High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Spion Kop (1917–1941) was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from 1919 until 1921, Spion Kop ran fourteen times winning two races. After an undistinguished early career in which he lost his first six races, he improved as a three-year-old to win the Epsom Derby in record time in 1920. After his retirement from racing he has some success as a stallion.