{, class="collapsible collapsed" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="clear:right; float:right; text-align:center; font-weight:bold;" width="280px" ! colspan="3" style="border:1px solid black; background-color: #77DD77;" , Also Ran The 2004 Epsom Derby was a

horse race Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its bas ...

that took place at

Epsom Downs Epsom Downs is an area of chalk downland, chalk upland near Epsom, Surrey; in the North Downs. Part of the area is taken up by the Epsom Downs Racecourse, racecourse; the gallops are part of the land purchased by Stanly Wootton in 1925 and are ...

on Saturday 5 June 2004. It was the 225th running of the

Derby Derby ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area on the River Derwent, Derbyshire, River Derwent in Derbyshire, England. Derbyshire is named after Derby, which was its original co ...

, won by the pre-race joint favourite North Light. The winner was ridden by

Kieren Fallon Kieren Francis Fallon (born 22 February 1965 in Crusheen, County Clare, Ireland) is a retired Irish professional flat racing jockey and was British flat racing Champion Jockey, British Champion Jockey six times. Care ...

and trained by Sir Michael Stoute. The other joint favourite Snow Ridge finished seventh.

Race details

*''Sponsor:''

Vodafone Vodafone Group Public Limited Company () is a British Multinational company, multinational telecommunications company. Its registered office and global headquarters are in Newbury, Berkshire, England. It predominantly operates Service (economic ...

*''Winner's prize money:'' £788,220 *''Going:'' Good *''Number of runners:'' 14 *''Winner's time:'' 2m 33.72s

Full result

{, border="1" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size:90%" , - bgcolor="#77dd77" align="center" , width="35px" , , width="45px" , * , width="160px" , Horse , width="160px" , Jockey , width="190px" , Trainer ^† , width="80px" , SP , - , 1 , , North Light ,

, Sir Michael Stoute , 7/2 jf , - , 2 , ''1½'' ,

Rule of Law The essence of the rule of law is that all people and institutions within a Body politic, political body are subject to the same laws. This concept is sometimes stated simply as "no one is above the law" or "all are equal before the law". Acco ...

Kerrin McEvoy Kerrin McEvoy (born 28 October 1980) is an Australian jockey who is best known for winning three Melbourne Cups. In Europe, McEvoy rode several big winners for Godolphin including Rule of Law in the St Leger Stakes at Doncaster in 2004 and Ibn ...

Saeed bin Suroor Saeed bin Suroor (; born 16 November 1968 in Dubai) is a horse racing horse trainer, trainer in Great Britain. Formerly a policeman, he took out his training licence in 1995 and the following year was appointed as the trainer for Mohammed bin Ra ...

, 20/1 , - , 3 , ''hd'' , Let the Lion Roar ,

Michael Kinane Michael J. Kinane (born 22 June 1959) is an Irish former flat racing jockey. He had a 34-year career, retiring on 8 December 2009. A prolific winner of the Irish, English and French Classic races over two decades, Kinane h ...

, John Dunlop , 14/1 , - , 4 , ''hd'' ,

Percussionist A percussion instrument is a musical instrument that is sounded by being struck or scraped by a beater including attached or enclosed beaters or rattles struck, scraped or rubbed by hand or struck against another similar instrument. Ex ...

Kevin Darley Kevin Darley (born 5 August 1960, in Penn, Wolverhampton) is a retired jockey, and a co-president of the Jockeys' Association of Great Britain. He was British flat racing Champion Apprentice in 1978 with 70 wins and Champion Jockey in 2000 wi ...

John Gosden John Harry Martin Gosden (born 30 March 1951) is a British Horse trainer, racehorse trainer. He has trained over 3,000 winners worldwide, including victories in the Breeders' Cup Classic, the Epsom Derby, Derby, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, A ...

, 7/1 , - , 5 , ''3'' , Salford City ,

Johnny Murtagh Johnny Murtagh (born 14 May 1970) is an Irish flat racing trainer and former jockey from Bohermeen, near Navan, Kells, County Meath. As a jockey he won many of the major flat races in Europe, including all the Irish Classi ...

David Elsworth David Raymond Cecil Elsworth (born 1939) is a retired horse trainer living in the United Kingdom. He was the trainer of Desert Orchid, 1988 Grand National winner Rhyme 'n' Reason, and 1990 Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Barnbrook Again; thre ...

, 8/1 , - , 6 , ''1½'' , American Post , Richard Hughes ,

Criquette Head-Maarek Christiane "Criquette" Head (born 6 November 1948 at Marly-le-Roi, near Maisons-Laffitte, France) is a retired French racehorse trainer. Known as Criquette, she was born into the Thoroughbred horse racing business. Her great grandfather was a j ...

(FR) , 13/2 , - , 7 , ''1¾'' , Snow Ridge ,

Frankie Dettori Lanfranco "Frankie" Dettori (; born 15 December 1970), is an Italian jockey who was based in England for a career spanning over 35 years. He was British flat racing Champion Jockey three times (1994, 1995 and 2004) and rode the winners of 287 ...

, 7/2 jf , - , 8 , ''hd'' , Hazyview , Eddie Ahern , Neville Callaghan , 40/1 , - , 9 , ''1½'' , Pukka , Darryll Holland ,

Luca Cumani Luca Matteo Cumani (born 7 April 1949, in Milan, Italy) is an Italian thoroughbred horse trainer and breeder. He trained at Bedford House Stables in Newmarket from 1976 to 2019. He has trained a multitude of high-profile horses, including seven ...

, 10/1 , - , 10 , ''2½'' , Gatwick , Richard Quinn ,

Mick Channon Michael Roger Channon (born 28 November 1948) is an English former professional footballer who played as a forward and represented the England national team in the 1970s. Scoring over 250 goals in his career, mainly for Southampton, he becam ...

, 16/1 , - , 11 , ''nk'' , Massif Centrale ,

Dane O'Neill Dane O'Neill (born 1 August 1975) is a retired Irish jockey, who won over 1,800 races in Great Britain over a 25-year career, including the 2015 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. Career O'Neill was born in Dublin, but brought up in Monksto ...

, 100/1 , - , 12 , ''19'' , Coming Again , Michael Hills ,

Barry Hills Barry Hills (born 2 April 1937) is a retired British thoroughbred horse trainer. He lives in Lambourn, England. Biography Barry Hills had three sons in his first marriage, to Maureen Newson: John, Michael, and Richard. John (died 2014) was a h ...

, 80/1 , - , 13 , ''1¼'' , Elshadi ,

Martin Dwyer Martin Joseph Dwyer (born 28 June 1975 in Aintree, Liverpool, Merseyside) is a retired English jockey who competed in flat racing, winning the 2006 Epsom Derby on Sir Percy and the 2003 Epsom Oaks on Casual Look. Career Dwyer, who was born ...

Marcus Tregoning Marcus Philip Norris Tregoning (born 31 July 1959) is an English thoroughbred racehorse trainer, based at Whitsbury Manor Stables in Whitsbury, Hampshire. He originally worked as assistant trainer to Dick Hern. Tregoning began training horses by ...

, 25/1 , - , 14 , ''7'' , Meath ,

Jamie Spencer Jamie Spencer (born 8 June 1980, in County Tipperary) is an Irish flat racing jockey currently riding in the UK. He has been champion jockey in both Ireland and Britain and has won seven classics, five in Ireland and two in England.

Aidan O'Brien Aidan Patrick O'Brien (born 16 October 1969 in County Wexford, Ireland) Aidan O'Brien bio NTRA. ...

(IRE) , 16/1 * The distances between the horses are shown in lengths or shorter. hd = head; nk = neck.
† Trainers are based in Great Britain unless indicated.

Winner's details

Further details of the winner, North Light: *''Foaled:'' 1 March 2001 in Ireland *''Sire:'' Danehill; ''Dam:'' Sought Out ( Rainbow Quest) *''Owner:''

Ballymacoll Stud Ballymacoll Stud is a Thoroughbred stud farm of 300 acres in County Meath, Ireland. It is located in the townland of Ballymacoll, approximately two miles from the village of Dunboyne and four miles (6 km) from the town of Maynooth. Under t ...

*''Breeder:'' Ballymacoll Stud Farm Ltd *''Rating in

2004 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings The 2004 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings was the inaugural edition of the World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings. It is an assessment of Horse racing, racehorses which was issued by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) ...

:'' 122

Form analysis

Two-year-old races

Notable runs by the future Derby participants as two-year-olds in 2003.

*Rule of Law – ''1st

Acomb Stakes The Acomb Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old horses. It is run at York over a distance of 7 furlongs (1,408 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each y ...

, 3rd

Royal Lodge Stakes The Royal Lodge Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old colts and geldings. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), ...

'' *Let the Lion Roar – ''2nd Haynes, Hanson and Clark Stakes'' *American Post – ''1st

Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère The Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère, formerly the Grand Critérium, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of ...

, 1st Racing Post Trophy'' *Snow Ridge – ''1st

, 9th

Dewhurst Stakes The Dewhurst Stakes is a Group races, Group 1 Flat racing, flat Horse racing, horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old Colt (horse), colts and Filly, fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mi ...

'' *Elshadi – ''1st Haynes, Hanson and Clark Stakes, 4th Autumn Stakes''

The road to Epsom

Early-season appearances in 2004 and trial races prior to running in the Derby.

*North Light – ''1st

Dante Stakes The Dante Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old horses. It is run over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 56 yards () ...

'' *Rule of Law – ''2nd

Dante Stakes The Dante Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old horses. It is run over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 56 yards () ...

'' *Let the Lion Roar – ''3rd

Dante Stakes The Dante Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old horses. It is run over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 56 yards () ...

'' *Percussionist – ''1st Lingfield Derby Trial'' *Salford City – ''1st

Greenham Stakes The Greenham Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old colts and geldings. It is run over a distance of 7 furlongs () at Newbury ...

, 6th

2,000 Guineas The 2000 Guineas Stakes is a Group 1 flat race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile (1.6 km) and scheduled to take place each yea ...

'' *American Post – ''1st Prix Omnium II, 1st

Prix de Fontainebleau The Prix de Fontainebleau is a Group 3 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile) at L ...

, 1st

Poule d'Essai des Poulains Molof (Ampas, Poule, Powle-Ma) is a poorly documented Papuan languages, Papuan language spoken by about 200 people in :id:Molof, Senggi, Keerom, Molof village, Senggi District, Keerom Regency. Classification Stephen Wurm, Wurm (1975) placed it a ...

'' *Snow Ridge – ''2nd

'' *Hazyview – ''1st

Newmarket Stakes The Newmarket Stakes is a Listed flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old colts and geldings. It is run over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs (2,012 metres) on ...

, 2nd Lingfield Derby Trial, 1st Fairway Stakes'' *Gatwick – ''1st Haydock Silver Bowl'' *Meath – ''2nd

Leopardstown 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes The Leopardstown 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run over a distance of 7 furlongs (1,408 me ...

, 2nd

Amethyst Stakes The Amethyst Stakes is a Listed race, Listed Flat racing, Flat Horse racing, horse race in Ireland open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 ...

, 1st Gallinule Stakes''

Subsequent Group 1 wins

Group 1 / Grade I victories after running in the Derby.

*Rule of Law – '' St. Leger (2004)''

Subsequent breeding careers

Leading progeny of participants in the 2004 Epsom Derby.

Sires of Classic winners

North Light (1st) * Arctic Cosmos - 1st

St Leger Stakes The St Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over ...

(2010) * Celtic New Year - 2nd Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap (2011)

Sires of Group/Grade One winners

American Post (6th) * Robin Of Navan - 1st

Critérium de Saint-Cloud The Critérium de Saint-Cloud is a Conditions races, Group 1 Flat racing, flat Horse racing, horse race in France open to two-year-old thoroughbred Colt (horse), colts and Filly, fillies. It is run at Saint-Cloud R ...

(2015) * Ana Americana - 3rd

Prix Saint-Alary The Prix Saint-Alary is a Group 2 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Longchamp in Paris over a distance of 2,000 metres (about 1 miles), and take ...

(2009) * Liliside - 1st(disqualified)

Poule d'Essai des Pouliches The Poule d'Essai des Pouliches is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile) ...

(2010) ''dam of Lys Gracieux (

Japanese Horse of the Year The Japanese Horse of the Year is the highest honor given to the most outstanding horse in Japanese thoroughbred horse racing. It is awarded annually by the Japan Racing Association (JRA). Since 1987 the honor has been part of the JRA Awards. This ...

2019)'' * Got Away - 1st Charnwood Forest Mares' Chase (2018)

Other Stallions

Let The Lion Roar (3rd) - Nautical Nitwit (1st

West Yorkshire Hurdle The West Yorkshire Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain that is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Wetherby, West Yorkshire, over a distance of about 3 mil ...

2018)
Rule Of Law (2nd) - Exported to Japan before relocating to Ireland - Minor jumps winners

References

*
sportinglife.com
* {{Epsom Derby

Epsom Derby The Derby Stakes, more commonly known as the Derby and sometimes referred to as the Epsom Derby, is a Group races, Group 1 flat Horse racing, horse race in England open to three-year-old Colt (horse), colts and Filly, fillies. It is run at Ep ...

2004

2000s in Surrey