1781 Epsom Derby
The 1781 Epsom Derby was the second running of The Derby - the horse race known as the "greatest turf event in the world". It took place on 24 May 1781 on Epsom Downs in Surrey, England, and was won by Young Eclipse, owned by gambler Dennis O'Kelly and ridden by Charles Hindley.
The previous year, Lord Derby had instigated a race at Epsom Racecourse for three-year-old horses, the name of which had been decided on a coin toss between Derby and Sir Charles Bunbury, a member of the Jockey Club. The race was over 1 mile.
The 1780 race had been won by Bunbury's horse Diomed, which was the favourite, beating Boudrow, owned by Dennis O'Kelly. In this second running of the race, it was O'Kelly who had the winner, Young Eclipse, another colt by the pre-eminent sire of the day, Eclipse. He beat Sir John Lade's Crop who was much the more fancied of the runners, going off 5/4 favourite.- Winner's prize money: £1,312 10s
- Going: not known
- Number of runners: 14 or 15
- Winner's time: not known
Full result
Further details of the winner, Young Eclipse:
- Foaled: 1778
- Sire: Eclipse
- Dam: Juno by Spectator
- Owner: Dennis O'Kelly
- Breeder: Dennis O'Kelly
