The 1981 Epsom Derby was the 202nd annual running of the Derby horse race. It took place at Epsom Downs Racecourse on 3 June 1981.
The race was won by the Aga Khan's Shergar, at odds of 10/11 ridden by the nineteen-year-old jockey Walter Swinburn and trained at Newmarket, Suffolk by Michael Stoute. The winning margin of ten lengths was the largest in the history of the race. However, the winning time of 2:44.21 was the slowest since 1946.
Sponsor: noneWinner's prize money: £149,900Going: DeadNumber of runners: 18Winner's time: 2 minutes, 44.21 secondsLydian refused to enter the stalls and was withdrawn at the startFurther details of the winner, Shergar:
Foaled: 3 March 1978, in IrelandSire: Great Nephew; Dam: Sharmeen (Val de Loir)Owner: Aga Khan IVBreeder: Aga Khan IVNotable runs by the future Derby participants as two-year-olds in 1980:
Church Parade – 1st in Lanson Champagne Stakes, 3rd in Champagne StakesGlint of Gold - 1st in Gran CriteriumKalaglow - 1st in Horris Hill StakesRobellino - 2nd in Chesham Stakes, 1st in Seaton Delaval Stakes, 1st in Royal Lodge StakesSheer Grit - 3rd in William Hill FuturityShergar - 2nd in William Hill FuturityEarly-season appearances in 1981 and trial races prior to running in the Derby:
Al Nasr - 1st in Prix La ForceGlint of Gold - 1st in Derby ItalianoKind of Hush – 1st in Craven StakesKings General - 3rd in Sandown Classic TrialRiberetto – 1st in Lingfield Derby TrialRobellino - 2nd in Blue Riband Trial StakesScintillating Air - 3rd in Dante StakesSheer Grit – 2nd in Lingfield Derby TrialShergar – 1st in Sandown Classic Trial, 1st in Chester VaseShotgun - 2nd in Dante StakesSunley Builds – 2nd in Chester VaseGroup 1 / Grade I victories after running in the Derby.
Al Nasr – Prix d'Ispahan (1982)Glint of Gold – Grand Prix de Paris (1981), Preis von Europa (1981), Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (1982), Grosser Preis von Baden (1982)Kalaglow – Eclipse Stakes (1982), King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (1982)Shergar – Irish Derby (1981), King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (1981)