7th June: The Epsom Derby

It's Derby Day 2014. 10 things you may not know about the Big Race:

The closing stages of the 1886 Epsom Derby by Charles Hunt

1. But for the toss of a coin, we might have been watching The Bunbury today. The idea for the race was conceived by Lord Derby and Sir Charles Bunbury, who agreed that it should be named after one of them. The urban legend is that they tossed a coin, although Wikipedia thinks it is more likely that Bunbury conceded to someone of a higher status than him.
2. The first Epsom Derby was on 4 May 1780, a Thursday. The first winner was a Horse named Diomed, which happened to belong to Sir Charles Bunbury - consolation, perhaps for not having the race named after him. The prize money was £1,065 15s.
3. Since 1995 the race has been run on the first Saturday in June. Before that it was usually on a Wednesday or Thursday. Parliament would even be adjourned so that MPs could go to the race.
4. There used to be a fair with musicians, Clowns, stalls, and rides which would last for ten days around the time of the race. People would come from London for the fair as much as for the race. However, as time went on fewer and fewer people went to the fair, and since 2009 the site of the fair has been a car park.
5. The length of the course is one mile, four furlongs and 10 yards (2,423 metres).
6. Not every Derby was run at Epsom. During the two world wars, the race moved to Newmarket.
7. The record for the most wins is held by Lester Piggott, who has won nine times.
8. The fastest time was achieved by Workforce in 2010 - 2m 31.33s.
9. In 1913, the suffragette Emily Davison threw herself in front of the King's horse, Anmer. In spite of her efforts, she didn't live to see women get the vote, as she died from her injuries four days later.
10. The first female jockey was Alex Greaves in 1996. She came last.