Italian Derby

The race that defines a season

The Italian Derby is the grand classic of Italian horse racing: a Group race reserved for three-year-old thoroughbreds, run over a distance of 2,200 meters on the main track. It is traditionally held on June 2nd, Republic Day, when the national calendar pauses and the entire racing world converges on a single afternoon. Winning the Derby means entering a hall of fame that chronicles over a century of Italian breeding.

Since 1884 at the Capannelle Racecourse

The first edition dates back to April 1884, when the race was established on Roman tracks, modeled after the Epsom Derby created in England in 1780 by the 12th Earl of Derby. Since then, the Italian Derby has remained tied to the Capannelle Racecourse on the Via Appia Nuova, in the southeast quadrant of the City of Rome: a historic facility nestled in the greenery of the Roman countryside, just a few kilometers from the Castelli Romani, representing one of the iconic sporting landmarks of the Lazio Region. The distance was adjusted from 2,400 to 2,200 meters in 2008, bringing the race closer to international standards.

Much more than a horse race

The Derby Day has always been a popular event, not just for industry insiders. The program features eight or nine races in a single afternoon, with at least two Group races—the Derby and the President of the Republic Prize over 1,800 meters—and several Listed races that complete a high-level technical card. Tens of thousands of people gather around the track: in 2025, attendance at Capannelle exceeded 15,000 spectators.

• The lawn: families with children, picnics, and open stands right by the fences
• The paddock: the moment to observe the horses before the start, an unmissable ritual for enthusiasts
• Elegance and tradition: hats, light-colored suits, and the nostalgic atmosphere of the great racing days
• Dining and entertainment: food stalls, live music, and activities for children between races

Recent protagonists

In 2025, the 142nd edition was won at Capannelle by Molveno, ridden by Marco Ghiani and trained by Marco Botti, in 2'14"40 ahead of Crazy Spirit and Lao Tzu. In 2026, the 143rd edition went to Venetian Prince, with jockey Jason Watson in the saddle.

2026: An edition away from home

2026 marked an exceptional interlude in the race's history. Due to the temporary unavailability of the Capannelle Racecourse—linked to the failure of the City of Rome to appoint a manager for the facility—the Roman calendar was frozen and the race days were redistributed to other Italian tracks. The Italian Derby thus moved for the third time in its history away from Rome, hosted on June 2, 2026, by the Snai San Siro Racecourse in Milan alongside the President of the Republic Prize. This was a declaredly temporary solution: returning to racing at Capannelle remains the stated goal for restoring normalcy in the capital.

Why it is worth the trip

The Italian Derby is the best opportunity to discover Italian horse racing at its most spectacular and accessible: an afternoon outdoors, free or low-cost depending on the edition, where elite sport coexists with a city festival atmosphere. For those visiting Rome on June 2nd, it is a different and authentically Roman way to experience Republic Day, far from the crowds of the historic center.