[8] At Stockbridge Racecourse later that month he started odds-on favourite for Sweepstakes but was easily beaten by Glaucus,[9] who went on to be one of the season's leading colts.

[10] Dangerous was not mentioned among the Derby contenders in the early part of the year[11] and his participation in the race was only announced a day or two before the event, making him very much a "dark horse".

According to the Court Journal the crowds were the largest in memory, with hundreds of carriages, thousands of mounted spectators and an "innumerable phalanx" of pedestrians.

[14] Ridden by Jem Chapple, Dangerous was restrained at the back of the field in the early stages as Catalan, another of the outsiders set a very strong pace from Forester.

Many of the runners were soon struggling, but Chapple was able to bring Dangerous through the field to join the leading group as the horses approached the turn into the straight.

Dangerous appeared to be "full of running"[8] and pulled ahead to win "with scarcely any trouble", by a length from Connoisseur, with Revenge finishing strongly to take third.

[16] He was described elsewhere as "one of the worst Derby winners" and it was rumoured that many of the more fancied horses had been "made safe"– prevented from winning by either bribery, drugs or deliberate injury.