In what year was the Epsom Derby first run?

The Epsom Derby was first run in 1780.

The race was founded by the 12th Earl of Derby and Sir Charles Bunbury. It takes place at Epsom Downs in Surrey, England, and is traditionally run over 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 6 yards (about 2,420 metres). The Derby is restricted to three-year-old thoroughbreds.

The inaugural running was won by Diomed, a colt owned by Sir Charles Bunbury and ridden by Sam Arnull. Diomed later became an important sire in the United States after being exported there.

The Epsom Derby is the namesake of many races called “Derby” around the world. It forms the English Triple Crown sequence with the 2,000 Guineas and the St Leger, although completing that treble is exceptionally rare. The race should not be confused with the Kentucky Derby, which began almost a century later in 1875.