Epsom Derby Champions

1 Jun 1999: Champion American jockey Gary Stevens (L) is shown round Epsom Racecourse by 9 times Derby winner Lester Piggot before his ride on Beat All trained by Sir Michael Stoute in this Saturdays Derby. Julian Herbert/ALLSPORTA win at the Epsom Derby is a special moment in the career of any trainer or jockey. Not only is the race one of only six English Classics run annually, but it also carries the weight of two hundred years of races that have seen some of the greatest names in the history of the sport claim one of flat racing’s biggest prizes.

With a history stretching back over two centuries, choosing the greatest names in the Epsom Derby is no easy task. In the Epsom Derby Champions pages we have chosen six of the most influential and successful trainers and jockeys to have participated in the race over the last three decades.

Epsom Derby Champion Jockeys

No professional jockey’s career is complete without a win at the Epsom Derby. In the history of the race a handful of jockeys have stood out for their brave and triumphant performances in this great Classic. On our Epsom Derby Champions pages we profile Lester Piggott, whose record of 9 race wins is unlikely to ever be bested.

We also take a look at the careers of top Irish jockeys Kieren Fallon and Michael Kinane, who have both had a major impact on the Epsom Derby over recent decades, with Michael Kinane becoming one of the few jockeys to win the race as an owner whilst competing as a jockey.

Epsom Derby Champion Trainers

Some of the most influential men in the history of horseracing work in the engine rooms of the Epsom Derby. In our Epsom Derby Champions pages we profile three of the greatest trainers of the last four decades, starting with Henry Cecil, the man who single-handedly dominated English Flat racing for almost two decades.

We then profile Vincent O’Brien the Irish trainer who achieved the rare feat of saddling winners in the biggest races in both national hunt and flat racing.

Our Epsom Derby Champions pages conclude with a look at the career of Vincent O’Brien’s successor at the powerful Coolmore Stud, Aidan O’Brien. One of the youngest trainers in racing, Aidan O’Brien has not only managed to make a mark in both flat and national hunt racing, but has also indicated that he will be the man to beat over the next two decades as he continues to grow in experience and enjoy the financial support of the Coolmore Stud.