1913 Epsom Derby in front of King George V's horse, Anmer. The horse struck Davison as she tried to grab the horse's reins, the injuries she received proved fatal as she died 4 days later. Davison was a militant suffragette and a member of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU), she campaigned throughout her life for votes for women in the United Kingdom. The race was attended by an estimated 500,000 people, including the King and Queen. Aboyeur, ridden by Edwin Piper, took an early lead which he maintained into the straight, where he ran about three horse-widths away from the inside
Durbar (horse) starting in the race in order to collect money on sweepstakes tickets. A year after the "suffragette Derby" of 1913 the race was marked by another incident in which a campaigner for women's suffrage, named as Ada Rice was arrested after firing a starting pistol at a policeman. The start of the race was delayed for more than twenty minutes as the starter struggled to control the runners leading the favourite, Kennymore, the winner of the 2000 Guineas to become increasingly fractious, lashing out with his hooves and attempting to attack other horses. Once the field was underway Durbar, ridden