The 1985 Epsom Derby (known as the Ever Ready Derby for sponsorship reasons) was the 206th annual running of the Derby horse race. It took place at Epsom Downs Racecourse on 5 June 1985.
The race was won by Lord Howard de Walden's Slip Anchor, at odds of 9/4 ridden by jockey Steve Cauthen and trained at Newmarket by Henry Cecil. The win was a first success in the race for owner, trainer and jockey. Cauthen became the first man to ride the winners of both the Kentucky Derby and the Epsom Derby.
Sponsor: Ever Ready
Winner's prize money: £204,160
Going: Good
Number of runners: 14
Winner's time: 2 minutes, 36.23 seconds
Further details of the winner, Slip Anchor:
Foaled: 15 April 1982, in United Kingdom
Sire: Shirley Heights; Dam: Sayonara (Birkhahn)
Owner: Lord Howard de Walden
Breeder: Lord Howard de Walden
Notable runs by the future Derby participants as two-year-olds in 1984:
Damister - 1st in Somerville Tattersall Stakes, 2nd in William Hill Futurity
Lanfranco - 1st in William Hill Futurity
Law Society – 1st in Anglesey Stakes, 1st in National Stakes, 2nd in Dewhurst Stakes
Petoski - 1st in Lanson Champagne Stakes, 3rd in Champagne Stakes
Reach - 1st in Royal Lodge Stakes
Royal Harmony - 2nd in Acomb Stakes, 3rd in Royal Lodge Stakes
Early-season appearances in 1985 and trial races prior to running in the Derby:
Damister – 2nd in Craven Stakes, 1st in Sandown Classic Trial, 1st in Dante Stakes
Lanfranco - 1st in Predominate Stakes
Law Society – 1st in Chester Vase
Petoski – 2nd in Sandown Classic Trial, 2nd in Chester Vase
Phardante - 2nd in Predominate Stakes
Reach – 3rd in Dante Stakes
Seurat - 1st in Prix Jean de Chaudenay
Shadeed – 1st in Craven Stakes, 1st in 2,000 Guineas Stakes
Slip Anchor - 1st in Heathorn Stakes, 1st in Lingfield Derby Trial
Supreme Leader – 3rd in 2,000 Guineas Stakes
Theatrical – 1st in Ballysax Stakes, 1st in Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial
Group 1 / Grade I victories after running in the Derby.
Petoski – King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (1985)
Law Society – Irish Derby (1985)
Theatrical – Hialeah Turf Cup Handicap (1987), Man o' War Stakes (1987), Turf Classic Invitational Stakes (1987), Breeders' Cup Turf (1987)
