Epsom Downs Racecourse
Epsom Downs is the home of the most famous race in the world. The Derby has been run on this Surrey downland since 1780 and remains the ultimate prize for any three-year-old colt.
LEFT-HANDED
EST. 1780 (Derby)
About Epsom Downs Racecourse
Epsom Downs is the home of the most famous race in the world. The Derby has been run on this Surrey downland since 1780 and remains the ultimate prize for any three-year-old colt. Epsom Downs Racecourse is a flat racing only racecourse, located at Epsom Downs, Epsom, Surrey, KT18 5LQ.
The Derby Festival, early June
Two classics over two days. The Oaks for three-year-old fillies on the Friday. The Derby — for three-year-old colts and fillies — takes centre stage on Saturday. Total prize money exceeds £1.5 million, making the Derby Britain’s richest race.
Meetings & feature races
Epsom hosts a handful of meetings each year, but the calendar revolves around the two-day Derby Festival in early June. The course is famous for its severe undulations, sharp left-handed Tattenham Corner and downhill rush into the home straight — a combination unique in world racing.
The Derby (first Saturday in June)
First run in 1780, the Derby is the most prestigious flat race in the world. The roll of honour reads like a history of thoroughbred racing: Diomed, Eclipse, Hyperion, Sea-Bird, Nijinsky, Mill Reef, Shergar, Galileo, Sea The Stars, Authorized.
The race carries its share of historical drama. The 1913 running is infamous for the death of suffragette Emily Davison, who ran in front of King George V’s horse Anmer and was struck by the animal, dying four days later.
The Oaks (Friday before Derby Day)
The Oaks predates the Derby, first run in 1779. The fillies’ classic has a strong recent record of producing horses that go on to become champions: Enable won the Oaks in 2017 before her two Arc victories; Snow Fairy won in 2010 and went on to become a global Group 1 winner.
Investec Mile meeting (April)
The Spring meeting traditionally serves as Epsom’s warm-up event. Solid Group and Listed-class horses fill the card and several useful Derby trial form lines emerge from the supporting fixtures.
Live races at Epsom Downs
Upcoming races at Epsom
Live racecards from Epsom — pulled from our racing data feed, refreshed throughout the day.
The Derby — key trends
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Course statistics & betting angles
Unique downhill rush into the sharp left-handed Tattenham Corner. First-time Epsom runners frequently struggle to handle the camber.
In big-field Derby fields, high draws have historically been favoured. Ten of the last 12 winners were drawn in stall 7+.
Aidan O’Brien has trained six of the last 10 Derby winners and six of the last 10 Oaks winners. Ballydoyle deserves close inspection.
The Lingfield Derby Trial in early May is one of the most reliable Derby pointers. Several recent Derby winners have come through this race.
How to watch racing at Epsom Downs
ITV provides extensive live terrestrial coverage of Derby Day and Oaks Day, with their flagship Saturday programme building up to the big race for several hours. Racing TV covers every Epsom card. For race-by-race tips and probability ratings, the horse.bet UK Racing Predictor publishes picks for the Derby Festival and every Epsom card.
Visiting Epsom Downs
Epsom is easily reached from central London. Epsom Downs station (5-minute walk) and Tattenham Corner station (10-minute walk) both serve the course. Trains from London Victoria and London Waterloo reach Epsom in around 35-45 minutes. The M25 (Junction 9) is the most direct motorway approach. Derby Day attracts huge crowds, with the downs free-admission area drawing tens of thousands of casual racegoers.
Official Epsom Downs Racecourse website →
Frequently asked questions
When is the Derby?
The Derby is run on the first Saturday of June each year. The Oaks is run the day before on the Friday.
What is the biggest race at Epsom?
The Derby. With total prize money exceeding £1.5 million, it is Britain’s richest flat race and the most prestigious classic in the world.
Why are Epsom course winners always worth a second look?
The downhill plunge into Tattenham Corner is unique. Horses that have already proven they handle the camber and the running rails at Epsom hold a real edge over first-timers.
What’s the dress code at the Derby?
The Queen’s Stand requires formal morning dress for men. The Grandstand requires smart attire. The downs are open admission and have no dress code.
Where can I find Derby tips and predictions?
The horse.bet UK Racing Predictor publishes Derby Day picks and full-field probability ratings the morning of racing.
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