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I’ve noticed there seems a lot of flat fans on this wonderful forum so I wonderd what you all thought on where the derby stands in the flat racing world nowadays?
It was of course THE race and even in the 80s it still felt that way being broadcast on both itv and ch4 and even radio 1!
Then it was switched to a Saturday and at times gets a bit lost among other sports and seems reliant on coolmore to an extent but it’s still uks richest race (just) and derby day still for me is a unique day but having said. That frankel achived his iconic status without going nowhere near EpsomIt is STILL the best race in the world for me. Not it’s not always won by a great horse but it shouldn’t be.
The hope, the expectation, the occasion make it the event it is. There is nothing quite like Derby Day.
It’s still the most exciting race.when you think of generous,shergar,nashwan,Galileo,high chaparral etc it brings a tingle to my spine. Remember high chaparral beating hawk wing and the rest so far back the camera had to pan backwards. Been at Epsom a few times and teenosos win was my favourite. Maybe the best horse doesn’t always win the race but is definitely the most eagerly awaited race of the year. Maybe history will repeat itself with Australia and g Chaucer one and two. Let’s hope whoever wins goes on to be a top class 3 yo.
Then it was switched to a Saturday and at times gets a bit lost among other sports…
Indeed, that’s where it all started to go wrong.
When Derby Day was on a Wednesday, the whole nation ground to a halt. Adults would throw a sickie, kids would skive off skool (I did that many times, but my teachers knew where I was going and didn’t mind!) and you’d have non-racing people talking about it for weeks leading up to the great race.
Now, it’s just another sporting event on a Saturday, relegated to having its off time shifted to fit in with the half-time break in meaningless football matches.
A pitiful state of affairs.
Never been the same since the move to Saturday, the Epsom festival was great with the Derby on Wednesday finishing off with the Oaks.
Now it’s lost on a Saturday buried amongst everything else going on and hidden along with all the dross races they have on that day.
I agree with the posts regarding the switch to Saturday (1995 if memory serves). I always used to be let off school by my dad to watch it (nowadays he would face prosecution I imagine). There was a feeling of being allowed to be part of something special. In 1981 he took me to my first one (what a choice!) and I have never lost my passion for it since.
Like most things as soon as people try to write it off along comes a great horse – as we saw in 2009 with Sea The Stars. Workforce wasn’t too shabby either going on to win and Arc. Then Camelot used it as the springboard to a Triple Crown tilt and nobody knows what Pour Moi might have become.
Of all the races it still has a great appeal for me and as with a snotty nosed 5 year old in 1972 (the first year my dad kept me home to watch it as I recall) the Derby is THE race to grab the imagination of today’s youngsters and get them hooked on the game – something that probably completely flies over the head of that moron Rod Street.
As with most sports, I’m sure TV would have had a hand this. Moving it to a weekend would gain a greater TV audience.
Not an avid Racing fan in those days but remember going down to the bookies at lunchtime to put the bets on for those who wanted at work and then listening to it on an old radio we had in the office.
We need a young Frankie with the personality of Rory McElroy to encourage young folk to go racing.
Looks like another slog around Epsom . damn this bad weather . it ruins flat racing entirely
I am hoping June brings about some improvement
as for the Derby , if it pees with rain as forecast , a most unpleasant experience for all and sundry …as will be Ascot if the same rain prevails
just damn it…
As for the Saturday / wed debate ..its all over , presently the lunatics are running the asylum
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