The Kentucky Derby is the biggest and most prestigious horse race in the United States, but its origins trace back to a small region in England.
In 1872, Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr, the man behind the Kentucky Derby, travelled to Surrey, England. There, he witnessed first-hand the famous horse race called The Derby and was inspired to create a race of his own back home.
The Derby was named after Lord Derby, who lived at The Oaks mansion, which once stood in what is now Carshalton.
Lord Derby was known to drink at Surrey’s premier pub for sports enthusiasts – the Greyhound at Carshalton. In 1822, one author described it, saying:
“The neighbourhood is celebrated for every sport and pastime, it affords suitable accommodations for the assembled sportsmen: here are stabling for 40 hunters, besides excellent beds, spacious sitting rooms, and a very large garden behind.”
The year was 1779, and King George III was on the British throne.
Around this time, Lord Derby and his friend Sir Charles Bunbury devised a new one-mile horse race, although they could not decide whose name it should bear.
Local legend has it that the name was decided on the toss of a coin at the Swan Bar.
The race went on to become known as the Epsom Derby.
Bonus quick facts
• Lord Derby’s full name was Edward Smith-Stanley (1752–1834). He was the 12th Earl of Derby.
• The original Earldom of Derby, associated with Derbyshire in the East Midlands was created by Stephen, King of England (a king you don’t hear about very much!) in 1139. The peerage was passed to the Stanley family by Henry VII in 1485 Their power base is further north, in West Derby in Lancashire.
• The name Derby is thought to be of Viking heritage and means something like ‘village of the deer’.
The Kentucky Derby is held every May and also includes an Oaks race. The Epsom Derby is still held every June. They also hold a race called The Bunbury Cup. Queen Elizabeth II was a regular attendee. With thanks to the research of Past on Glass.
The pub is immortalised on the famous Carshalton Pub Crawl poster.
