1980 Epsom Derby

1980 Epsom Derby
Derby
LocationEpsom Downs Racecourse
Date4 June 1980
Winning horseHenbit
Starting price7/1
JockeyWillie Carson
TrainerDick Hern
OwnerEtti Plesch
ConditionsFirm
← 1979
1981 →
Epsom Derby 1980
1-2-3
Light blue, scarlet spots Cherry, black sash, primrose and white quartered cap Orange, black hoop, dark green cap
Henbit Master Willie Rankin

The 1980 Epsom Derby was the 201st annual running of the Derby horse race. It took place at Epsom Downs Racecourse on 4 June 1980.

The race was won by Etti Plesch's American bred Henbit at odds of 7/1. Ridden by Willie Carson and trained at West Ilsley by Dick Hern, Henbit would be the second Derby winner in two years for the trainer/jockey duo. While the winning margin of just three quarters of a length was unremarkable, that Henbit returned with a fractured cannon bone in his off-fore leg, thought to have occurred a furlong and a half from the finish led his trainer to describe him as a "very brave horse".[1] Furthermore, the winning time of 2:34.77 was the fastest since Nijinsky won in 1970.

Race details

  • Sponsor: none
  • Winner's prize money: £166,820
  • Going: Fast
  • Number of runners: 24
  • Winner's time: 2 minutes, 34.77 seconds

Full result

Finish Horse Bred Jockey Trainer Trained SP
1st Henbit USA Willie Carson Dick Hern UK 77/1
2nd Master Willie GB Philip Waldron Henry Candy UK 2222/1
3rd Rankin FR Greville Starkey Guy Harwood UK 1414/1
4th Pelerin FR Pat Eddery Harry Wragg UK 1818/1
5th Garrido ITY Philippe Paquet François Boutin FR 2828/1
6th Hello Gorgeous USA Joe Mercer Henry Cecil UK 99/1
7th Julius Caesar FR Paul Cook Serge Boullenger FR 5050/1
8th Nikoli GB Christy Roche Paddy Prendergast IRE 44/1
9th Star Way GB Yves Saint-Martin Paul Kelleway UK 2222/1
10th Water Mill GB Tony Murray Dick Hern UK 1414/1
11th Moomba Masquerade GB Geoff Baxter Jeremy Hindley UK 4040/1
12th Tyrnavos GB Edward Hide Bruce Hobbs UK 99/1
13th Saint Jonathon GB Steve Cauthen Barry Hills UK 3333/1
14th Monteverdi GB Lester Piggott Vincent O'Brien IRE 88/1
15th Prince Spruce USA John Matthias John Dunlop UK 200200/1
16th Bozovici USA Brian Taylor Ryan Price UK 77/1
17th Braughing GB Kipper Lynch Clive Brittain UK 200200/1
18th Blast Off USA Maurice Philipperon John Fellows FR 6666/1
19th Noble Shamus GB George McGrath M Fogarty IRE 100100/1
20th Ribo Charter GB Tommy Carberry Paul Kelleway UK 100100/1
21st Running Mill GB Tony Kimberley Michael Stoute UK 100100/1
22nd Pimpont FR Georges Doleuze Charles Milbank FR 4040/1
23rd Marcello FR Brian Rouse Clive Brittain UK 200200/1
24th Majestic Star GB John Reid Gavin Pritchard-Gordon UK 3333/1

Winner details

Further details of the winner, Henbit:

Form analysis

Two-year-old races

Notable runs by the future Derby participants as two-year-olds in 1979:[2][3]

The road to Epsom

Early-season appearances in 1980 and trial races prior to running in the Derby:[4][5][6]

Subsequent Group 1 wins

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

Subsequent breeding careers

Leading progeny of participants in the 1980 Epsom Derby.[7][8][9][10][11]

Stallions of Classic winners

Star Way (9th) Exported to New Zealand - Sire of 18 Group One winners[12]

Stallions of Group/Grade One winners

Master Willie (2nd)

Stallions of National Hunt horses

Henbit (1st)

Julius Caesar (7th)

  • Soir de Mai - 1st Prix Georges de Talhouët-Roy (1988)
  • Runway Romance - 2nd Anniversary Hurdle (1991)

Other Stallions

Tyrnavos (12th) - Dihistan (1st 1986 Hardwicke Stakes), Andrios (2nd 1984 Chesham Stakes), Akaaleel (2nd 1985 Chesham Stakes), Tartamuda (Dam of Tartak)
Hello Gorgeous (6th) - Libertine (3rd 1987 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches), Franco Forte (2nd 1987 Premio Parioli) - later exported to Brazil
Monteverdi (14th) - Exported to America - Exported to Venevuela - Concert Hall (2nd 1984 National Stakes), Laird Of Montrose (3rd 1985 Middle Park Stakes)
Nikoli (8th) - Exported to America - Exported to Uruguay - Air Display (2nd 1986 Hollywood Derby)
Water Mill (10th) - Exported to Australia - Innocent Lady (Dam of Justice Prevails)
Moomba Masquerade (11th) - Exported to South Africa
Saint Johnathon (13th) - Exported to Australia
Prince Spruce (15th) - Exported to Italy
Blast Off (18th) - Exported to Venezuela
Noble Shamus (19th) - Exported to America
Running Mill (21st) - Exported to Turkey
Marcello (23rd) - Exported to Argentina

References

  1. ^ Michael Phillips (5 June 1980). "Henbit's victory leaves a bitter-sweet taste". The Times. p. 12. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  2. ^ Timeform staff (1981). Racehorses of 1980. Timeform. ISBN 0-900599-31-6.
  3. ^ "Stammtafeln". Galopp Sieger. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  4. ^ Timeform staff (1981). Racehorses of 1980. Timeform. ISBN 978-0900599316.
  5. ^ Chris Hawkins (4 June 1980). "the breeding, winning distances, going preferances and form of the 24 runners". The Guardian. p. 23. ProQuest 186148100. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  6. ^ "Stammtafeln". Galopp Sieger. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  7. ^ "Stammtafeln". Galopp Sieger. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  8. ^ "Profiles Search". Racing Post. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  9. ^ "Progeny Reports". Pedigree Query. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  10. ^ "Autumn Horses In Training 2007" (PDF). tattersalls.com. Tattersalls. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  11. ^ "Autumn Horses In Training 2016" (PDF). tattersalls.com. Tattersalls. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  12. ^ "Top NZ sire Star Way dies, age 31". horsetalk.co.nz. 23 April 2008. Retrieved 12 April 2020.