1980 Epsom Derby
The 1980 Epsom Derby was the 201st annual running of the Derby horse race. It took place at Epsom Downs Racecourse on 4 June 1980.
The race was won by Etti Plesch's American bred Henbit at odds of 7/1. Ridden by Willie Carson and trained at West Ilsley by Dick Hern, Henbit would be the second Derby winner in two years for the trainer/jockey duo. While the winning margin of just three quarters of a length was unremarkable, that Henbit returned with a fractured cannon bone in his off-fore leg, thought to have occurred a furlong and a half from the finish led his trainer to describe him as a "very brave horse". Furthermore, the winning time of 2:34.77 was the fastest since Nijinsky won in 1970.
Race details
- Sponsor: none
- Winner's prize money: £166,820
- Going: Fast
- Number of runners: 24
- Winner's time: 2 minutes, 34.77 seconds
Full result
Winner details
Further details of the winner, Henbit:- Foaled: 28 March 1977, in America
- Sire: Hawaii; Dam: Chateaucreek
- Owner: Etti Plesch
- Breeder: Helen Drake Jones
Form analysis
Two-year-old races
Notable runs by the future Derby participants as two-year-olds in 1979:- Blast Off - 2nd in Prix Greffulhe
- Bozovici - 2nd in Seaton Delaval Stakes
- Braughing - 3rd in Gimcrack Stakes
- Hello Gorgeous - 1st in Futurity Stakes, 1st in Royal Lodge Stakes
- Master Willie - 2nd in Acomb Stakes
- Moomba Masquerade - 3rd in Futurity Stakes
- Monteverdi – 1st in National Stakes, 1st in Dewhurst Stakes
- Noble Shamus – 1st in Railway Stakes, 3rd in National Stakes
- Rankin - 1st in Solario Stakes
- Ribo Charter – 3rd in Prix de Condé
- Star Way - 1st in Chesham Stakes, 2nd in Royal Lodge Stakes, 3rd in Seaton Delaval Stakes
- Tyrnavos - 2nd in Dewhurst Stakes, 1st in Roberre Trophy Stakes
- Water Mill - ''2nd in Horris Hill Stakes
The road to Epsom
Early-season appearances in 1980 and trial races prior to running in the Derby:- Garrido - 1st in Derby Italiano
- Hello Gorgeous - 1st in Dante Stakes
- Henbit - 1st in Guardian Classic Trial, 1st in Chester Vase
- Julius Caesar - 1st in Prix Noailles
- Master Willie - 1st in Easter Stakes, 2nd in Dante Stakes
- Monteverdi – 2nd in Greenham Stakes, 2nd in McCairns Trial Stakes
- Moomba Masquerade - 2nd in Chester Vase
- Nikoli - 1st in Irish 2000 Guineas, 1st in McCairns Trial Stakes
- Pelerin - 1st in Glasgow Stakes
- Rankin - 2nd in Predominate Stakes
- Ribo Charter - 2nd in Lingfield Derby Trial
- Running Mill - 1st in Heath Stakes
- Saint Jonathon - 1st in Roseberry Stakes
- Star Way - 2nd in Craven Stakes
- Tyrnavos - 1st in Craven Stakes
- Water Mill - 3rd in Dante Stakes
Subsequent Group 1 wins
Group 1 / Grade I victories after running in the Derby.- Master Willie - Benson and Hedges Gold Cup, Coronation Cup, Eclipse Stakes
- Pelerin - Grosser Preis von Baden
- Tyrnavos – Irish Derby
Subsequent breeding careers
Leading progeny of participants in the 1980 Epsom Derby.Stallions of Classic winners
Star Way Exported to New Zealand - Sire of 18 Group One winners
- Shankhill Lass - 1st The Thousand Guineas
- Waverley Star - 2nd Cox Plate
- Nimue - 1st New Zealand 1000 Guineas
- Shoal Creek - Dam of Encosta De Lago
Stallions of Group/Grade One winners
Master Willie
- Hollywood Dream - 1st Premio Presidente della Repubblica, 1st Deutschland-Preis
- Make A Stand - 1st Champion Hurdle
- Jungle Gold - 3rd Irish 1000 Guineas
- Be My Master - 2nd Derby Italiano (1986
Stallions of National Hunt horses
Henbit
- Kribensis - 1st Champion Hurdle
- Sybillin - 2nd Christmas Hurdle
- Soir de Mai - 1st Prix Georges de Talhouët-Roy
- Runway Romance - 2nd Anniversary Hurdle
Other Stallions
Tyrnavos - Dihistan, Andrios, Akaaleel, Tartamuda
Hello Gorgeous - Libertine, Franco Forte - later exported to Brazil
Monteverdi - Exported to America - Exported to Venevuela - Concert Hall, Laird Of Montrose
Nikoli - Exported to America - Exported to Uruguay - Air Display
Water Mill - Exported to Australia - Innocent Lady
Moomba Masquerade - Exported to South Africa
Saint Johnathon - Exported to Australia
Prince Spruce - Exported to Italy
Blast Off - Exported to Venezuela
Noble Shamus - Exported to America
Running Mill - Exported to Turkey
Marcello - Exported to Argentina