Derby
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7correct to beat the crowd
173 free Derby trivia questions with answers — sports quiz, new questions added Aug 2026.
50 free Derby trivia questions with answers. Are you a Derby enthusiast? Put your knowledge to the test with our comprehensive Derby trivia quiz. From the legendary Kentucky Derby to international racing traditions, discover how much you really know about this iconic sporting event.
30 of 173 questions with answers and explanations. Play the quiz
Q 01The Derby horse race got its name from a coin toss between its founder and which racing figure?
Sir Charles Bunbury
Legend says a coin toss settled the name, though Bunbury was Steward of the Jockey Club and may simply have deferred to his host.
Q 02Which horse won the inaugural running of the Epsom Derby in 1780?
Diomed
Diomed, owned by Sir Charles Bunbury, was the first horse to cross the finish line and win the historic Epsom Derby in its debut year, 1780.
Q 03What is the approximate distance of the Epsom Derby?
1 mile, 4 furlongs
The exact length was only pinned down in 1991: one mile, four furlongs and 10 yards.
Q 04Which railway company made Derby its engineering headquarters after its 1844 formation?
Midland Railway
The Midland Railway, formed in 1844 by merging three lines that met at Derby, kept its headquarters and locomotive works in the town for the rest of the century.
Q 05What type of nut is the traditional ingredient in a Kentucky "Derby Pie"?
Walnuts
Walnuts are the classic Derby pie nut: the trademarked Louisville recipe pairs chopped walnuts with chocolate chips in a rich custard-style filling baked in a pastry shell.
Q 06What distinguishes a Derby shoe from an Oxford?
Open lacing
Derby shoes are characterized by their open lacing system, where the eyelet tabs are stitched on top of the vamp, providing a more comfortable fit, especially for wider feet.
Q 07By what other name is a 'Derby hat' commonly known in the United Kingdom?
Bowler hat
In the United Kingdom, the hat known as a Derby in the United States is more commonly referred to as a bowler hat, originally designed in 1849.
Q 08In sports, what does the term 'derby' typically refer to?
A match between two nearby rival teams
A derby is a match between two nearby rival teams, such as Everton against Liverpool; the closer the clubs sit on the map, the fiercer the fixture tends to be.
Q 09In what year was the first Kentucky Derby held?
1875
The first Kentucky Derby was run on 17 May 1875 at the Louisville Jockey Club course later named Churchill Downs, before a crowd of about 10,000.
Q 10Who rode Secretariat to victory in the 1973 Kentucky Derby?
Ron Turcotte
Ron Turcotte rode Secretariat in all three 1973 Triple Crown races; the Canadian jockey had also won the 1972 Kentucky Derby on Riva Ridge.
Q 11Which East Midlands football club is nicknamed 'The Rams'?
Derby County F.C.
The ram mascot nods to the First Regiment of Derby Militia and the regimental song that came with it.
Q 12What type of traditional English headwear is often associated with the Epsom Derby, particularly for men?
Top hat
While women's fashion at the Epsom Derby is known for elaborate hats, men traditionally wear morning dress which includes a top hat.
Q 13Which river flows through the city of Derby?
River Derwent
Derby is situated along the River Derwent, which has played a significant role in the city's industrial history.
Q 21Which jockey, nicknamed 'The Long Fellow' for his height, won a record nine Epsom Derbys?
Lester Piggott
Lester Piggott won the Derby nine times, from Never Say Die in 1954 to Teenoso in 1983, a record for the race, among his 4,493 career wins in Britain.
Q 22Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby, sits on the edge of which city?
Louisville
Louisville's track opened in 1875 as the Louisville Jockey Club grounds on the south side of the city, and the Kentucky Derby has been run there every year since.
Q 23What is the traditional beverage associated with the Kentucky Derby?
Mint Julep
The Mint Julep, a cocktail made with bourbon, mint, sugar, and water, is the signature drink of the Kentucky Derby.
Q 14Epsom Downs racecourse, home of the Derby, lies in which English county?
Surrey
Epsom Downs, in Surrey, has staged the Derby since 1780; the course sits on the North Downs about 15 miles south of central London.
Q 15On the first Saturday of which month is the Epsom Derby normally run?
June
June: since the race moved from a Wednesday to a Saturday in 1995 it has normally been run on the first Saturday of June, the exception being the July running of 2020.
Q 16The Kentucky Derby has been run over what distance since 1896?
1¼ miles
1¼ miles: for its first two decades the race matched the English original's mile and a half, then lost a quarter of a mile and never got it back.
Q 17Derby was granted city status by Queen Elizabeth II in 1977 to mark which royal anniversary?
Her Silver Jubilee
Her Silver Jubilee, 25 years on the throne, was marked on 7 June 1977 by making Derby a city.
Q 18The Epsom Derby is the most prestigious of how many English flat-racing Classics?
Five
Five: the 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas, the Oaks, the Derby and the St Leger. The Derby is also Britain's joint richest flat race.
Q 19The Derby Roundhouse of 1839 was built for which company?
The North Midland Railway
The North Midland Railway built the Roundhouse in 1839 as an engine shed at its Derby works; the building survives as part of Derby College's campus.
Q 20In American English, what other name is often given to the derby shoe?
Blucher
Strictly the two differ, since the blucher has a one-piece quarter-vamp, but shops use the names interchangeably.
Q 24Derby's lead in which industry earns it the tag 'birthplace of the Industrial Revolution'?
Textiles
Textiles: John Lombe's 1717 Silk Mill in Derby was probably the world's first fully mechanised factory, and the cotton mills of the Derwent Valley followed.
Q 25Which Kentucky Derby winner did NOT complete the US Triple Crown?
Spectacular Bid
Spectacular Bid won the 1979 Derby and Preakness but finished third in the Belmont after stepping on a safety pin in his stall that morning.
Q 26What was the Derby hat originally designed to do when it was first made in 1849?
Protection for gamekeepers
It was protection for gamekeepers on Edward Coke's Holkham estate: a hard, low, close-fitting crown so that low branches knocked the hat about rather than knocking the rider off his horse.
Q 27The city of Derby is part of which UNESCO World Heritage Site?
Derwent Valley Mills
Derby is an integral part of the Derwent Valley Mills UNESCO World Heritage Site, which recognizes the area's universal importance as the birthplace of the factory system.
Q 28Which material is a traditional Derby hat made from?
Hard felt
A traditional Derby hat, or bowler hat, is characterized by its hard felt construction and rounded crown.
Q 29In 1884, the Rams began life as an offshoot of which sporting body?
Derbyshire County Cricket Club
Derbyshire County Cricket Club member William Morley founded the football club in 1884 to give players and supporters a winter interest and the cricket club extra revenue.
Q 30Ivy Leaguers' pale suede derbies gave rise to which nickname for prestigious law offices?
White-shoe firms
White-shoe firms took their name from the pale suede derbies, often on red rubber soles, that Ivy League students wore before moving on to elite New York and Boston law practices.