Johnny Murtagh rides New Approach to victory in the 2008 Derby
The Derby Stakes, known simply as The Derby and Internationally as the Epsom Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race hosted in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 10 yards and takes place annually in early June. It is Britain's richest horse race, and the most prestigious of the country's five Classics, as such, it is sometimes referred to as the Blue Riband of the turf.
The Derby is said to have originated at a celebration party following the first running of the Oaks Stakes for three-year-old fillies in 1779. A new one-mile race was planned to determine the ‘Best of the Best’ for both the racing and breeding of racehorses, the distance was increased to one-and-a-half miles in 1784. It was decided that it should be named after the host of the party, Edward Smith Stanley, the 12th Earl of Derby, or one of his guests, friend and leading racing figure of the day, Sir Charles Bunbury. According to legend the final decision was made on the toss of a coin.
Although not the richest race in the world, it remains the Greatest Horse Race in the World and its importance in shaping the modern thoroughbred is uninersally acknowlegded in racing and breeding circles. The unique nature of Epsom’s undulating course and the distance requiring a perfect blend of speed and stamina has resulted in the previous winners of this Classic shaping generations of thoroughbreds and will continue to do so in the future.
Indeed, the Epsom Derby is one of the most prestigious and iconic events of the sporting and social calendars. The race attracts the biggest one-day attendance in sport with upwards of 125,000 people descending on Epsom Downs to witness the event.
PREVIOUS WINNERS OF THE DERBY
Sir Charles Bunbury was the first winning owner when Diomed won the first running of the Derby in 1780.
Two owners have won the Derby on five occassions; 3rd Earl of Egrement who last won the race with Lap-dog in 1826 and HH Aga Khan III whose last winner was Tulyar in 1952.
Three trainers have saddled seven Deby winners; Robert Robson in the late 18th-early 19th centuries, John Porter towards the end of the 19th century and Fred Darling in the first half of the 20th century.
Lester Piggot is the most winning Derby jockey, riding his first winner in 1954 with Never Say Die and his last victory was in 1983 aboard Teenoso.
In 1981, the ill-fated Shergar won by the longest ever margin of 10 lengths over Glint Of Gold. The European Horse of the Year was stolen from his stable at stud two years later by masked gunmen and was tragically never discovered.
2010 winner, Workforce holds the fastest winning time of 2:31.33 at Epsom - the race was held at Newmarket during the two World Wars where the times were faster.
Recent Winners of the Derby:
Winner Trainer Jockey
2010 WORKFORCE Sir M Stoute R Moore
2009 SEA THE STARS J Oxx M J Kinane
2008 NEW APPROACH J Bolger J Murtagh
2007 AUTHORIZED P Chapple-Hyam L Dettori
2006 SIR PERCY M Tregoning M Dwyer
2005 MOTIVATOR M Bell J Murtagh
2004 NORTH LIGHT M Stoute K Fallon
2003 KRIS KIN M Stoute K Fallon
2002 HIGH CHAPARRAL A O’Brien J Murtagh
2001 GALILEO A O’Brien M J Kinane
2000 SINNDAR J Oxx J Murtagh
FREE BETS FOR THE DERBY
Get free bets for the Derby by registering with online bookmakers to claim the free bet offers available exclusively to new customers.
Three steps to get free bets for The Derby
- Select your free bet offer(s); check the main terms and conditions for restrictions for qualifying for free bets and using free bets, then select the free bet offer(s) that best suit your needs. Best Free Bets has a list of free bet offers with all the main terms detailed. CLICK HERE SEE A LIST OF FREE BET OFFERS
- Sign up with an online bookmaker; Best Free Bets has reviewed the best online bookmakers who will all provide free bets to new customers, the bookmakers are recommended because they are trustworthy and reputable, just follow the links to bookmaker’s website and register your details.
- Deposit some funds and place a bet; in most instances deposit and bet as little as £5 to qualify for a free bet matching your first bet stake up to the maximum offered by the bookmaker.
Online bookmakers will normally credit the free bet to your account within 24-48 hours of meeting the qualifying requirements, which usually entails making a deposit and/or placing a bet.
REDEEMING FREE DERBY BETS
Normally, using your free bet is simply a matter of making your selection and indicating on the bet slip that you wish to use your free bet. Some bookmakers’ methods vary slightly, however their websites will contain instructions on how to redeem your free bet.
There will be restrictions placed on the use of free bets which vary between bookmakers and is advisable to make yourself familiar with those restrictions before signing up.
The six most important facts about redeeming your free bets on The Derby
- Free bet stakes will not be included in returns
- Minimum Odds; expect the bookmaker to insist your free bet is placed on a selection with a minimum price, typically 1/5 (1.20) to evens (2.00)
- Bet Type restrictions; you may not be allowed to use your free bet for some types of bets, however Singles are almost allowed and Accumulators are accepted by most bookmakers.
- Product restrictions; you won’t be able to invest free bets in Tote Pools and in many instances you will be confined to using the free bets in the sportsbook rather than Casino, Poker and other gaming products.
- Rollover requirements; some online bookmakers insist customers bet their deposit and/or stake a number of times before making a withdrawal.
- Free Bet Expiry; if unused, the free bets will expire after a period of time, normally 7 to 30 days.
BETTING TIPS FOR THE DERBY
If you enjoy a flutter on The Derby or on other horseracing betting events then its worth considering opening accounts with a number of online bookmakers. Free bets provide an excellent opportunity to increase your winnings or the chance to bet a winner without risking your own money. You also gain the advantage of being able to compare the different odds available for your selection allowing you to choose the best odds for your bets on The Derby, which will obviously help your profits over time.
Nowadays you can place a bet on your mobile phone and most online bookmakers have special mobile friendly versions of their websites or specially developed mobile phone and smartphone applications to make the website easy to browse and place a bet while you are out and about. It is worth mentioning because some online bookmakers will give you a free bet for trying out their mobile service, even if you already hold an account with them.
Our best free Derby betting tips
- Open accounts with a number of online bookmakers, get free bets and choose the best odds.
- Look for Cash Back and Money Back offers, bookmakers such as Boylesports, Paddy Power and Victor Chandler frequently offer free bet refunds on losing bets.
- Take advantage of bonuses, boost winnings or increase your chances of winning by opting to bet with online bookmakers prepared to enhance each way terms, add an extra bonus to your returns or guarantee you get the best price for your selection. bet365 and Betfred have a good range of bonuses to consider.
We do not advocate making a betting decision based on the offer or promotion. Rather, once you've decided on your selection take a look around for offers and bonuses that may be applicable to the bet you want to make.
Best Free Bets bookmaker reviews provide details of each bookmaker’s offers and promotions. By their nature, offers and promotions can change and we advise you visit the bookmaker’s website and check the available promotions before placing your bet. CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR LIST OF BOOKMAKER REVIEWS.