- Mar 27 47th Grand National: Jockey Ted Wilson wins his second consecutive GN aboard 10/3 favourite Roquefort
- May 14 11th Kentucky Derby: Babe Henderson aboard Joe Cotton wins in 2:37.25
- May 22 13th Preakness: Jim McLaughlin aboard Tecumseh wins in 2:49
- Jun 6 19th Belmont: Paul Duffy aboard Tyrant wins in 2:43
- Jul 13 Wimbledon Men's Tennis: 5 straight Wimbledon titles for William Renshaw; for second consecutive year he beats Herbert Lawford 7-5, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5
- Jul 17 Wimbledon Women's Tennis: Defending champion Maud Watson defeats Blanche Bingley 6–1, 7–5
- Aug 22 US National Championship Men's Tennis, Newport R.I.: Richard Sears wins 5th consecutive US singles title; beats Godfrey M. Brinley 6-3, 4-6, 6-0, 6-3
- Aug 29 Phillies Charlie Ferguson no-hits Providence 1-0
- Aug 29 Boxing's 1st heavyweight title fight with 3-oz gloves & 3-minute rounds fought between John L Sullivan & Dominick McCaffrey
- Sep 12 Highest score (35) recorded in any 1st-class soccer match is set
- Sep 16 Puritan (US) beats Genesta (England) in 6th running of America's Cup
- Oct 3 British Open Men's Golf, St Andrews: Bob Martin wins his second Championship by 1 stroke from fellow Scot Archie Simpson
- Oct 17 Baseball sets all players salaries at $1,000-$2,000 for 1885 season
- Oct 22 John Ward & several teammates secretly form Brotherhood of Prof Base Ball Players, 1st baseball union
- Nov 12 Montreal & Britannia Football Clubs (QRFU) defeat Ontario Combined Team (ORFU) 3-0 in CRFU Championship game