On this day On this day in 1968 Lester Piggott rode Sir Ivor to victory in the Epsom Derby for Irish trainer Vincent O'Brien. Of Piggott's nine successes in that English Classic he felt 4/5 favourite Sir Ivor was the best due to the colt's turn of foot, which was perfectly illustrated in 1968, some 45 years ago. Sir Ivor won the National Stakes at the Curragh as a two-year-old in 1967. He also took the Grand Criterium at Longchamp, France, in comprehensive fashion. His three-year-old campaign saw him win the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket and the Epsom Derby before running second in the Irish Derby and third in the Eclipse at Sandown. His other victories that season came in the Champion Stakes at Newmarket and the Washington DC International at Laurel Park, in his final career start. After retiring to stud, Sir Ivor died in 1995, aged 30. Among his best offspring was Ivanjica who scorched home in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 1976. Sir Ivor's sire was Sir Gaylord (favourite for the 1962 Kentucky Derby before getting injured) and his dam was Attica. He was bred in Kentucky, US and was owned by Raymond R Guest. He won eight of his 13 races. Sir Ivor's finishing kick in the Epsom Derby of 1968 is definitely worth a view on Youtube.
