1979 Derby Stakes

[@nightowl7459]

Troy was great Derby winner, the only horse to win the English, Irish Derby, King George and International (then the Benson and Hedges) in the same season.

[@philipbanerjee9164]

Troy was a brilliant horse and that is the strongest Derby field in the last 50 years. So many of the horses in that field won Group races: some of them Group 1 winners: the 2nd Dickens Hill, the 3rd Northern Baby, and the 4th Ela-Mana-Mou all went on to win Group 1s and Tap on Wood was already a Guineas winner. For Troy to trounce them was a great achievement. Troy is a very underrated Derby winner in history.

[@gazowen7310]

An underrated derby winner a class horse Troy

[@keithf_]

Troy was a horse I loved at the time. I've watched this race so many times in the past, but only just now have I watched where Troy was in the race. He spent much of the race trapped on the inside, with Willie Carson hard at work from a long way out, desperately trying to improve his position. It's only in the home straight that he gets Troy to the outside and then the horse flew. To win from where he was at Tattenham Corner was one hell of an achievement. He went through the whole season unbeaten winning The English & Irish Derbies, The King George at Ascot and the Juddmonte at York, before only finishing 3rd in the Arc. But what a great horse he was.

[@nightowl7459]

@KeithF Carson certainly had to give him a few backhanders to get him into top gear, but he was certainly something when he hit top gear.

[@keithf_]

Indeed Mr Owl ... long time no speak. One of the most impressive bursts of finishing speed I've seen in an Epsom Derby.

[@nightowl7459]

@@keithf_ It has been a while, as for Troy I thought it was great from seemingly going nowhere he finds a amazing burst of speed to take him past Dickens Hill who is also going to win his race, and he confirmed it was no fluke by beating him well in the Irish Derby.

[@keithf_]

​@@nightowl7459 Yep, beat Dickens Hill by 7l at Epsom, then by 4l at The Curragh in Irish Derby ... and Dickens Hill was a pretty good horse

[@nightowl7459]

@@keithf_ Yeah, take away Troy and people would be hailing Dickens Hill as a great horse.

[@MEECHIO]

What a brilliant horse Troy was....Great memories...:-)

[@uhegbu]

Another great Derby winner here.

[@antonycox9690]

Major Dick Hern & Willie Carson, my most favourite ever racing collaboration...

[@glynnevans1851]

@@antonycox9690 Me too Antony.brigadier Gerard my favourite thou even if he was joe s ride then.'What a turn of foot he had sir .I remember the sad day he got beat in the 72 Benson n Hedges although Joe Mercer said after the race the Brigadier was discharging mucus. Also Henbit was a quality Derby winner too but my late dad ust to say there is no such statement as A bad Derby!!..Late 60s n 70s was a Fab era for racing both flat n N.H..Kind regards Glynn n Greetings from Stourbridge West Midlands UK 🤝

[@jcanyiam8309]

What an AMAZING change of GEAR by this FANTASTIC HORSE!!!!

[@paulspice720]

Jeez, he was a long way back, Troy, you forget. Then he won hand-stands.

[@lutherbuckhurst3887]

My favourite derby winner in a real high class field

[@gazowenowen250]

A vintage derby winner always said Carson best horse

[@nicolejones254]

I was born an hour later

[@katyevans5658]

The best derby winner in a top class field ...kudos to the great willie Carson.. love them both ..❤

[@simonhindley65]

Troy finished like a train, and the commentator didn't even mention him until a furlong and a half out.

[@nightowl7459]

He put the race to bed in a matter of strides.

[@DavidJones-rp2og]

The three year olds of 1979 were vintage, And Troy was head and shoulders the best.

[@lieutenantpigeon619]

Didn’t get the best draw in the Arc and had too much to do as a result

[@keithf_]

​@lieutenantpigeon619 As night follows day ... a brilliant non-French trained Derby winner gets the most awful draw at Longchamp ! Happened to Nijinsky, Troy, Dancing Brave etc

[@lindapearson1024]

My favourite horse

[@gary1961]

At 2:04, I feel sorry for that jockey who ended up with a toilet roll wrapped all around him thrown from the crowd.

[@petermcmanus7288]

Yves Saint Martin

[@KevinMunday-oh6xq]

A Great Horse

[@carltonspence2783]

Derby died when it left Wednesday to Saturday.

[@matthewcoombs3282]

Agree, why do they mess with these traditions? Same with FA Cup being moved to 5pm and not being the last domestic game of the season. When it was Wednesday, the country stopped work for an hour to watch it (remember doing it at my work place) also lots of work outings (hiring double deckers) to go and see the race. Made it very special.

[@KevinMunday-oh6xq]

Coolmores stranglehold has killed the Derby, doubt there will ever be a real outsider win it again

[@postypaulh]

I went with my twin brother and had £5 on Troy and also £1 on Northern Baby at 100-1 third but not e/w. Went for fish and chips and was lambasted for not buying jellied eels on Derby Day. Changed our mind and bought the eels ha ha not the same but ok. Great memories Carson was superb.

[@Broonzied]

At 2f out he was eighth. At 1f out the race was all over. Storming finish.

[@gazowenowen250]

Troy destroyed them

[@seamusfallon3104]

200th Derby

[@Funeeman]

He had a lot of ground to make up three furlongs out.