{, class="collapsible collapsed" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="clear:right; float:right; text-align:center; font-weight:bold;" width="280px" ! colspan="3" style="border:1px solid black; background-color: #77DD77;" , Also Ran The 1979 Epsom Derby was the 200th annual running of the Derby

horse race Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic p ...

. It took place at

Epsom Downs Racecourse Epsom Downs is a Grade 1 racecourse on the hills associated with Epsom in Surrey, England which is used for thoroughbred horse racing. The "Downs" referred to in the name are part of the North Downs. The course, which has a crowd capacity of 13 ...

on 6 June 1979. With a prize of £153,980 to the winner, the race value was a significant increase on the £98,410 offered the previous year and a record for a race contested in Europe The winter ante-post market was headed by Tromos who was followed by More Light, Gregorian, Sandy Creek and Troy. However, only the latter named would line up at Epsom. Dewhurst Stakes winner Tromos picked up a virus after finishing runner up in the Craven Stakes, More Light was decisively beaten in both the Heath Stakes and the Dante Stakes, Gregorian was unraced again after beaten 8¾ lengths in the

Ballymoss Stakes Ballymoss (1954–1979) was an Ireland, Irish Thoroughbred horse racing, racehorse. In a racing career that lasted from 1956 until November 1958, he ran seventeen times and won eight races. In 1957, he became the first horse trained in Ireland ...

while Sandy Creek never returned to the racecourse after his juvenile season. On the day of the race, the market was headed by Guy Harwood's Ela-Mana-Mou who had supplemented his juvenile success in the Royal Lodge Stakes by winning the Heath Stakes by four lengths. Next in the market was Troy who had won four of his previous five starts including the Vintage Stakes, Sandown Classic Trial and Predominate Stakes. One of three representatives for Dick Hern, who had been attempting to win the race for twenty years, he was the chosen mount of Willie Carson. Milford and Tap On Wood were the remaining horses in the single digit price range with the former winning his trials at Ascot and Sandown by a combined fifteen lengths, and the latter a surprise 20/1 winner of the

2000 Guineas The 2000 Guineas Stakes is a Group 1 flat race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres) and scheduled to take place each year at ...

. The pace was set by Henry Cecil's Lyphard's Wish and his lead lasted until a furlong and a half from home when passed by the Irish trained Dickens Hill.Dickens Hill's lead would not last long however as Troy, who had struggled for pace early on and was only in thirteenth place at Tattenham Corner, stormed past for an emphatic victory. The winning margin of seven lengths was the widest recorded since Manna in 1925. The race was in danger of being marred as a toilet roll was thrown at the runners by a spectator at Tattenham Corner. Yves Saint-Martin, riding Vincent O'Brien's Accomplice, passed the finishing with the paper still attached to his head although he stated that the incident did not cost him the race.

Race details

* ''Sponsor:'' none * ''Winner's prize money:'' £153,980 * ''Going:'' Good * ''Number of runners:'' 23 * ''Winner's time:'' 2 minutes, 36.59 seconds

Full result

{, border="1" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size:90%" , - bgcolor="#77dd77" align="center" , width="35px" , , width="45px" , Dist * , width="160px" , Horse , width="160px" , Jockey , width="190px" , Trainer , width="80px" , SP , - , 1 , , Troy , Willie Carson , Dick Hern , 6-1 , - , 2 , 7 , Dickens Hill , Tony Murray , Mick O'Toole , 15-1 , - , 3 , 3 , Northern Baby , Philippe Paquet , François Boutin , 66-1 , - , 4 , ¾ , Ela-Mana-Mou , Greville Starkey , Guy Harwood , 9-2f , - , 5 , 2 , Lyphard's Wish , Joe Mercer , Henry Cecil , 11-1 , - , 6 , shd , Hardgreen , Paul Cook , Michael Stoute , 25-1 , - , 7 , hd , Man Of Vision , Bruce Raymond , Michael Jarvis , 33-1 , - , 8 , , Cracaval , Bill Shoemaker , Barry Hills , 22-1 , - , 9 , , Niniski , John Reid , Dick Hern , 80-1 , - , 10 , , Milford , Lester Piggott , Dick Hern , 15-2 , - , 11 , , Noelino ,

Christy Roche Christy Roche (born 3 December 1949 in Bansha, County Tipperary) is a retired Irish flat racing Champion Jockey and racehorse trainer. Over his thirty-year career between 1968 and 1998 he won the Irish Derby three times, in 1982, 1992 and 199 ...

, Paddy Prendergast , 12-1 , - , 12 , , Tap On Wood , Steve Cauthen , Barry Hills , 15-2 , - , 13 , , Morvetta , Geoff Baxter , Denys Smith , 500-1 , - , 14 , , Two Of Diamonds , Ernie Johnson , Barry Hills , 25-1 , - , 15 , ,

Son Of Love Son of Love (foaled 24 April 1976) was a French Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the classic St Leger Stakes in 1979. After winning two races (including the Prix Isonomy) as a two-year-old, the horse lost his next eleven races befo ...

Alain Lequeux Alain Lequeux (1947 – 26 April 2006) was one of France's leading jockey A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The w ...

, Robert Collet , 200-1 , - , 16 , , Lake City , Brian Taylor , Ryan Price , 50-1 , - , 17 , , New Berry , Pat Eddery , Peter Walwyn , 25-1 , - , 18 , , Chetinkaya , Brian Rouse , Philip Mitchell , 500-1 , - , 19 , , Accomplice , Yves Saint-Martin , Vincent O'Brien , 50-1 , - , 20 , , Leodegrance , Philip Waldron , Toby Balding , 500-1 , - , 21 , , Halyudh , Geoff Lewis , Scobie Breasley , 200-1 , - , 22 , , Laska Floko , Edward Hide , Clive Brittain , 40-1 , - , Ref , , Saracen Prince , Kipper Lynch , Paul Kelleway , 500-1

Winner details

Further details of the winner, Troy: * ''Foaled:'' 25 March 1976, in Ireland * ''Sire:'' Petingo; ''Dam:'' La Milo (Hornbeam) * ''Owner:'' Sir Michael Sobell & Lord Weinstock * ''Breeder:'' Ballymacoll Stud

Form analysis

Two-year-old races

Notable runs by the future Derby participants as two-year-olds in 1978:

* Accomplice - ''1st

Ashford Castle Stakes The Futurity Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Ireland open to two-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 7 furlongs (1,408 metres), and it is scheduled to take pla ...

'', '' Beresford Stakes'' * Dickens Hill - ''1st Anglesey Stakes'', ''2nd National Stakes'' * Ela-Mana-Mou - ''2nd Vintage Stakes'', ''1st Royal Lodge Stakes'' * Hardgreen - ''3rd Mill Reef Stakes'', ''2nd

Horris Hill Stakes The Horris Hill Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run at Newbury over a distance of 7 furlongs (1,408 metres), and ...

'' * Lake City - ''1st Coventry Stakes'' * Laska Floko - ''4th Futurity Stakes'' * Lyphard's Wish - ''1st Solario Stakes'', ''3rd Royal Lodge Stakes'', ''3rd Futurity Stakes'' * Man Of Vision - ''2nd Acomb Stakes'' * Milford - ''2nd Houghton Stakes'', ''2nd Clarence House Stakes'' * Saracen Prince - ''3rd Vintage Stakes'' * Son Of Love - ''1st

Prix Isonomy The Prix Isonomy is a Listed flat horse race in France open to two-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at Deauville over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile), and it is scheduled to take place each year i ...

'' * Tap On Wood - ''1st National Stakes'' * Troy - ''1st Vintage Stakes'', ''2nd Royal Lodge Stakes''

The road to Epsom

Early-season appearances in 1979 and trial races prior to running in the Derby:

* Cracaval - ''1st - Chester Vase'' * Dickens Hill - ''2nd Vauxhall Trial Stakes'', ''1st Ballymoss -Stakes'', ''1st Irish 2000 Guineas'' * Ela-Mana-Mou - ''1st Heath Stakes'' * Halyudh - ''2nd Lingfield Derby Trial'' * Hardgreen - ''2nd Dante Stakes'' * Lake City - ''1st

2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes The 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes was a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It was run over a distance of 7 furlongs (1,408 metres), and it was scheduled to take place each year in earl ...

'', ''3rd Dante Stakes'' * Laska Floko - ''5th Dante Stakes'' * Lyphard's Wish - ''1st Craven Stakes'', ''5th

'', ''1st Dante Stakes'' * Man Of Vision - ''1st Easter Stakes'', ''4th

Prix Lupin The Prix Lupin was a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It was run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,100 metres (about 1 mile and 2½ furlongs), and it was scheduled to take place each year in ...

'' * Milford - ''1st

White Rose Stakes The White Rose Stakes was a flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old horses. It was run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs (2,012 metres), and it was scheduled to take place each year in April or May. History The ...

'', ''1st Lingfield Derby Trial'' * Niniski - ''2nd Glasgow Stakes'' * Noelino - ''1st Nijinsky Stakes'' * Northern Baby - ''2nd Prix de Suresnes'', ''2nd

Prix La Force The Prix La Force is a Group 3 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run over a distance of 2,000 metres (about 1¼ miles) at Longchamp in April. History ...

'' * Son Of Love - ''2nd Prix Noailles'' * Tap On Wood - ''1st

2000 Guineas Stakes The 2000 Guineas Stakes is a Group 1 flat race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres) and scheduled to take place each year at ...

'' * Two Of Diamonds - ''2nd Sandown Classic Trial'', ''1st

Dee Stakes The Dee Stakes is a Listed flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old colts and geldings. It is run over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 70 yards () at Chester in Ma ...

'' * Troy – ''1st Sandown Classic Trial'', ''1st Predominate Stakes''

Subsequent Group 1 wins

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

* Dickens Hill - ''

Eclipse Stakes The Eclipse Stakes is a Group races, Group 1 Flat racing, flat Horse racing, horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Sandown P ...

(1979)'' * Ela-Mana-Mou - ''

Eclipse Stakes The Eclipse Stakes is a Group races, Group 1 Flat racing, flat Horse racing, horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Sandown P ...

(1980)'', '' King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (1980)'' * Lyphard's Wish - '' United Nations Handicap (1980)'' * Niniski - ''

Irish St. Leger The Irish St Leger is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile and 6 furlongs (2,816 metres), and it i ...

(1979)'', '' Prix Royal-Oak (1979)'' * Northern Baby - ''

Champion Stakes The Champion Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlong ...

(1979)'' * Son Of Love - '' St Leger Stakes (1979)'' * Troy – '' Irish Derby'' (1979), '' King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (1979)'','' Benson and Hedges Gold Cup (1979)''

Subsequent breeding careers

Leading progeny of participants in the 1979 Epsom Derby.

Sires of Classic winners

Niniski (9th) * Minster Son - 1st St Leger Stakes (1988) *

Assessor An assessor may be: * ''Assessor'' (fish), a genus of fishes * Assessor (law), the assistant to a judge or magistrate * Assessor (Oxford), a senior officer of the University of Oxford * Assessor (property), an expert who calculates the value of pr ...

- 1st Prix Royal-Oak (1992) * Hernando - 1st Prix du Jockey Club (1993) * Alflora - 1st Queen Anne Stakes (1993) Troy (1st) *

Helen Street Helen Street (4 April 1982 – after 2004) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. As a two-year-old she was rated the best British-trained filly of her generation after winning the Prix du Calvados and finishing second under top ...

- 1st Irish Oaks (1985) ''Dam of

Street Cry Street Cry (11 March 1998 – 17 September 2014) was a Thoroughbred racehorse, winner of the 2002 Dubai World Cup, the 2002 Stephen Foster Handicap and runner up in the 2002 Whitney Handicap. He was an international shuttle stallion that stood ...

'' * Walensee - 1st Prix Vermeille (1985) ''Dam of Westerner'' * Cocotte - 2nd Prix de Psyché (1986) ''Dam of Pilsudski and Fine Motion'' * Sheer Audacity - Dam of Oath ''(1st

Epsom Derby The Derby Stakes, also known as the Epsom Derby or the Derby, and as the Cazoo Derby for sponsorship reasons, is a Group 1 flat horse race in England open to three-year-old colts and fillies. It is run at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey o ...

1999 File:1999 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The funeral procession of King Hussein of Jordan in Amman; the 1999 İzmit earthquake kills over 17,000 people in Turkey; the Columbine High School massacre, one of the first major school shootin ...

)'' Northern Baby (3rd) *

Michelozzo Michelozzo di Bartolomeo Michelozzi (1396 – 7 October 1472) was an Italian architect and sculptor. Considered one of the great pioneers of architecture during the Renaissance, Michelozzo was a favored Medici architect who was extensively empl ...

- 1st St Leger Stakes (1989) * Possibly Perfect -

American Champion Female Turf Horse The American Champion Female Turf Horse award is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor. It is part of the Eclipse Awards program and is awarded annually to a female horse (filly or mare) for her performance on grass race courses. Until 1978 t ...

(1995) * Baby Turk - 1st Grand Prix de Deauville (1986) - ''Sire of Azertyuiop'' * Warm Spell - American Champion Steeplechase Horse (1989) Ela-Mana-Mou (4th) * Eurobird - 1st

(1987) * Snurge - 1st St Leger Stakes (1990) *

Double Trigger Double Trigger (24 March 1991 – 23 February 2020) was a Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire. He was bred in Ireland, but trained in the United Kingdom throughout his racing career, which lasted from 1993 to 1998. A specialist stayer, ...

- 1st

Ascot Gold Cup The Gold Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 2 miles 3 furlongs and 210 yards (4,014 ...

(1995) * Fair of the Furze - 1st Rogers Gold Cup (1986) - ''Dam of White Muzzle''

Sires of Group/Grade One winners

Lyphard's Wish (5th) * Derby Wish - 1st

Secretariat Stakes The Secretariat Stakes is a Graded stakes race, Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds over a distance of one mile on the Grass, turf. The event was originally raced at the now-closed Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illi ...

(1985) * Art Francais - 3rd Poule d'Essai des Poulains (1986) * Vertige - 2nd

Prix Jacques le Marois The Prix Jacques Le Marois is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbred colts and fillies aged three years or older. It is run at Deauville over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile ...

(1985) * Villez - 1st

Prix Cambacérès The Prix Cambacérès is a Group 1 hurdle race in France which is open to three-year-old horses. It is run at Auteuil over a distance of 3,600 metres (about 2 miles and 2 furlongs), and it is scheduled to take place ...

(1995)

Sires of National Hunt horses

Dickens Hill (2nd) * Victorian Hill - 1st

Iroquois Steeplechase The Iroquois Steeplechase (also known as the Iroquois Hurdle Stakes) is an American Grade I NSA sanctioned steeplechase race run each May at Percy Warner Park in Nashville, Tennessee. The race dates back to 1941 and has been held annually, except ...

(1991, 1992)

Other Stallions

Tap On Wood (12th) - Royal Touch (2nd Prix de la Forêt 1989), Miss Boniface (3rd Prix de la Salamandre 1987)
Milford (10th) - Cunizza da Romano (2nd Oaks d'Italia 1987), Luck Mugen (3rd Oka Sho 1992) - Exported to Japan
Halyudh (21st) - Mr Boston (2nd Midlands Grand National 1992)
Hardgreen (6th) - Minor flat and jumps winners
Man Of Vision (7th) - Exported to Japan
Lake City (17th) - Exported to Venezuela
Laska Floko (22nd) - Exported to South Africa

References

External links

Colour Chart
– ''Derby 1979''

- ''1979 Derby Stakes'' ---- {{Epsom Derby 1979 in horse racing, Epsom Derby

1979 20th century in Surrey