Britain’s richest Flat horse race has been held since 1780 and this year sees the end of a two-day festival at Epsom Downs Racecourse which attracts a crowd of around 130,000. It has been run annually for 243 years but was moved from 1915-18 and 1940-45 to Newmarket during the two world wars.
The Derby, also known as the Epsom Derby or the Derby Stakes, is worth £1.5 million, of which £850,650 goes to the winner who was last year’s 5-2 favorite Desert Crown, trained by Sir Michael Stoute and by Saeed Suhail.
What is it?
The pinnacle of the Flat season, the Derby is one of the five Classics in English racing in addition to the Oak which takes place at Epsom the day before, the 1,000 Guineas, the St Leger, and the 2,000 Guineas. The Derby is a race for three-year-old fillies and fillies, run over one mile, four furlongs and 10 yards on Epsom Downs, an extremely undulating course with a pronounced slope towards the rails on the direct home.
When is the Epsom Derby?
The Derby will take place on Saturday, June 3, on the second day of the Festival. Two more Group 1 races, the Oaks and the Coronation Cup, will be held on Friday, June 2nd, Ladies’ Day.
What time does the race start?
The starter should send them off at 1.30pm on June 3, earlier than usual due to the FA Cup final being scheduled for the same day.
What TV channel is it on?
The race will be broadcast live on ITV1 as part of their comprehensive Ladies Day and Derby Day coverage from Epsom, presented by Ed Chamberlin. It will also be broadcast on ITV+.
How big is the area?
No more than 20 subterranean species will run in the race on June 3 from an initial entry of up to 400, registered and paid for in December of their year. In March 2023 those who wanted to stay in the area paid a second fee and at the end of April, just over a hundred had done so. The field will be further reduced in mid-May when the third entry fee becomes due which usually cuts the numbers to around two dozen. On Monday 29 May those who wish to continue in the race will pay the final fee but there is also the possibility of late entry for those who pay the Supplementary Entry fee, usually equivalent to the prize money for finishing fourth. At that stage if there are more than 20 horses, those with the lowest ratings will drop out and on Thursday 1st June the final field will be announced.
Will the King and Queen have horses in the race?
Three horses in royal colors are among the entries although that could change during race week. Slipofthepen, Desert Hero and Circle of Fire are currently eligible for the Derby Stakes and are, in theory at least, in with a chance of winning for the reigning monarch for the first time since Minoru won for Edward VII in 1909.
Who is the most successful current trainer?
Not only the most successful trainer still practicing his trade, Aidan O’Brien is the most successful trainer in the 242 years of Derbys, winning eight times with Galileo (2001), High Chaparral (2002) ), Camelot (2012), Ruler of the World (2013), Australia (2014), Wings of Eagles (2017), Anthony Van Dyck (2019) and Serpentine (2020).
What are the latest opportunities?
With the field still in an expanded state, we cannot yet give you any guidance on the runners and riders until they are finally confirmed. However, the bookies have assessed the remaining 100+ entries and are pricing the top six as follows:
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Auguste Rodin 6/1
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Military Order 7/1
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Flying colors 12/1
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Explode 12/1
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Arrest 14/1
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A Canberra legend 16/1
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