensive.

*Nijinsky, Blenheim II, Hyperion, and the previously
unmentioned Leamington and Hail to Reason are the only stallions
to sire winners of both classics. Sons of Nijinsky won the Epsom classic three
times, while Blenheim II and Hyperion had one each (Hyperion’s won a 1941 wartime
Derby substitute held at Newmarket).

Leamington sired the first Kentucky Derby winner, Aristides
(1875), as well as the first American-bred to capture the Epsom Derby, Iroquois
(1881). Hail to Reason, the American champion juvenile of 1960, sired the
aforementioned Proud Clarion and Roberto.