1997 Epsom Derby

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The 1997 Epsom Derby was a horse race which took place at Epsom Downs on Saturday 7 June 1997. It was the 218th running of the Derby, and it was won by Benny the Dip. The winner was ridden by Willie Ryan and trained by John Gosden. The pre-race favourite Entrepreneur finished fourth.

Race details

 * Sponsor: Vodafone
 * Winner's prize money: £595,250
 * Going: Good
 * Number of runners: 13
 * Winner's time: 2m 35.77s

Full result
* The distances between the horses are shown in lengths or shorter. shd = short-head. † Trainers are based in Great Britain unless indicated.

Winner's details
Further details of the winner, Benny the Dip:


 * Foaled: March 25, 1994, in Kentucky, USA
 * Sire: Silver Hawk; Dam: Rascal Rascal (Ack Ack)
 * Owner: Landon Knight and Claiborne Farm
 * Breeder: Landon Knight
 * Rating in 1997 International Classifications: 126

Two-year-old races
Notable runs by the future Derby participants as two-year-olds in 1996.


 * Benny the Dip – 1st Royal Lodge Stakes, 3rd Racing Post Trophy
 * Silver Patriarch – 1st Zetland Stakes
 * Fahris – 2nd Silver Tankard Stakes
 * Symonds Inn – 2nd Acomb Stakes, 3rd Silver Tankard Stakes
 * Papua – 5th Racing Post Trophy

The road to Epsom
Early-season appearances in 1997 and trial races prior to running in the Derby.


 * Benny the Dip – 2nd Sandown Classic Trial, 1st Dante Stakes
 * Silver Patriarch – 3rd Sandown Classic Trial, 1st Lingfield Derby Trial
 * Romanov – 3rd Irish 2,000 Guineas
 * Entrepreneur – 1st 2,000 Guineas
 * Fahris – 1st Feilden Stakes
 * Symonds Inn – 1st Glasgow Stakes
 * Mulsalsal – 3rd Dante Stakes
 * Cloudings – 1st Prix de Courcelles, 1st Prix Lupin
 * Single Empire – 1st Derby Italiano
 * Crystal Hearted – 5th Easter Stakes, 1st Dee Stakes
 * Papua – 3rd Easter Stakes, 2nd Blue Riband Trial Stakes, 4th Lingfield Derby Trial

Subsequent Group 1 wins
Group 1 / Grade I victories after running in the Derby.


 * Silver Patriarch – St. Leger (1997), Coronation Cup (1998), Gran Premio del Jockey Club (1998)
 * Single Empire – San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap (1999)

Subsequent breeding careers
Leading progeny of participants in the 1997 Epsom Derby.

Sires of Classic winners
Entrepreneur (4th) - Shuttled to New Zealand, exported to Japan, exported to Russia
 * Vintage Tipple - 1st Irish Oaks (2003)
 * Damson - 1st Phoenix Stakes (2004)
 * Berenson - 2nd National Stakes (2004)
 * Marie Vision - Dam of The Grey Gatsby

Sires of National Hunt horses
Cloudings (10th) Silver Patriarch (2nd) Benny The Dip (1st) - Exported to America before standing in England
 * Many Clouds - 1st Grand National (2015)
 * Cloudy Dream - 1st Future Champion Novices' Chase (2017)
 * Cloudy Lane - 1st Peter Marsh Chase (2009)
 * Cloudy Too - 1st Peter Marsh Chase (2016)
 * Silver By Nature - 1st Grand National Trial (2010, 2011)
 * Carrickboy - 1st Byrne Group Plate (2013)
 * Kentford Grey Lady - 3rd Cleeve Hurdle (2013)
 * Rimsky - 1st Persian War Novices' Hurdle (2005)
 * Benny Be Good - 2nd "Fixed Brush" Handicap Hurdle (2011)
 * Unleash - 2nd Martell Cognac Beefeater Restaurants Handicap Hurdle (2004)

Other Stallions
Romanov (3rd) - Exported to America - Exported to Argentina Fahris (6th) - Fahrisee (three time jumps winner) Musalsal (8th) - Exported to Cyprus Bold Demand (9th) - Exported to Saudi Arabia Single Empire (11th) - Exported to Italy