The 20th Earl of Derby, born Edward Stanley in 1952, is a British nobleman and the current head of the {Stanley family}. He succeeded to the title in 1994 after the death of his father, the 19th Earl. The Earl has a background in business and has been involved in various charitable activities. The Earl of Derby is known for his interest in horse racing, a tradition associated with his family. The {Derby Stakes}, a famous horse race, is named after the family and has been held annually since 1780 at {Epsom Downs Racecourse}.