In horse racings Triple Crown, Kentucky has a Derby, while the Preakness and Belmont are Stakes. Derby…Stakes…What’s the Difference between a Derby and a Stakes?
As far as I can tell, they differ in name only. Technically, they are all classified as Grade 1 Stakes races.
The general term is a “stakes race.” The Kentucky Derby is named after the original Derby in England (also called the English Derby). It was named after Lord Derby, who put up the money for the original race and won a coin flip to determine the name (I believe it he had lost, it would have been called “The Bunbury”).
So a Derby is any race named after the Derby in England (or, more likely) after the Kentucky Derby.