1984 Epsom Derby
The 1984 Epsom Derby was the 205th annual running of the Derby horse race. It took place at Epsom Downs Racecourse on 6 June 1984. It was the first edition of the race to be commercially sponsored and was known as the Ever Ready Derby. The sponsorship meant that the first prize of £227,680 was the biggest in the history of the race.
The race was won by Luigi Miglietti's Secreto at odds of 14/1, ridden by Christy Roche and trained in Ireland by David O'Brien. The favourite El Gran Senor, trained by David O'Brien's father Vincent finished second by a short head. The colt's win was a first success in the race for owner, trainer and jockey. At the age of 27, David O'Brien was one of the youngest men to have trained a Derby winner.
Race details
- Sponsor: Ever Ready
- Winner's prize money: £227,680
- Going: Good
- Number of runners: 17
- Winner's time: 2 minutes, 39.12 seconds
Full result
Winner details
Further details of the winner, Secreto:- Foaled: 12 February 1981, in Maryland, United States
- Sire: Northern Dancer; Dam: Betty's Secret
- Owner: Luigi Miglietti
- Breeder: E. P. Taylor
Form analysis
Two-year-old races
Notable runs by the future Derby participants as two-year-olds in 1983:- Alphabatim - 1st in William Hill Futurity
- El Gran Senor - 1st in Railway Stakes, 1st in National Stakes, 1st in Dewhurst Stakes
- Elegant Air - 2nd in Lanson Champagne Stakes, 1st in Horris Hill Stakes
- Ilium - 3rd in William Hill Futurity
- My Volga Boatman - 2nd in Horris Hill Stakes
The road to Epsom
Early-season appearances in 1984 and trial races prior to running in the Derby:- Alphabatim – 1st in Sandown Classic Trial, 1st in Lingfield Derby Trial
- El Gran Senor – 1st in Gladness Stakes, 1st in 2000 Guineas
- Claude Monet – 1st in Heathorn Stakes, 1st in Dante Stakes
- Ilium - 1st in Predominate Stakes
- Kaytu – 1st in Chester Vase
- Long Pond – 1st in Blue Riband Trial Stakes
- Northern Fred – 2nd in Premio Presidente della Repubblica
- Pigwidgeon - 3rd in Heathorn Stakes
- Secreto – 1st in Tetrarch Stakes, 3rd in Irish 2000 Guineas
- Telios – 3rd in Craven Stakes
Subsequent Group 1 wins
Group 1 / Grade I victories after running in the Derby.- Alphabatim – Hollywood Turf Cup
- At Talaq – Grand Prix de Paris , Melbourne Cup
- El Gran Senor – Irish Derby
Subsequent breeding careers
Leading progeny of participants in the 1984 Epsom Derby.Sires of Classic winners
El Gran Senor
- Rodrigo De Triano - 1st 2000 Guineas Stakes, 1st Irish 2,000 Guineas
- Belmez - 1st King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes
- Gran Alba - 1st Christmas Hurdle
- Toussaud - 1st Criterion Stakes dam of Empire Maker, Chester House and Chiselling
- Mystiko - 1st 2000 Guineas Stakes
- Tamuro Cherry - 1st Hanshin Juvenile Fillies
- Miss Secreto - 1st Premio Regina Elena
- Staunch Friend - 1st Bula Hurdle
- Star Of Maple - 1st Rosehill Guineas
- Skating - 1st Winfield Classic
- Toledo - 1st Newmarket Handicap
- Al Mansour - 1st George Ryder Stakes
Sires of Group/Grade One winners
Elegant Air
- Dashing Blade - 1st Dewhurst Stakes, Leading sire in Germany
- Air de Rien - 1st Prix Saint-Alary
- Ocean Air - 2nd Premio Lydia Tesio
- Montpelier Lad - 1st Anniversary Hurdle
Sires of National Hunt horses
Alphabatim
- Golden Alpha - 1st Red Rum Handicap Chase
- Mr Nosie - 1st Deloitte Novice Hurdle
- Nosie Betty - Dam of Cole Harden
- Trouble Ahead - 1st AGFA Diamond Handicap Chase
- Betty's Boy - 1st National Hunt Handicap Chase
Other Stallions
Claude Monet - Artistic Reef, Sweet Revival - Later exported to South Africa
Telios - Exported to Japan - Mejiro Lambada
Long Pond - Midnights Daughter
Kaytu - Sired minor jumps winners
Ilium - Sired minor jumps winners
Mighty Flutter - Exported to Spain
Sheer Heights - Exported to Saudi Arabia
My Volga Boatman - Exported to Turkey
Northern Fred - Exported to Australia