1920 Epsom Derby
Epsom Derby
Spion Kop wins the Epsom Derby
LocationEpsom Downs Racecourse
Date2 June 1920
Winning horseSpion Kop
Starting price100/6
JockeyFrank O'Neill
TrainerPeter Gilpin
OwnerGiles Loder

The 1920 Epsom Derby was a horse race which took place at Epsom Downs on 2 June 1920. It was the 141st running of the Derby and was won by Giles Loder's Spion Kop. The winner was ridden by the American jockey Frank O'Neill and trained by Peter Gilpin.

Race details

  • Prize money to winner: £5850[1]
  • Number of runners: 19
  • Winner's time: 2m 34.8s

The race

Spion Kop, winner of the 1920 Derby

The Derby was run on an unusually hot day in front of an estimated crowd of 250,000 including the King and Queen.[2] Spion Kop started at odd of 100/6 (approximately 16/1) in a field of 19 runners. The favourite was the 2000 Guineas winner Tetratema a colt noted for his exceptional early speed but with dubious stamina.[3] Tetratema went into an early lead and set an extremely fast pace as he was challenged by Abbot's Trace (ridden by Steve Donoghue),[4] while O’Neill settled Spion Kop well back in the field. Tetratema dropped back soon after half way and Abbot's Trace led into the straight as Spion Kop made rapid progress from the rear. Spion Kop took the lead three furlongs from the finish and ran on strongly up the straight to win by two lengths from Archaic and Orpheus in a new race record time of 2:34.8. The most dramatic incident of the race occurred in the closing stages when Abbot's Trace was brought down in a collision with Sarchedon, who finished fourth.[4]

Full result

* Horse Jockey Trainer SP
1 Spion Kop Frank O'Neill Peter Gilpin 100/6
2 2 Archaic George Bellhouse 100/7
3 1½ Orpheus Felix Leach, Jr Felix Leach 50/1
4 Sarchedon Arthur Smith Peter Gilpin 9/1
5 Poltava Herbert Jones Percy Linton 50/1
6 Daylight Patrol Joe Childs John Watson 33/1
7 Torelore Arthur Balding Atty Persse 66/1
8 Polumetis T Burns 22/1
9 He Goes Fred Templeman Joseph Butters 100/7
10 Silvern Albert Whalley Frank Hartigan 40/1
11 Kerasos Joe Shatwell 100/1
12 All Prince Freddie Fox Reg Day 100/1
13 Dynamo Herbert Robbins 25/1
14 Tetratema Brownie Carslake Atty Persse 3/1 fav
17 Attilius Willam Saxby Richard Dawson 33/1
16 Marshal Neil George Hulme 100/1
17 Firework Elijah Wheatley 20/1
PU Allenby Fred Slade Percy Linton 8/1
fell Abbot's Trace Steve Donoghue 33/1

* The distances between the horses are shown in lengths or shorter. shd = short-head; hd = head; PU = pulled up.

Winner's details

Further details of the winner, Spion Kop:

  • Foaled: 1917
  • Sire: Spearmint; Dam: Hammerkop (Gallinule)
  • Owner: Giles Loder
  • Breeder: Giles Loder

References

  1. ↑ Ruff's guide to the turf. London. 5 July 1920. hdl:2027/mmet.ark:/13960/t7dr3463z.
  2. ↑ "DERBY DAY". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 4 June 1920. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  3. ↑ "NEWS AND NOTES". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 14 August 1920. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  4. 1 2 "Newspaper Article". Trove.nla.gov.au. 29 July 1920. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.