Never Say Die (horse) 33/1 outsider in a field of twenty-two runners for the Derby. According to some accounts, he would have started at even longer odds if his memorable name and the publicity attracted by his eighteen-year-old jockey Lester Piggott had not made him a popular choice with many members of the public. The colt was always well-placed and was sent into the lead early in the straight by Piggott. He won comfortably by two lengths from Arabian Night and Darius. Clark was ill in New York hospital and unable to attend the race, which saw Never Say Die becoming the first American-bred
Derby Gilbert & Sullivan Company relationship with the Derby Playhouse and move its production of "H.M.S. Pinafore" to the Derby Assembly Rooms Darwin Suite, a much smaller "black box" space with fewer technical capabilities. Nevertheless, the company placed 2nd Runners-up at the International G&S Festival. In both 2005 and 2006, the company again was Festival Winner, with Andrew Nicklin's productions of "The Sorcerer" and "Pirates". The company's six wins at the Festival are unprecedented and are still the largest number of first place wins. The company also took "The Sorcerer" to the Waterford Festival of Light Opera, where it won the awards for Best G&S