The 1987 Epsom Derby was a horse race which took place at Epsom Downs on Wednesday June 3, 1987. It was the 208th running of the Derby, and it was won by the pre-race favourite Reference Point. The winner was ridden by Steve Cauthen and trained by Henry Cecil.
Sponsor: Ever Ready
Winner's prize money: £282,025
Going: Good
Number of runners: 19
Winner's time: 2m 33.90s
* The distances between the horses are shown in lengths or shorter. shd = short-head; nk = neck.
† Trainers are based in Great Britain unless indicated.
Further details of the winner, Reference Point:
Foaled: February 26, 1984, in Great Britain
Sire: Mill Reef; Dam: Home on the Range (Habitat)
Owner: Louis Freedman
Breeder: Louis Freedman
Rating in 1987 International Classifications: 135
Notable runs by the future Derby participants as two-year-olds in 1986.
Reference Point – 1st Futurity Stakes
Most Welcome – 5th Middle Park Stakes
Bellotto – 1st Acomb Stakes
Groom Dancer – 1st Prix Herod, 8th Prix de la Salamandre, 1st Prix de Condé, 3rd Critérium de Saint-Cloud
Ajdal – 1st Dewhurst Stakes
Love the Groom – 3rd Futurity Stakes
Gulf King – 8th Chesham Stakes, 6th Prix de la Salamandre, 1st Beresford Stakes
Early-season appearances in 1987 and trial races prior to running in the Derby.
Reference Point – 1st Dante Stakes
Most Welcome – 3rd Craven Stakes, 13th 2,000 Guineas (finished 3rd, placed last)
Bellotto – 3rd Greenham Stakes, 2nd 2,000 Guineas
Sir Harry Lewis – 1st Dee Stakes
Entitled – 2nd Irish 2,000 Guineas
Mountain Kingdom – 3rd Easter Stakes, 2nd Lingfield Derby Trial
Groom Dancer – 1st Prix Omnium II, 1st Prix de Guiche, 1st Prix Lupin
Sadjiyd – 1st Prix Noailles, 1st Prix Hocquart
Ajdal – 1st Craven Stakes, 4th 2,000 Guineas (finished 5th, placed 4th), Irish 2,000 Guineas (finished 3rd, disqualified)
Persifleur – 1st Prix Greffulhe, 3rd Dante Stakes
Ascot Knight – 2nd Dante Stakes
Love the Groom – 4th Craven Stakes
Ibn Bey – 5th Lingfield Derby Trial, 1st Predominate Stakes
Legal Bid – 1st Feilden Stakes, 1st Lingfield Derby Trial
Gulf King – 6th Craven Stakes, 1st Sandown Classic Trial, 5th Dante Stakes
Water Boatman – 3rd Feilden Stakes, 6th Lingfield Derby Trial, 2nd Gallinule Stakes
Alwasmi – 2nd Predominate Stakes
Romantic Prince – 4th Dante Stakes
Group 1 / Grade I victories after running in the Derby.
Reference Point – King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (1987), St. Leger (1987)
Sir Harry Lewis – Irish Derby (1987)
Ajdal – July Cup (1987), William Hill Sprint Championship (1987)
Ibn Bey – Gran Premio d'Italia (1987), Preis von Europa (1989), Deutschland-Preis (1990), Irish St. Leger (1990)
