| Derby | |
| Location | Epsom Downs Racecourse |
|---|---|
| Date | 4 June 1980 |
| Winning horse | Henbit |
| Starting price | 7/1 |
| Jockey | Willie Carson |
| Trainer | Dick Hern |
| Owner | Etti Plesch |
| Conditions | Firm |
| 1-2-3 | ||
|
|
|
| Henbit | Master Willie | Rankin |
| Also Ran | ||
|---|---|---|
| 4-5-6 | ||
|
|
|
| Pelerin | Garrido | Hello Gorgeous |
| 7-8-9 | ||
|
|
|
| Julius Caesar | Star Way | Saint Jonathon |
| 10-11-12 | ||
|
|
|
| Bozovici | Blast Off | Ribo Charter |
| 13-14-15 | ||
|
|
|
| Pimpont | Marcello | Tyrnavos |
| 16-17-18 | ||
|
|
|
| Running Mill | Water Mill | Prince Spruce |
| 19-20-21 | ||
|
|
|
| Noble Shamus | Nikoli | Moomba Masquerade |
| 22-23-24 | ||
|
|
|
| Monteverdi | Majestic Star | Braughing |
The 1980 Epsom Derby was the 201st annual running of the Derby horse race. It took place at Epsom Downs Racecourse on 4 June 1980.
The race was won by Etti Plesch's American bred Henbit at odds of 7/1. Ridden by Willie Carson and trained at West Ilsley by Dick Hern, Henbit would be the second Derby winner in two years for the trainer/jockey duo. While the winning margin of just three quarters of a length was unremarkable, that Henbit returned with a fractured cannon bone in his off-fore leg, thought to have occurred a furlong and a half from the finish led his trainer to describe him as a "very brave horse".[1] Furthermore, the winning time of 2:34.77 was the fastest since Nijinsky won in 1970.
- ^ Michael Phillips (5 June 1980). "Henbit's victory leaves a bitter-sweet taste". The Times. p. 12. Retrieved 12 April 2020.