Horse Racing

How Many Times Can A Horse Win The Epsom Derby?

Andy Newton Sports Editor

Published02 Jun 2025

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As we gear up for the 246th running of the biggest flat race in the Britain – and some even say the biggest in the world – many people often ask how many times can a horse win the Epsom Derby?

The Epsom Derby Is Only For 3 Year-Olds – Meaning Horses Only Get ONE Chance To Win It

The answer to the question – how many times can a horse win the Epsom Derby? Is a fairly easy one.

With the race only for 3 year-olds – this means a horse can only ever run in the Epsom Derby ONCE.

This is the same as other big Derby races around the world – including the Kentucky Derby in the US, and the Irish and French Derby.

Therefore, this is one of the reasons why the Epsom Derby is billed as one of the best flat races in the world – horses only ever have one crack at winning it.

This also means trainers must have their Epsom Derby runners primed to hit peak form at the right time – knowing they can’t come back next season when the horse is aged four.

The Epsom Derby holds a 2025 prize of £850,650, but the real money comes after the race. This is because many winners then go off to stud and command huge fees with the carrot for potential owners being they are breeding from a proven Derby winner.

In contrast, other top UK flat races – like the Coral-Eclipse and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes – are open to horses aged 3+ so can be won more than once by the same horse.

Epsom Derby The Second Leg Of The Triple Crown Series

This week’s Epsom Derby is also the second Triple Crown race of the season for colts – with the first being the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and the final one the St Leger at Doncaster in September.

These races – along with the 1000 Guineas and Epsom Oaks – are called Classics, which is why the 3 year-old period of these top flat horses is also often referred to as the ‘Classic Generation’.

The 2000 Guineas has already been run this season and was won by Godolphin’s Ruling Court (watch below). He’ll be trying to add to Epsom Derby to this CV on Saturday 7th June and in the process keep his Triple Crown dreams alive.

With the final leg – the St Leger – on Saturday 13th September at Doncaster.

What makes winning these three races hard is they all come over different distances. The 2000 Guineas is over 1m, the Derby 1m4f and the St Leger 1m 6 1/2f – meaning to win all three requires a horse to have a mixture of speed and stamina.

The last horse to win the British Triple Crown was Nijinsky in 1970 and only 12 in total have managed it.

Trainer Aidan O’Brien has won the Epsom Derby ten times, came close in 2012. His Camelot won both the 2000 Guineas and Derby but was beaten 3/4 lengths into second in the St Leger.

However, it’s worth pointing out Oh So Sharp won the Fillies’ Triple Crown in 1985.

This consisted of winning the 1000 Guineas, the Epsom Oaks and St Leger.

While the Triple Crown series of races in the US consist of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. Which are also only open to 3 year-olds.

English Triple Crown Winners (12)

Year	Horse	Jockey	Trainer
1970	Nijinsky	Lester Piggott	Vincent O’Brien
1935	Bahram	Freddie Fox & Charlie Smirke	Frank Butters
1903	Rock Sand	Danny Maher	Alec Taylor Jr.
1900	Diamond Jubilee	Herbert Jones	Alec Taylor Jr.
1899	Flying Fox	Morny Cannon	John Porter
1897	Galtee More	Charles Wood	Sam Darling
1893	Isinglass	Tommy Loates	James Jewitt
1891	Common	George Barrett	John Porter
1886	Ormonde	Fred Archer & George Barrett	John Porter
1866	Lord Lyon	Harry Custance	James Dover
1865	Gladiateur	Harry Grimshaw	Tom Jennings Sr.
1853	West Australian	Frank Butler	John Scott

Epsom Derby Race Info 2025

📅Date: Saturday 7th June 2025
⌚Time: 3:30pm
🏇Racecourse: Epsom Downs
💷Winner: £850,650
📺 TV: ITV/RTV (ITV Racing schedule)

Is Last Year’s Epsom Derby Winner City Of Troy Still In Training?

No, after winning 2024 Epsom Derby City Of Troy ran three more times but was then retired to stud.

City Of Troy added the Coral-Eclipse (Sandown) and Juddmonte International Stakes (York) to his winning record.

But, despite being a big fancy for the Breeders’ Cup Classic in the US at the start of November he could only manage 8th after fluffing the start.

He was retired soon after that Del Mar race and now stands for €75,000 at the Coolmore Stud in Ireland.

Epsom Derby Facts and Figures 📈

Longest Winning Odds: 100/1 (1998, 1908, 1913)
Shortest Winning Odds: 2/9 (1894)
Longest Winning Margin: 10 lengths (Shergar, 1981)
Fastest Time: 2m 31.33 secs, Workforce (2010)
Leading Owner: Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor (11 wins)
Top Trainer: Aidan O’Brien (10 wins)
Leading Sire: Galileo (5 wins)

Can Fillies Run In The Epsom Derby?

Yes, but with the Epsom Oaks run on the previous day to the Derby as most fillies prefer to run in this race.

They are allowed to run in the Derby though, with the race open to 3 year-old colts and fillies and over the years there have been SIX fillies to win the Epsom Derby.

However, the most recent filly to land the race was over 100 years ago, which was Fifinella in 1916.

Fillies That Have Won The Epsom Derby

1916 – Fininella
1912 – Tagaile
1908 – Signorinetta
1882 – Shotover
1857 – Blink Bonny
1801 – Eleanor

Epsom Derby Winners Over The Last 10 Years

2024 – City Of Troy (3/1 fav)
2023 – Auguste Rodin (9/2)
2022 – Desert Crown (5/2 fav)
2021 – Adayar (16/1)
2020 – Serpentine (25/1)
2019 – Anthony Van Dyck (13/2)
2018 – Masar (16/1)
2017 – Wings Of Eagles (40/1)
2016 – Harzand (13/2)
2015 – Golden Horn (13/8)