History

Few other families can claim a longer history with the Turf than the Earls of Derby. Since the eighteenth century their name has been inextricably linked to one of the most famous events in the racing calendar, The Derby, run annually at Epsom, which was initiated by the 12th Earl of Derby in 1780. Throughout the following two centuries, racing has been a mainstay in the life of the Earls of Derby.