2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes The 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes was a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It was run over a distance of 7 furlongs (1,408 metres), and it was scheduled to take place each year in early April. The event was originally held at Ascot. The present grading system was introduced in 1971, and the race was classed at Group 3 level. It was staged at Newmarket in 1978, and transferred to Salisbury in 1979. It was discontinued after 1986. The race served as a trial for the 2000
Derby (horse race) four-year-old Thoroughbreds, and the Canadian Pacing Derby, an annual harness race for "aged pacers" (Standardbreds) four years old and up. In Scandinavian harness racing Derby is restricted to four-year-olds. Exception is the Finnhorse Derby, which is restricted to five-year-olds. Derby (horse race) A derby ( , ) is a type of horse race named after the Derby Stakes run at Epsom Downs Racecourse in England. That was in turn named after Edward Smith-Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby, who inaugurated the race in 1780. Perhaps the best-known example after the original is the Kentucky Derby in the United States. Traditionally, the