Sixty-four horses race around the track on the Cedar Downs Racing Derby, one of only two racing derby rides in the U.S. The carousel was built in 1920 by Prior and Church and was brought to Cedar Point in 1967.

The machine was built for the Humphrey Company of Euclid Beach near Cleveland. Also known as the Great American Racing Derby, the ride ran at Euclid Beach for 47 years. Although a few changes have been made, the ride is still housed in its original structure.

The ride features an immense turntable with a 90-foot diameter that revolves as the ride begins. The four-abreast horses move back and forth producing a racing effect. The momentum of the ride increases until it reaches a speed of approximately 15 mph. The Cedar Downs Racing Derby is Cedar Point’s most popular carousel, giving more than 500,000 rides each summer.

It has recently been discovered that the horses on Cedar Downs’ platform may have originated from the Williams Amusement Device Company in Denver. This company came to light when several carousel enthusiasts uncovered the mystery of a 1920 Denver Post newspaper photograph featuring carver Royle C. Williams. Photographs shared by the Williams family and copies of this article indicate that these horses were carved by the Williams Company.