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The long gaps between races after the Derby were requested by the Tote World Pool, who were also covering races in South Africa that fitted into those gaps. At least that’s what I read somewhere, but such is my short term memory, I can’t tell you where!
That picture highlights what I was saying earlier about the lack of space at Epsom. Compare the distance between the bottom of the terrace and the course with the likes of Ascot, Newbury, Goodwood, York, Newmarket etc. There’s just more room to move around at those tracks.
Can’t see the meeting being expanded, but you could make the Friday an evening fixture, and run the Woodcote and Oaks alongside five handicaps. Put a big name concert on after racing which is an attraction for many these days.
That would make the Saturday a real quality day, that could be advertised accordingly. At least that would justify the exorbitant prices.
Princess Elizabeth Stakes G3
Coronation Cup G1
Diomed Stakes G3
Epsom Dash HH
Derby Stakes G1
Surrey Stakes L
1m2f Handicap 2HThe 3YO Dash could be squeezed in, if an eight race card is wanted, but given its a C3 handicap that’s not imperative.
Hard to imagine the Jockey Club will want to throw a lot of investment in redeveloping stands at what they see as a difficult venue. I’ve not used the stands on a racing day to envisage what the crowding is like.
The Dash races make no appeal to me so I went to do do a bit of shopping after the Diomed. Quite handy but I would hate to have been a captive audience all through the schedule.
The appeal of significant midweek races seems to be holding up at York and Chester. Perhaps being close to the cities is a factor that Epsom can’t compensate for but I’d like two midweek days for the meeting. Get time off work if needed, doesn’t seem to be a problem at other “festival” meetings.
Looking at those prices, they got the crowd they deserved.
I don’t know what time the picture was taken but it was used to illustrate Lee Mottershead’s article in the “Racing Post”. I am not sure if he has much say in which picture is used but the Post’s picture editor must have thought it was appropriate to the article.
I was struck by the absence of the opened topped buses which used to line the last furlong. Look at what it was like 20 years ago when Motivator won. Realising that was 20 years ago makes me feel quite old all of a sudden!
“Hard to imagine the Jockey Club will want to throw a lot of investment in redeveloping stands at what they see as a difficult venue.”
Agree. Epsom has something like 11 or 12 days racing this year but let’s face it: the course exists for 2 days.
The April and August Bank Holiday meetings are not what they once were. The summer evening meetings are ordinary racing before a concert afterwards. Then there are a few run of the mill meetings in the autumn.
The crowds are not going to Epsom now. Is it still in the Derby’s best interests to be run at a racecourse in visible decline?
It is going to take a lot to turn Derby Day around. I don’t see how that can be done unless they can make The Hill a big event again.
Even the music events don’t seem to have the same impact as they do at other tracks. Take out the Derby/Oaks days and the biggest crowd last year was just 5,500 on the August BH Monday.
The average for the 9 meetings other than Derby/Oaks, was 3,130. Which is not a lot when you consider that number includes annual members (not all, just those that turn up), owners, trainers, sponsors and any coming on reciprocal days as members at other JCR tracks.
Epsom has three G1, two G3, two Listed and one Heritage Handicap and all bar the Listed Blue Riband Trial are run at the Derby meeting. In general outside of the Derby Festival it is a pretty mundane affair.
The more I know the less I understand.
They have to try something; it can’t continue like it is currently. Saying that, the ticket prices are laughable – and comparing them to Wembley/ Wimbledon is even more laughable. They are ‘Premier league’ sporting events; it’s been a long time since The Derby was of that stature.
Allow fans into the centre of the course, and just stop price gouging.
As for the race, I’m not sure Wednesday afternoon is going to work anymore; maybe a ‘tea time’ midweek Derby might work. So why not try? Or maybe run the Oaks Friday evening, and the Derby Saturday evening……just try something.
And just thinking outloud, remember York changed their track for Royal Ascot and the Gold Cup/ Queen Alexandra, and is now a round course. Couldn’t Epsom do something similar, or start in front of the stands for staying races and add a chute – there’s plenty of space inside the track if they wanted.
I agree with the many here who say the main reason crowds for Derby Day are plummeting is the ticket prices.
£85 to get into the grandstand for a total of about 14 minutes of actual racing, including only one big race, is ridiculous.
Comparisons with Premier League football, Test cricket and the opera just don’t stack up. You wouldn’t get away with staging an opera lasting less than a quarter of an hour.
I live less than 10 miles from Epsom and I’m a fairly frequent racegoer – but I wouldn’t dream of going to the Derby again (I was a regular in the ‘90s).
It is not encouraging to see that the need to slash prices as an urgent first step is not being recognised by the powers that be.
I received an invitation by email this morning to book for next year’s Derby. The early-bird price for the grandstand is £50, which suggests the full admission will be unchanged for ’26.
And we’ll be here in 52 weeks’ time discussing why the attendance is down yet again.
I listened to the Nick Luck podcast earlier. It sounded like Epsom’s supremo has taken on board the criticism of charging £50 for under 16s and they will be admitted for free next year, subject to approval by the board.
Fair enough but it’s not much use for 16 and 17 year olds who still can’t, legally at least, use any of the bookmakers or bars provided.
Aintree was much further gone in the mid 70s and amongst the things they did there was they actually engaged the local public to make them care about the race and by extension the course and it has once again become the people’s race along with the wide world.
For Epsom, it might take some thinking outside of the box of what The Powers That Be are comfortable with to get it back on track – it is never going to be like it was at its height but it sure can be a whole lot better than what we saw this year.
At the very least pricing (across the board) needs to be looked at and revised to not make it extortionate for say a family to go racing and for gods sake the centre of the course should have events or a funfair going on (needs to be advertised weeks/months in advance using all media forms). Maybe have ROR show up and have an area where some interaction with the public can be had in the centre of the course too……at least that might help to attract more people and make it a much more vibrant atmosphere.
Might also help to get the King & Queen to actually show up on the day to give it that little bit of extra pomp/pagentry….it was very rare that the late Queen missed the race and there are still a large section of the public that that kind of thing still draws them in.
Quality of Racing on offer is bang average. Royal Ascot is where everyone wants to be and we are only a week away. I’d say that needs looking at.
A fair few of those handicaps were the worst renewals I’d seen for a while.“Couldn’t Epsom do something similar, or start in front of the stands for staying races and add a chute – there’s plenty of space inside the track if they wanted.”
The Great Metropolitan Handicap (run at the April meeting) used to be over 2 1/4 miles, starting in front of the stands and running the wrong way up the straight before turning right and doing a sort of reverse S-shape across the Downs and rejoining the racecourse a mile out.
Due to the Downs being public land, it became harder to maintain the ground on the infield in racing condition and so the race was reduced to a mile and a half in 1985. It is also impossible for the racecourse to become a round course due to the public status of the land.
Greg Wood’s thoughts in “The Guardian”:
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/jun/09/talking-horses-passion-derby-epsom-lambourn
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