1981 Epsom Derby

The 1981 Epsom Derby was the 202nd annual running of the Derby horse race. It took place at Epsom Downs Racecourse on 3 June 1981.

1981 Epsom Derby
Derby
LocationEpsom Downs Racecourse
Date3 June 1981
Winning horseShergar
Starting price10/11 Fav
JockeyWalter Swinburn
TrainerMichael Stoute
OwnerAga Khan IV
ConditionsDead

The race was won by the Aga Khan's Shergar, at odds of 10/11 ridden by the nineteen-year-old jockey Walter Swinburn and trained at Newmarket, Suffolk by Michael Stoute. The winning margin of ten lengths was the largest in the history of the race. However, the winning time of 2:44.21 was the slowest since 1946.

Race details
  • Sponsor: none
  • Winner's prize money: £149,900
  • Going: Dead
  • Number of runners: 18
  • Winner's time: 2 minutes, 44.21 seconds

Full result
Dist * Horse Jockey Trainer SP
1 Shergar Walter Swinburn Michael Stoute 10–11
2 10 Glint of Gold John Matthias Ian Balding 13-1
3 2 Scintillating Air Geoff Baxter Bruce Hobbs 50-1
4 2 Shotgun Lester Piggott Chris Thornton 7-1
5 4 Church Parade Willie Carson Dick Hern 25-1
6 1½ Sheer Grit Joe Mercer Clive Brittain 28-1
7 1 Silver Season Ernie Johnson Clive Brittain 100-1
8 hd Riberetto Pat Eddery Ron Boss 22-1
9 4 Sunley Builds Philip Waldron Gavin Hunter 200-1
10 3 Kings General Brian Taylor Guy Harwood 150-1
11 shd Sass John Reid Paul Kelleway 500-1
12 4 Krug Bruce Raymond Stan Mellor 66-1
13 3 Kalaglow Greville Starkey Guy Harwood 11-1
14 2 Robellino Paul Cook Ian Balding 28-1
15 6 Golden Brigadier Paul Bradwell Clive Brittain 150-1
16 ½ Kind of Hush Steve Cauthen Barry Hills 25-1
17 20 Al Nasr Alfred Gibert André Fabre (FR) 16-1
18 ¾ Waverley Hall Bryn Crossley Rod Simpson 1000-1
DNS 1 Lydian Freddy Head Criquette Head

1 Lydian was scratched at the start after refusing to enter the stalls.[1]

Winner details

Further details of the winner, Shergar:

  • Foaled: 3 March 1978, in Ireland
  • Sire: Great Nephew; Dam: Sharmeen (Val de Loir)
  • Owner: Aga Khan IV
  • Breeder: Aga Khan IV

Form analysis

Two-year-old races

Notable runs by the future Derby participants as two-year-olds in 1980:[2]

The road to Epsom

Early-season appearances in 1981 and trial races prior to running in the Derby:[3]

Subsequent Group 1 wins

Group 1 / Grade I victories after running in the Derby.

Subsequent breeding careers

Leading progeny of participants in the 1981 Epsom Derby.[4][5][6]

Stallions of Classic winners

Robellino (14th)

Shergar (1st)

Al Nasr (17th)

Stallions of Group/Grade One winners

Kalaglow (13th)

Glint of Gold (2nd)

Stallions of National Hunt horses

Sheer Grit (6th)

  • Clay County – 1st Northumberland Gold Cup Novices' Chase (1991)
  • Unsinkable Boxer – 1st Sefton Novices' Hurdle (1998)

Riberetto (8th)

Sunley Builds (9th)

Other stallions

Kind Of Hush (16th) – Itsabrahma (2nd Prix de la Forêt 1991), Osario (3rd Prix de la Forêt 1991)
Silver Season (7th) – Great grandsire of 2007 Lancashire Oaks winner Turbo Linn
Church Parade (5th) – Exported to New Zealand, produced 1988 New Zealand 2000 Guineas runner up Testament
Scintillating Air (3rd) – Exported to India

References
  1. Baerlein, Richard (1984). Shergar and the Aga Khan's Thoroughbred Empire. London: Michael Joseph. ISBN 0-7181-2176-7.
  2. Timeform staff (1981). Racehorses of 1980. Timeform. ISBN 0-900599-31-6.
  3. Timeform staff (1982). Racehorses of 1981. Timeform. ISBN 0-900599-33-2.
  4. "Stammtafeln". Galopp Sieger. Galopp Sieger. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  5. "Profiles Search". Racing Post. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  6. "Progeny Reports". Pedigree Query. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
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