Epsom Derby 2019: Anthony Van Dyck wins, tying record for O’Brien

Anthony Van Dyck made a come-from-behind sprint to win Britain’s richest race, the Epsom Derby, in front of a beaming Queen Elizabeth on Saturday.

The thoroughbred entered as the 13-2 favorite, and beat out second place Madhmoon, with stablemate Japan finishing third.

Acclaimed Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien won his seventh Derby – though he did field seven of the 13 horses in the race. O’Brien now joins Robert Robson, John Porter and Fred Darling as the race’s winningest trainer.

“I’m so privileged to be part of the team,” O’Brien told ITV Racing, shortly after the win. “People from the ground all the way up to the riders … there are so many people that I would like to thank.”

Bangkok, the horse owned by late Leicester City chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, began the race at 9-1 odds, but disappointed.

Two-time Derby winner Frankie Dettori was riding another O’Brien horse, Circus Maximus, but fell out of contention before the final stretch.

Jockey Seamie Heffernan rides Anthony Van Dyck to victory in the Epsom Derby on Saturday.

The 13 runners and riders were confirmed days before the 240th edition of the event on Saturday. The mile-and-a-half race carries a prize fund of at least $1.9 million, with the winner claiming just north of $1 million.

Held at Epsom Downs Racecourse every year since 1780, save from the World War years, the race is a rare test in terms of both speed and stamina.

“It is the ultimate test of the 3-year-old thoroughbred,” Phil White, regional director of Jockey Club racecourses, told CNN Sport’s Winning Post in 2018.

“That’s due to the undulations of the ground, and the course itself is unbelievably challenging.”

The tough course features a long uphill drag out of the starting gates, a left-hand bend, a downhill gallop into the straight before a lung-busting uphill finish.

READ: Why the Guineas, Oaks, Derby and St. Leger are known as the Classics

READ: How horses became ‘therapy’ for woman struggling with mental health

READ: Record breaking Winx secures 33rd consecutive victory in final race

Meydan Racecourse, Dubai —

Boasting the world's first five-star trackside hotel, restaurants and a museum, Dubai's Meydan Racecourse is a first-class racing destination.

St. Moritz, Switzerland —

St. Moritz is known for world-class skiing, glitz, glamor and...horse racing? The venue for the White Turf event, held three days a year, isn't your typical racecourse. Instead, it's held on a frozen lake.

Flemington Racecourse, Australia —

Flemington is Australia's oldest metropolitan racecourse and home to the famous Melbourne Cup. The revamped venue was first used in 1840 when the town of Melbourne was just five years old.

Piazza del Campo, Italy —

Simply put, there is no racecourse in the world quite like the Piazza del Campo in Italy. Its origins date back to medieval times when jockeys rode buffalo. The piazza is packed with spectators with racing around the outside.

Happy Valley, Hong Kong —

Happy Valley Racecourse was built in 1845 to provide horse racing for expat Britons living in Hong Kong. It's surrounded by giant apartments and skyscrapers -- giving visitors an unusually beautiful scenic view.

Ascot, England —

Just the name "Ascot" conjures visions of royalty, elegance, high fashion and world-class racing. The racecourse was opened in 1711 by Queen Anne, and Royal Ascot is still one of the most celebrated meetings on the calendar.

Chantilly, France —

Spectacular and timeless, historic Chantilly sits in front of the 16th-century Chateau de Chantilly and the majestic Great Stables (pictured) amid forests 30 miles north of Paris.

Laytown Races, Ireland —

Laytown Races is the only official beach race in Europe. Situated on the Irish coast, the 150-year-old tradition attracts more than 5000 regular visitors every year. Horses race along the sands on a makeshift course.

Goodwood Racecourse, England —

The rolling Sussex countryside unfolds in front of one of the most iconic venues in flat racing. Goodwood has hosted racing since 1802 and offers the perfect setting for the famous Glorious Goodwood meeting.

Cheltenham Racecourse, England —

Cheltenham is a shrine to jump racing against the idyllic backdrop of the Cotswold hills. It hosts the prestigious Cheltenham Festival every March, the highlight of the world's jump racing calendar.

The world's most beautiful racecourses

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Cultural symbol

As well as a blue ribbon in the sporting calendar, the Derby is also one of Britain’s most iconic cultural events.

Since its inception, it has attracted both the upper echelons of English aristocracy – the queen herself has only missed two runnings since 1946 – along with huge crowds made up of every level of society for a colorful day out on the Downs.

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Updated 1:06 PM EDT, Sat June 1, 2019

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Inside the 'most exciting 2 minutes in sports'

01:53 - Source: CNN

The Derby’s long history features the 1913 edition, dubbed the “Suffragette Derby,” when women’s rights campaigner Emily Davidson threw herself under the thundering hooves of King George V’s horse Anmer and died four days later.