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I quite like the idea of connections choosing their draw, it adds a little element of ‘non-luck’ to the lottery of the draw, although it would still have a fair element of chance in it. But please never again the ping pong balls on an empty street in the town.
I would absolutely not move the race from Epsom. The Epsom mile and a half is a unique racecourse layout which tests athleticism, speed, stamina, balance, precocity (you might argue why test that) and temperament in a way no other course layout does. It’s within easy-ish reach of London and the M25. I don’t think it matters if it is a training establishment to be honest or whether it is a racing town as such. York or Ascot aren’t really training establishments or racing towns.
At Ascot in the Royal meeting it’d end up just another big race, lost in the noise of the Royal meeting. In addition there is already a mile and half race (the King George) at Ascot later in summer that three year olds can participate in.
So…how do you fix it?
I’m not sure.
I liked the Wednesday slot personally but whether that would appeal generally or would work today in terms of crowd or TV pulling power I’m unsure.
I’m not sure they market it in the way that Ascot’s Royal Meeting, for example, or the Grand National or Champion’s Day meetings are marketed. But I may be missing some of that. I’d be interested to see the marketing budget for Derby/Oaks versus RA, GN meeting, Guineas meeting, Champions Day. It feels like it isn’t marketed as strongly. RA has a very clear proposition which I feel Epsom has sort of lost. ‘London’s day out’ used to be the sell for the Derby didn’t it. Working class meets the aristocracy, all as one for the day. Beer on the open-topped buses and champagne in the enclosures. But no more old Queen and I don’t think new Queen and King were there on Saturday. Royalty almost guaranteed at RA.
TV coverage I think needs a shot in the arm, I’m no expert on television production so I’m not sure how you fix it but the racing coverage generally on ITV has become a bit tired and predictable IMO. Ed Chamberlin was on the Sporting Life podcast kind of defending the TV figs drop as linked to the general decline in interest in the race, and there will undoubtedly be a bit of that, but their job is to attract viewers and I’m not sure they’re set up to do that with the current line-up/format. It feels they need to be bolder.
You could ramp up the supporting card I think. Why not a Group One sprint with a big purse? There should be enough time before Ascot for sprinters to take in both? Move the Temple Stakes (again) and give it a huge cash injection.
I wouldn’t be totally opposed to a one day meeting with Derby, Oaks, Coronation Cup and a Gr 1 sprint all run on the same day. But whether that would appeal to the Jockey Club commercially is another matter.
On the course this year definitely felt quieter. There didn’t seem to be much of a buzz on the inside of the track either.
It’s my favourite race of all and I’d love for it to return to the level of interest and atmosphere in the 1970s. How it’s done, as I say, I’m not really sure.
cormack15
“I wouldn’t be totally opposed to a one day meeting with Derby, Oaks, Coronation Cup and a Gr 1 sprint all run on the same day.”
As someone who grew up near Epsom, and used to go to all four days in the 80s, I find the current two days bad enough. To condense the meeting yet further would be sacrilege to my mind.
I have always felt that a lot of the supporting race over the two days are very meh and don’t add much to the day(s), and whle I think there is a lot of room for some changes, again it is going to cost money to do so and I just wonder whether the funds are available or whether it will likely to a big money backer to step in.
I do think that a one day meeting will be cramming too much into a single day and that a lot of emphasis on the Oaks and to a lesser extent the Coronation Cup would be lost in the shuffle and could end up being relegated to more of just being lead up races to the Derby.
On a slight aside, there was a bit on the ITV show which confirmed that George Baker was moving into the historic Downs House Stables (which is literally a stones throw from the Derby start itself and at one time housed Eclipse himself) to start training from next season.
It would appear that there is a bit more of a concerted effort to build Epsom back up into a training hub again and it seems that the Jockey Club are committed, and have already committed, to the maintenance and improvement of the several gallops that snake across the Downs. The potential is there with its location to London and relatively easy access to it.
"If you want to have that bond and that connection of seeing your horse on the gallops and still being able to get home in time to log in for work…that's what I think Epsom can really bring"
Mark Travers sees a bright future at @EpsomRacecourse #ITVRacing | #EpsomDerby pic.twitter.com/vDlCfTR0G1
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) June 1, 2024
“I quite like the idea of connections choosing their draw, it adds a little element of ‘non-luck’ to the lottery of the draw,”
That’s exactly why it should never happen in Group/Classic races. The result should not be influenced by which favourable draw connections manage to obtain. The draw should be down to pure luck in these races.
Maybe acceptable in handicap races but I find televised draws boring and non events in any race and you can lump in the announcement of the once “Grand National” weights as well.“I can tell you that any tape showing me in the Attheraces studio must have been recorded betweeen September 2002 and April 2003. I’ve no memory at all of that Derby discussion, but then the company did have to produce quite a lot of material to fill in the days when turf racing was off.”
Had another look at the video Alan, it was October 6th 2002, Arc day and it was presented by Gordon Brown. The reason you talked about The Derby was Lydia posed the question to you, why do you love Fontwell so much (ATR were covering it that day) yet hate Epsom? You replied that Epsom was a joke of a track and should be binned.
Epsom is a great venue on Derby Day, or at least it was. I would only rate it as an average track for the rest of the time. By no means the worst but nowhere near the best.
The viewing is not that good and the camber does not help the racing.
The draw is a bit of a non event
Its not like the FA Cup draw with a bit of anticipation, on who you might get its a draw to where you are going to stand before the race. There’s not much you can do to spice it upThe race is usually late off, I’d have them not be allocated a stall, have them get down to post early and get yourselves in best stall available..
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
A televised draw is a nonsense as it only works for Cup Football matches where the anticipation of a lower league team drawing a Premier League team is part and pacel of the excitement.
Judging by the amount of money not spent of the Derby draw platform you would likely see more time/effort/money put into a village fete prize draw.
I also much preferred the process of the past where the horses paraded a furlong or so down the course and then turned to canter back past the stands and round the side before pulling up and going across the road crossing and then walking up the chute to the start……much better than them barely cantering most of the 12F before pulling up to leisurely walk the last furlong or so to the start, the old way might stop the race from being off late as it is not down to the jockeys going their own pace to the start and there is less distance to travel.
The view is never going to be great simply because of Epsom’s topography. Being in the middle of the course, the only thing I saw of Shergar’s win was flashes of thevery top of Walter’s green cap in between the small gaps of the double decker buses – mind you there was probably at least double the numbers on the inside of the course than there is nowadays.
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