at epsom downs racecourse on 4 june, ard patrick was ridden by the american jockey john "skeets" martin and started at odds of 100/14 for the derby in a field of eighteen runners. sceptre who had also won the 1000 guineas started evens favourite, having been the subject of an unprecedented gamble which saw her backed to win over half a million pounds. the king and queen were in attendance for the "coronation" derby but the crowd was smaller than usual as a result of heavy rain. ard patrick was in the leading group from the start and went to the front just after half way, followed by sceptre, rising glass and csardas. in the straight ard patrick pulled clear and won easily by three lengths from rising glass, with friar tuck third and sceptre fourth. according to "robin hood" in "the australasian" ard patrick confounded those critics who had questioned his temperament as he "finished like a lion and as straight as an arrow."