Golden Act (1976–2000) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse .
34-624: Golden Act was sired by Gummo, a grandson of Nasrullah who was a son of the extremely important sire, Nearco . he was out of the mare Golden Shore. He was trained in California by Loren Rettele. At age two Golden Act's most important stakes results were a win in the El Camino Stakes and a second to Flying Paster in the Norfolk Stakes . At age three, he was a standout in American racing but
68-521: A celebration following the first running of the Oaks Stakes in 1779. A new race was planned, and it was decided that it should be named after either the host of the party, the 12th Earl of Derby , or one of his guests, Sir Charles Bunbury (the Bunbury Cup run at Newmarket would later be named in his honour). According to legend the decision was made by the toss of a coin, but it is probable that Bunbury,
102-554: A multiple stakes winner from France . At age four, Golden Act returned to racing, with his best results coming in two Grade I races, the 1980 Turf Classic Invitational Stakes , where he finished second, and the Man o' War Stakes , where he ran third. Retired to stud duty, Golden Act sired a number of winners, notably Silver Circus, a winner of the Grade I Hollywood Derby , and the successful steeplechase runner Almost Golden. Golden Act died at
136-521: Is a Group 1 flat horse race in England open to three-year-old colts and fillies . It is run at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey on the first Saturday of June each year, over a distance of one mile, four furlongs and 10 yards (2,423 metres), or about 1½ miles. It was first run in 1780. It is Britain's richest flat horse race, and the most prestigious of the five Classics . It is sometimes referred to as
170-460: Is a maximum of 20 runners allowed in the race. Since the 1993 edition, The Derby has introduced yearling entry. The system were canceled from 2024 edition and 2022 during COVID-19 pandemic. For many years the Derby was run on a Wednesday or a Thursday and on the day huge crowds would come from London, not only to see the race but to enjoy other entertainment (during some of the 19th century and most of
204-564: Is one of Britain's great national sporting events and has a large worldwide TV audience. The Stanley family, Earls of Derby, had a long history of horse-racing, and James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby , who gained the Lordship of Mann in 1627, instituted horse-racing on the Langness Peninsula on the Isle of Man , donating a cup for what became known as the " Manx Derby ". The Derby originated at
238-939: The Deutsches Derby , the Irish Derby and the Prix du Jockey Club (popularly known in the British Isles as the "French Derby"). Several races in the United States include the "Derby" name, including the oldest, the Kentucky Derby . Other national equivalents include the Australian Derby , the New Zealand Derby , and the Japanese Derby . In 1931, the Derby became the world's first outdoor sporting event to be televised. There
272-452: The "Blue Riband" of the turf. The race serves as the middle leg of the historically significant Triple Crown of British horse racing, preceded by the 2000 Guineas and followed by the St ;Leger , although the feat of winning all three is rarely attempted in the modern era due to changing priorities in racing and breeding, and the demands it places on horses. The name "Derby" (deriving from
306-435: The 12 runners behind the filly Herringbone . On his final appearance of the year, Nasrullah showed his best form as he won the 10-furlong Champion Stakes from Kingsway and Umiddad in what was described as "the smoothest race of his career". In 1944, he was purchased by the bloodstock agent Bertie Kerr . Kerr kept him for three weeks before selling him for 19,000 guineas to Joseph McGrath , who subsequently stabled him at
340-458: The 1858 and titled The Derby Day ; critics have noted that the foreground of the painting features the entertainment attractions, while the racing is relegated to the margins. In the 1870s, the steam-driven rides were introduced. They were located at the Tattenham Corner end of the grounds and the fair was on for ten days and entertained hundreds of thousands. During the latter half of
374-422: The 20th century, Derby Day became less popular and the race was moved from Wednesday to Saturday in 1995 with the hope of reviving high attendance. As the number of people attending the fair dwindled in the face of competition for attention and changing tastes, its length was reduced from 10 days to three or four. Today, the free-admission Hill still provides a festival atmosphere with a fairground in operation on
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#1732851412777408-409: The 20th, Parliament would adjourn to allow members to attend the meeting). By the time that Charles Dickens visited Epsom Downs to view the race in the 1850s, entertainers such as musicians, clowns, and conjurers plied their trades and entertained the crowds; other forms of entertainment included coconut stalls. The crowded meeting was the subject of a painting by William Powell Frith painted in
442-593: The Brownstown Stud in County Kildare . This deal was allegedly done over an afternoon cup of tea at Bewley's in Westmoreland Street . Nasrullah was an immediate success as a breeding stallion, and in his six seasons, his fee rose from 198 guineas to 500 guineas. He was champion sire in 1951. The best of his European progeny included: In 1950, Nasrullah was sold for $ 370,000 to Arthur B. Hancock, Jr. He
476-451: The Derby and Oaks. Investec was the previous sponsor of the Derby between 2009 and 2020. The race was previously backed by Ever Ready (1984–94) and Vodafone (1995–2008). Winning distances are shown in lengths or shorter ( dh = dead-heat; shd = short-head; hd = head; snk = short-neck; nk = neck). 49. Kevin McCarthy and Michael Church's 17 page Academic Essay, "Where did
510-627: The Friday and Saturday. The walk-in nature of the Hill typically sees Derby attendances exceed 100,000 spectators, making it one of the largest sporting events in the United Kingdom. In 2021 and 2022 the race, along with seven other races at the Derby festival, was sponsored by Cazoo . Cazoo declined an option to extend their sponsorship and in April 2023 the bookmaker Betfred agreed a three-year deal to sponsor
544-596: The Steward of the Jockey Club , deferred to his host. The inaugural running of the Derby was held on Thursday 4 May 1780. It was won by Diomed , a colt owned by Sir Charles Bunbury, who collected prize money of £1,065 15s. The first four runnings were contested over the last mile of the old Orbicular course <49>, this extended in line with the Oaks to the current distance of 1½ miles in 1784. Lord Derby achieved his first success in
578-641: The age of twenty-four on May 8, 2000, at Cardiff Stud Farm in Creston, California . Nasrullah (horse) Nasrullah (March 2, 1940 – May 26, 1959) was a Thoroughbred racehorse that was bred in Ireland and trained in the United Kingdom before becoming a champion sire in both Europe and North America. As a two-year-old, he won the Coventry Stakes and finished second in the Middle Park Stakes , ending
612-444: The event in 1787, with a horse called Sir Peter Teazle . The starting point of the race was moved twice during the 19th century. The first move, suggested by Lord George Bentinck , was in 1848, and the second was in 1872. It was discovered in 1991 that the exact length of the race was one mile, four furlongs and 10 yards. Initially, the Derby was run on a Thursday in late May or early June, depending on when Easter occurred. In 1838
646-592: The future Derby winner Straight Deal . In July, he won the Great Bradley Stakes, beating a single opponent. Nasrullah was then rested until the autumn, when he ran in Britain's most prestigious race for two-year-olds, the six- furlong Middle Park Stakes . In a closely run contest, he finished second, beaten a neck by the filly Ribbon. In the Free Handicap, a rating of the season's best two-year-olds, Nasrullah
680-509: The lead in the last quarter-mile. In the closing stages, however, he was overtaken and finished third to Straight Deal and Umiddad. In August, Nasrullah went some way towards restoring his reputation when he won the Cavenham Stakes, although Richards had to "persuade" the colt to keep going when he began to idle after taking the lead. In autumn, Nasrullah was disappointing in the "New St Leger" over 14 furlongs, in which he finished sixth of
714-428: The outsider Kingsway . The "New" Derby of 1943 was run over Newmarket's July Course, and Nasrullah started at odds of 9/1 in a field of 23 runners. Richards, who had the choice of several rides, elected to ride Nasrullah despite his bad behaviour and that he had been labeled a "rogue". Richards struggled to keep the colt on a straight course, but eventually succeeded, and Nasrullah looked the likely winner when he took
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#1732851412777748-413: The race caused concern. He was extremely unwilling to leave the pre-race paddock and gave Richards several problems on the way to the start. On his next appearance, he was fitted with blinkers when he was started 13/8 favourite for the 2,000 Guineas . Despite his headgear, he was again reluctant to go down to the start, and after leading for five furlongs, he faded to finish fourth of the 19 runners behind
782-467: The race was moved to a Wednesday to fit in with the railways' timetables , but still followed the moveable feast of Easter. In the 20th century, the race was run mainly on a Wednesday in late May or early June until 1994, after which it was changed to a Saturday in early June. From 1915 to 1918 (during World War I ), it was on a Tuesday, with the race's latest ever date being 31 July 1917. From 1942 to 1945 (during World War II ), 1947 to 1950, and in 1953,
816-464: The race was run on a Saturday. From 1969 to 1994, it was on the first Wednesday in June. From 2003 to at least 2022, it has been on the first Saturday in June, apart from a race on 4 July 2020 without spectators, owing to COVID-19 . The Derby has been run at Epsom in all years except during the world wars ; from 1915 to 1918 and from 1940 to 1945, the Derby was run at Newmarket as the 'New Derby'. With
850-516: The race's close association with gambling, the most controversial running of the Epsom Derby took place in 1844. The winner, Running Rein, was disqualified on discovery that a four-year-old imposter, a horse by the name Maccabeus, had been substituted in his place as part of a betting coup. The Derby has inspired many similar events around the world. European variations include the Derby Italiano ,
884-584: The restrictions imposed as a result of the Second World War , many British races were adapted both in distance and venue, and Nasrullah's entire racing career was confined to Newmarket Racecourse . On his racecourse debut, Nasrullah finished third in the Wilburton Stakes, but was then moved up in class and contested the Coventry Stakes (usually run at Royal Ascot ) on 12 June. Ridden by the champion jockey Gordon Richards , he won at odds of 7/4, beating
918-777: The second leg of the Triple Crown, Hawley brought Golden Act from the back of the field to finish second to Spectacular Bid in the Preakness Stakes . In New York's Belmont Stakes , the final leg of the Triple Crown, Golden Act used another strong stretch drive to overtake Spectacular Bid and finish second to upset winner Coastal . Golden Act went on to win 1979's Secretariat Stakes and Lawrence Realization Stakes . In November's prestigious Canadian International Stakes on turf at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario , Canada , he defeated an international field that included Trillion ,
952-595: The sponsorship of the Earl of Derby ) has been borrowed many times, notably by the Kentucky Derby in the United States, and to describe many other key racing and sporting events. The term "Epsom Derby" is often used in the United States and elsewhere, in order to differentiate The Derby from other races such as the Irish Derby or German Derby . The Derby run at Epsom is usually referred to as "the Derby" in Great Britain. It
986-545: The year as the top-rated colt of his generation. In the following season, he became increasingly difficult to manage, and his temperament compromised his racing career. He was the beaten favourite in the 2,000 Guineas and finished a close third in the Derby Stakes before winning the Champion Stakes . As a breeding stallion he stood in England, Ireland, and the United States and had great success in each location. Nasrullah
1020-805: Was a big, handsome bay horse with a white star , bred in Ireland by his owner the Aga Khan . He was sired by Nearco , an undefeated Italian racehorse that became one of the most important stallions of the 20th century. Apart from numerous major winners, he sired the influential stallions Nearctic and Royal Charger . His dam, Mumtaz Begum, was a daughter of the outstanding racehorse and broodmare Mumtaz Mahal and became an influential broodmare in her own right: her other descendants have included Royal Charger, Habibti , Octagonal , Oh So Sharp , and Risen Star . The Aga Khan sent Nasrullah into training with Frank Butters at his Fitzroy House stable in Newmarket . Because of
1054-564: Was exported to stand at stud in the United States at Hancock's Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky . Nasrullah became one of the most important North American sires of the 20th century, leading the sire list five times. Among his American progeny were: Nasrullah died on May 26, 1959. He is buried at Claiborne Farm. Derby Stakes The Derby Stakes , also known as the Derby or the Epsom Derby ,
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1088-495: Was given a weight of 136 lb , making him the top-rated colt, a pound behind the filly Lady Sybil. Before the start of the 1943 season, bookmakers offered prices for the season's leading races despite wartime restrictions, and Nasrullah was made the early favourite for the Derby ahead of his stable companion Umiddad. On his first appearance as a three-year-old, Nasrullah won the Chatteris Stakes easily, but his conduct before
1122-856: Was overshadowed by Spectacular Bid , a future U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee and a horse ranked No.10 in the Blood-Horse magazine List of the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century . In the leadup to the 1979 U.S. Triple Crown series, Golden Act finished second in the California Derby at Golden Gate Fields in the San Francisco Bay Area . He then won the Louisiana Derby at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans and in April
1156-715: Was sent to Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas where he won the Arkansas Derby . Golden Act was ridden by future U.S. and Canadian Hall of Fame jockey Sandy Hawley . In the Kentucky Derby , they were up against a strong field that was led by the overwhelming favorite, Spectacular Bid, and included the second betting choice, Flying Paster , and the well-regarded General Assembly . Sent off at 19:1 odds, Golden Act finished third behind General Assembly and winner Spectacular Bid. At Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland for
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