Shirley Heights showed promise as a two-year-old, winning twice from six attempts and notably taking the one-mile Royal Lodge Stakes at Ascot Racecourse in September at odds of 10/1.

[6] At Epsom in June, Shirley Heights started at odds of 8/1 in a field of twenty-five runners for the Derby, with Inkerman, ridden by Lester Piggott being made 4/1 favourite in what was considered a substandard renewal of the race.

[7] The 25/1 outsider Hawaiian Sound, ridden by the American Willie Shoemaker took the lead soon after the start, and led the field into the straight as Shirley Heights appeared to be struggling with the downhill section course.

In the final strides, Starkey drove Shirley Heights through along the inside rail and won a photo-finish by a head from Hawaiian Sound with the 40/1 shot Remainder Man in third.

[13] In his second year at stud Shirley Heights sired Darshaan, who won the 1984 Prix du Jockey Club (beating Sadler's Wells and Rainbow Quest) before becoming a highly successful breeding stallion.