Epsom Derby winners list: Every Classic hero back to 1780

Aidan O’Brien made it a record nine Epsom Derby winners after Auguste Rodin redeemed his reputation in impressive fashion in the 2023 renewal.

The son of Deep Impact had disappointed in the 2000 Guineas but was back to his best when staying on strongly to see off King Of Steel under Ryan Moore.

O’Brien, trainer of Galileo (2001), High Chaparral (2002), Camelot (2012), Ruler of the World (2013), Australia (2014), Wings of Eagles (2017), Anthony Van Dyck (2019) and Serpentine (2020), could not hide his delight.

“This horse has everything,” declared the Ballydoyle maestro. “He has temperament, he has movement, he has a personality – it’s pure ability. It’s so exciting.”

Follow AUGUSTE RODIN all the way into the history books 📚
You're aboard The Foxes with jockey Oisin Murphy 🙌#DerbyFestival pic.twitter.com/3E81rJ15GI
— The Jockey Club (@TheJockeyClub) June 3, 2023

There is no greater honour in Flat racing than to feature among the list of Epsom Derby winners and we’re looking back at every past victor.

First run in 1780, the Blue Riband event has been won by a host of thouroughbred legends, as well as the best jockeys and trainers.

The inaugural race went to Diomed, owned by Sir Charles Bunbury, who reportedly almost had the Classic named after him, only to lose out in a coin toss to the 12th Earl of Derby.

Epsom’s one mile and four furlongs course has been hailed as the ultimate test of a middle-distance horse.

Athleticism, agility and speed are all essential qualities on this undulating circuit, while an uphill finish and the camber of the home straight require stamina and a willing spirit.

Newmarket staged several renewals from 1915 to 1918 and from 1940 to 1945 during the war years, but Epsom in early June each year is the setting associated with this iconic contest.

Remembering Lester Piggott, the 9 time Derby hero immortalised at Epsom Racecourse 🙌 pic.twitter.com/xDHZb3JOw1
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 4, 2022

Legendary jockey Lester Piggott rode a record nine winners between 1954 and 1983, while O’Brien has stormed to the top of the trainers’ table with the same number of victories this century.

Workforce was the fastest scorer in 2010 and Shergar romped home by the biggest winning margin of 10 lengths in 1981.

Epsom Derby winners list

*Year*	*Horse*	*Jockey*	*Trainer*	*Winning Time*
2023	Auguste Rodin	Ryan Moore	Aidan O’Brien	2:33.88
2022	Desert Crown	Richard Kingscote	Sir Michael Stoute	2:36.38
2021	Adayar	Adam Kirby	Charlie Appleby	2:36.85
2020	Serpentine	Emmet McNamara	Aidan O’Brien	2:34.43
2019	Anthony Van Dyck	Seamie Heffernan	Aidan O’Brien	2:33.38
2018	Masar	William Buick	Charlie Appleby	2:34.93
2017	Wings Of Eagles	Padraig Beggy	Aidan O’Brien	2:33.02
2016	Harzand	Pat Smullen	Dermot Weld	2:40.09
2015	Golden Horn	Frankie Dettori	John Gosden	2:32.32
2014	Australia	Joseph O’Brien	Aidan O’Brien	2:33.63
2013	Ruler Of The World	Ryan Moore	Aidan O’Brien	2:39.06
2012	Camelot	Joseph O’Brien	Aidan O’Brien	2:33.90
2011	Pour Moi	Mickael Barzalona	Andre Fabre	2:34.54
2010	Workforce	Ryan Moore	Sir Michael Stoute	2:31.33
2009	Sea The Stars	Michael Kinane	John Oxx	2:36.74
2008	New Approach	Kevin Manning	Jim Bolger	2:36.50
2007	Authorized	Frankie Dettori	Peter Chapple-Hyam	2:34.77
2006	Sir Percy	Martin Dwyer	Marcus Tregoning	2:35.23
2005	Motivator	Johnny Murtagh	Michael Bell	2:35.69
2004	North Light	Kieren Fallon	Sir Michael Stoute	2:33.72
2003	Kris Kin	Kieren Fallon	Sir Michael Stoute	2:33.35
2002	High Chaparral	Johnny Murtagh	Aidan O’Brien	2:39.45
2001	Galileo	Michael Kinane	Aidan O’Brien	2:33.27
2000	Sinndar	Johnny Murtagh	John Oxx	2:36.75
1999	Oath	Kieren Fallon	Henry Cecil	2:37.43
1998	High Rise	Olivier Peslier	Luca Cumani	2:33.88
1997	Bennie The Dip	Willie Ryan	John Gosden	2:35.77
1996	Shaamit	Michael Hills	William Haggas	2:35.05
1995	Lammtarra	Walter Swinburn	Saeed bin Suroor	2:32.31
1994	Erhaab	Willie Carson	John Dunlop	2:34.16
1993	Commander In Chief	Michael Kinane	Henry Cecil	2:34.51
1992	Dr Devious	John Reid	Peter Chapple-Hyam	2:36.19
1991	Generous	Alan Munro	Paul Cole	2:34.00
1990	Quest For Fame	Pat Eddery	Roger Charlton	2:37.26
1989	Nashwan	Willie Carson	Dick Hern	2:34.90
1988	Kahyasi	Ray Cochrane	Luca Cumani	2:33.84
1987	Reference Point	Steve Cauthen	Henry Cecil	2:33.90
1986	Shahrastani	Walter Swinburn	Michael Stoute	2:37.13
1985	Slip Anchor	Steve Cauthen	Henry Cecil	2:36.23
1984	Secreto	Christy Roche	David O’Brien	2:39.12
1983	Teenoso	Lester Piggott	Geoff Wragg	2:49.07
1982	Golden Fleece	Pat Eddery	Vincent O’Brien	2:34.27
1981	Shergar	Walter Swinburn	Michael Stoute	2:44.21
1980	Henbit	Willie Carson	Dick Hern	2:34.77
1979	Troy	Willie Carson	Dick Hern	2:36.59
1978	Shirley Heights	Greville Starkey	John Dunlop	2:35.30
1977	The Minstrel	Lester Piggott	Vincent O’Brien	2:36.44
1976	Empery	Lester Piggott	Maurice Zilber	2:35.69
1975	Grundy	Pat Eddery	Peter Walwyn	2:35.35
1974	Snow Knight	Brian Taylor	Peter Nelson	2:35.04
1973	Morston	Edward Hide	Arthur Budgett	2:35.92
1972	Roberto	Lester Piggott	Vincent O’Brien	2:36.09
1971	Mill Reef	Geoff Lewis	Ian Balding	2:37.14
1970	Nijinsky	Lester Piggott	Vincent O’Brien	2:34.68
1969	Blakeney	Ernie Johnson	Arthur Budgett	2:40.30
1968	Sir Ivor	Lester Piggott	Vincent O’Brien	2:38.73
1967	Royal Palace	George Moore	Noel Murless	2:38.36
1966	Charlottown	Scobie Breasley	Gordon Smyth	2:37.63
1965	Sea Bird	Pat Glennon	Etienne Pollet	2:38.41
1964	Santa Claus	Scobie Breasley	Mick Rogers	2:41.98
1963	Relko	Yves Saint-Martin	Francois Mathet	2:39.4
1962	Larkspur	Neville Sellwood	Vincent O’Brien	2:37.6
1961	Psidium	Roger Poincelet	Harry Wragg	2:36.4
1960	St Paddy	Lester Piggott	Noel Murless	2:35.8
1959	Parthia	Harry Carr	Cecil Boyd-Rochfort	2:36.0
1958	Hard Ridden	Charles Smirke	Mick Rogers	2:41.2
1957	Crepello	Lester Piggott	Noel Murless	2:35.4
1956	Lavandin	Rae Johnstone	Alec Head	2:36.4
1955	Phil Drake	Freddie Palmer	Francois Mathet	2:39.8
1954	Never Say Die	Lester Piggott	Joseph Lawson	2:35.8
1953	Pinza	Sir Gordon Richards	Norman Bertie	2:35.6
1952	Tulyar	Charles Smirke	Marcus Marsh	2:36.4
1951	Arctic Prince	Chuck Spares	Willie Stephenson	2:39.4
1950	Galcador	Rae Johnstone	Charles Semblat	2:36.8
1949	Nimbus	Charlie Elliott	George Colling	2:42
1948	My Love	Rae Johnstone	Richard Carver	2:40
1947	Pearl Diver	Georges Bridgland	Percy Carter	2:38.4
1946	Airborne	Tommy Lowrey	Dick Perryman	2:44.6
1945	Dante	Billy Nevett	Matthew Peacock	2:26.6
1944	Ocean Swell	Billy Nevett	Jack Jarvis	2:31
1943	Straight Deal	Tommy Carey	Walter Nightingall	2:30.4
1942	Watling Street	Harry Wragg	Walter Earl	2:29.6
1941	Owen Tudor	Billy Nevett	Fred Darling	2:32
1940	Pont L’Eveque	Sam Wragg	Fred Darling	2:30.8
1939	Blue Peter	Eph Smith	Jack Jarvis	2:36.8
1938	Bois Roussel	Charlie Elliott	Fred Darling	2:39.2
1937	Midday Sun	Michael Beary	Fred Butters	2:37.6
1936	Mahmoud	Charles Smirke	Frank Butters	2:33.8
1935	Bahram	Freddie Fox	Frank Butters	2:36
1934	Windsor Lad	Charles Smirke	Marcus Marsh	2:34
1933	Hyperion	Tommy Weston	George Lambton	2:34
1932	April The Fifth	Fred Lane	Tom Walls	2:43.2
1931	Cameronian	Freddie Fox	Fred Darling	2:36.6
1930	Blenheim	Harry Wragg	Dick Dawson	2:38.2
1929	Trigo	Joe Marshall	Dick Dawson	2:36.4
1928	Felstead	Harry Wragg	Ossie Bell	2:34.8
1927	Call Boy	Charlie Elliott	John E Watts	2:34.4
1926	Coronach	Joe Childs	Fred Darling	2:47.8
1925	Manna	Steve Donoghue	Fred Darling	2:40.6
1924	Sansovino	Tommy Weston	George Lambton	2:46
1923	Papyrus	Steve Donoghue	Basil Jarvis	2:38
1922	Captain Cuttle	Steve Donoghue	Fred Darling	2:34.6
1921	Humorist	Steve Donoghue	Charles Morton	2:36.2
1920	Spion Kop	Frank O’Neill	Peter Gilpin	2:34.8
1919	Grand Parade	Frank Templeman	Frank Barling	2:35.8
1918	Gainsborough	Joe Childs	Alec Taylor Jr	2:33.2
1917	Gay Crusader	Steve Donoghue	Alec Taylor Jr	2:40.6
1916	Fifinella	Joe Childs	Dick Dawson	2:36.6
1915	Pommern	Steve Donoghue	Charles Peck	2:32.6
1914	Durbar	Matt McGee	Tom Murphy	2:38.4
1913	Aboyeur	Edwin Piper	Tom Lewis	2:37.6
1912	Tagalie	John Reiff	Dawson Waugh	2:38.8
1911	Sunstar	George Stern	Charles Morton	2:36.8
1910	Lemberg	Bernard Dillon	Alec Taylor Jr	2:35.2
1909	Minoru	Herbert Jones	Richard Marsh	2:42.7
1908	Signorinetta	Billy Bullock	Edoardo Ginistrelli	2:39.8
1907	Orby	John Reiff	Fred McCabe	2:44
1906	Spearmint	Danny Maher	Peter Gilpin	2:36.08
1905	Cicero	Danny Maher	Percy Peck	2:39.6
1904	St Amant	Kempton Cannon	Alfred Hayhoe	2:45.4
1903	Rock Sand	Danny Maher	George Blackwell	2:42.8
1902	Ard Patrick	Skeets Martin	Bob Sievier	2:42.2
1901	Volodyovski	Lester Reiff	John Huggins	2:40.8
1900	Diamond Jubilee	Herbert Jones	Richard Marsh	2:42
1899	Flying Fox	Morny Cannon	John Porter	2:42
1898	Jeddah	Otto Madden	Richard Marsh	2:47
1897	Galtee More	Charles Wood	Sam Darling	2:44
1896	Persimmon	John Watts	Richard Marsh	2:42
1895	Sir Visto	Sam Loates	Matthew Dawson	2:43
1894	Ladas	John Watts	Matthew Dawson	2:45
1893	Isinglass	Tommy Loates	James Jewitt	2:43
1892	Sir Hugo	Fred Allsopp	Tom Wadlow	2:44
1891	Common	George Barrett	John Porter	2:56
1890	Sainfoin	John Watts	John Porter	2:49
1889	Donovan	Tommy Loates	George Dawson	2:44
1888	Ayrshire	Fred Barrett	George Dawson	2:43
1887	Merry Hampton	John Watts	Martin Gurry	2:43
1886	Ormonde	Fred Archer	John Porter	2:45.6
1885	Melton	Fred Archer	Matthew Dawson	2:44
1884	Harvester	Sam Loates	James Jewitt	2:46
1884	St Gatien	Charles Wood	Robert Sherwood	2:46
1883	St Blaise	Charles Wood	John Porter	2:48
1882	Shotover	Tom Cannon Sr	John Porter	2:45
1881	Iroquois	Fred Archer	Jacob Pincus	2:50
1880	Bend Or	Fred Archer	Robert Peck	2:46
1879	Sir Bevys	George Fordham	Joseph Hayhoe	3:02
1878	Sefton	Harry Constable	Alec Taylor Sr	2:56
1877	Silvio	Fred Archer	Mathew Dawson	2:50
1876	Kisber	Charlie Maidment	Joseph Hayhoe	2:44
1875	Galopin	Jack Morris	John Dawson	2:48
1874	George Frederick	Harry Custance	Tom Leader	2:46
1873	Doncaster	Fred Webb	Robert Peck	2:50
1872	Cremorne	Charlie Maidment	William Gilbert	2:45
1871	Favonius	Tom French	Joseph Hayhoe	2:50
1870	Kingcraft	Tom French	Mathew Dawson	2:45
1869	Pretender	John Osborne Jr	Tom Dawson	2:52
1868	Blue Gown	John Wells	John Porter	2:43
1867	Hermit	John Daley	G Bloss	2:42
1866	Lord Lyon	Harry Custance	James Dover	2:50
1865	Gladiateur	Harry Grimshaw	Tom Jennings Sr	2:46
1864	Blair Athol	Jim Snowden	William I’Anson	2:43
1863	Macaroni	Tom Chaloner	James Godding	2:50
1862	Caractacus	John Parsons	Robert Smith	2:45
1861	Kettledrum	Ralph Bullock	G Oates	2:45
1860	Thormanby	Harry Custance	Mathew Dawson	2:55
1859	Musjid	John Wells	George Manning	2:59
1858	Beadsman	John Wells	George Manning	2:54
1857	Blink Bonny	Jack Charlton	William I’Anson	2:45
1856	Ellington	Tom Aldcroft	Tom Dawson	3:04
1855	Wild Dayrell	Robert Sherwood	John Rickaby	2:54
1854	Andover	Alfred Day	John Day	2:52
1853	West Australian	Frank Butler	John Scott	2:55
1852	Daniel O’Rourke	Frank Butler	John Scott	3:02
1851	Teddington	Job Marson	Alec Taylor Sr	2:51
1850	Voltigeur	Job Marson	Robert Hill	2:50
1849	The Flying Dutchman	Charles Marlow	John Fobert	3:00
1848	Surplice	Sim Templeman	John Kent Jr	2:48
1847	Cossack	Sim Templeman	John Day	2:52
1846	Pyrrhus The First	Sam Day	John Day	2:55
1845	The Merry Monarch	Foster Bell	John Forth
1844	Orlando	Nat Flatman	W Cooper
1843	Cotherstone	Bill Scott	John Scott
1842	Attila	Bill Scott	John Scott
1841	Coronation	Patrick Conolly	Ben Painter
1840	Little Wonder	William Macdonald	John Forth
1839	Bloomsbury	Sim Templeman	William Ridsdale
1838	Amato	Jem Chapple	Ralph Sherwood
1837	Phosphorus	George Edwards	John Doe
1836	Bay Middleton	Jem Robinson	James Edwards
1835	Mundig	Bill Scott	John Scott
1834	Plenipotentiary	Patrick Conolly	George Payne
1833	Dangerous	Jem Chapple	Isaac Sadler
1832	St Giles	Bill Scott	J Webb
1831	Spaniel	Will Wheatley	J Rogers
1830	Priam	Sam Day	William Chifney
1829	Frederick	John Forth	John Forth
1828	Cadland	Jem Robinson	Dixon Boyce
1827	Mameluke	Jem Robinson	James Edwards
1826	Lap Dog	George Dockeray	R Stephenson
1825	Middleton	Jem Robinson	James Edwards
1824	Cedric	Jem Robinson	James Edwards
1823	Emilius	Frank Buckle	Robert Robson
1822	Moses	Tom Goodisson	William Butler
1821	Gustavus	Sam Day	Crouch
1820	Sailor	Sam Chifney Jr	William Chifney
1819	Tiresias	Bill Clift	Richard Prince
1818	Sam	Sam Chifney Jr	William Chifney
1817	Azor	Jem Robinson	Robert Robson
1816	Prince Leopold	Will Wheatley	William Butler
1815	Whisker	Tom Goodisson	Robert Robson
1814	Blucher	Bill Arnull	Dixon Boyce
1813	Smolensko	Tom Goodisson	Crouch
1812	Octavius	Bill Arnull	Dixon Boyce
1811	Phantom	Frank Buckle	James Edwards
1810	Whalebone	Bill Clift	Robert Robson
1809	Pope	Tom Goodisson	Robert Robson
1808	Pan	Frank Collinson	John Lonsdale
1807	Election	John Arnull	Dixon Boyce
1806	Paris	John Shepherd	Richard Prince
1805	Cardinal Beaufort	Dennis Fitzpatrick	Dixon Boyce
1804	Hannibal	Bill Arnull	Frank Neale
1803	Ditto	Bill Clift	John Lonsdale
1802	Tyrant	Frank Buckle	Robert Robson
1801	Eleanor	John Saunders	J Frost
1800	Champion	Bill Clift	Tom Perren
1799	Archduke	John Arnull	Richard Prince
1798	Sir Harry	Sam Arnull	Frank Neale
1797	Colt by Fidget	John Singleton Jr	Matt Stephenson
1796	Didelot	John Arnull	Richard Prince
1795	Spread Eagle	Anthony Wheatley	Richard Prince
1794	Daedalus	Frank Buckle	John Pratt
1793	Waxy	Bill Clift	Robert Robson
1792	John Bull	Frank Buckle	John Pratt
1791	Eager	Matt Stephenson	Matt Stephenson
1790	Rhadamanthus	John Arnull	John Pratt
1789	Skyscraper	Sam Chifney	Matt Stephenson
1788	Sir Thomas	William South	Frank Neale
1787	Sir Peter Teazle	Sam Arnull	Saunders
1786	Noble	J White	Frank Neale
1785	Aimwell	Charles Hindley	John Pratt
1784	Serjeant	John Arnull
1783	Saltram	Charles Hindley	Frank Neale
1782	Assassin	Sam Arnull	Frank Neale
1781	Young Eclipse	Charles Hindley
1780	Diomed	Sam Arnull	R Teasdale

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Epsom Derby winners list: Every Classic hero back to 1780

Epsom Derby winners list

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