Goodwood Derby

The Goodwood Derby, launched 78 years after the more famous Epsom Derby, was run over a mile and a half of the Gratwicke Course for colts carrying 8st 10lbs and fillies carrying 8st 7lbs. The race conditions imposed penalties, up to a maximum of 10lb, for winners of prestigious races; the Epsom Derby winner and second to carry 10lb and 7lb extra respectively, the Oaks winner and second to carry 6lb and 4 lb respectively, the winner of the 2000 Guineas, 1000 Guineas or Stockbridge Derby to carry 5lb extra.
Early history:- The inaugural running of the Goodwood version of the Derby was on Wednesday 28th July 1858 when Lord Ribblesdale’s The Happy Land beat Compromise and Telegram into second and third.
Goodwood Derby 1873 Group 1 1 mile 4 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 TAMBOUR George Fordham 3-8st 10lbs M Lefevre 4/7 fav
2 VICTOR Cannon 3-8st 7lbs Mr T E Walker 6/1
3 COEUR DE LION Jem Goater 3-8st 10lbs Mr Bruton 100/30
This race took place on Wednesday 30th July 1873 and was a subscription race of 25 sovereigns each for 3-y-o carrying 8st 10lbs, fillies 8st 7lbs, with various penalties for Classic winners. There were 18 subscribers, and it was valued at 300 sovereigns (equivalent to £38,000 in 2021). Tambour did not contest the Epsom Derby won by Mr James Merry's DONCASTER (SR 2000). Over round 102%