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“A PR man given the job of promoting the race would give up in the face of the Coolmore crew, who generally look about as excited as men obliged to attend the funeral of a distant relative they never liked anyway.”
That reached its nadir when Wings Of Eagles won. O’Brien looked disappointed and clearly wanted Cliffs Of Moher to have won instead.
The Derby does go through lean periods without a good winner. There will be another one eventually.
I attended every Derby from 2001 to 2015, book ended by well above average winners in Galileo and Golden Horn, with Sea The Stars in between being the highlight. I can’t say I am sorry to have missed any of the subsequent winners.
One problem I have with Epsom (which, to be fair, is the case elsewhere as well) is the rip off prices for food and drink in the track. And the food options are terrible as well. It got to the point where I would have the large breakfast in Wetherspoons in the morning which meant I would not have to eat again until the evening. And I would have a pint or two in the town before and after racing just to avoid their profiteering.
I don’t think it matters, and we’re kidding ourselves if we think moving it back to Wednesday will change things. The sporting landscape has changed in that time – only a few sports get the full treatment.
It’s along time since it was anything like the Grand National for popularity. Horses you’ve hardly heard of, owners who you can’t relate to, etc
Somebody mentioned the 1996 running; I tried to run a sweep in work – wasn’t very successful. Somebody asked if last years winner was running, then pulled out St Mawes – and knew a family member who’d been on holiday there.
Yet there would be quite a few different sweeps for the National…..I was first aware of the Derby in 1968 although of course I never managed to see it as I was at school, school prevented me seeing any of the Derby’s in the 1970s, I caught radio commentary occasionally. So the move to Saturday was welcome for me. Now I no longer work I can watch it on the TV.
I am saddened to see this great race being dissed by people, but it is difficult to really love it now. Coolmore have killed it, and nearly killed the bloodstock industry and the thoroughbred. Last year’s race was a total farce.Wednesday. Although we know this won’t change, it seemed to make it more special when i had to run home from school to see the likes of Slip Anchor win! The same these days as Cheltenham, i take the week off of work to watch and it feels special because i have to do it.
I recall the Derby being run midweek and also when the idea of it moving to a Saturday first emerged.Bookmakers if I remember correctly were all for it expressing the opinion that the move would increase turnover which would in turn be better for racing in general.
Guess what?…..A few years down the line after authorities moved it to Sat it was shown to have had no effect on turnover.(this was as I say many years ago but I get the impression it’s still valid)
However the point which I wish to make is simply that it’s not just races such as the Derby but all valuable races in general with a few exceptions Royal Ascot & Goodwood spring to mind that are migrating to the weekend.Where as I used to be able to find one or two quite valuable races good enough to entice top handicappers to participate nowadays these contests are none existent and all grouped around Friday,Saturday & Sunday.
The spread of the racing calendar needs smoothing out in my opinion not condensed.
good luck to allAnd that’s the ‘trouble’ BCK, moving to a Saturday competes with a number of other sports. The fanbase or coverage is diluted. A lot of racing fans are fans of other sports as well.
Having a big race midweek more or less guarantees greater unrivalled coverage, taking all the focus and limelight.
Another vote for Wednesday, and I’ll throw in putting Cheltenham and Punchestown back to three days.
Today is ‘Derby Day’
Call me a sad old git but I still refer to the first Wednesday in June as Derby Day. (and I do realise that The Derby was not always held on this day)
A sign of age I suppose but I am amazed to think that the modern ‘Saturday Derby’ has been with us for a quarter of a century. It still seems like a new thing.
A little hot for the horses today but nonetheless it would be shirtsleeves and short dresses and cold fizz all round, as this really is a summers day to enjoy.
I wonder if a few have nicked off work and booked on to the 1159 @ London Bridge ( disruption expected around New Cross Gate) to arrive at around 1pm at Epsom Downs with one station change – the anytime single is under £8.
Could be a few may have packed their bins in with their
cucumber plus packed sandwiches to hopefully spot the ghost of Slip Anchor or Sharastani or Sea the Stars reliving their past first Wednesdays of June.. surging down the sunlit hill rippling muscles extended and on show, to snatch their glory – in misty granular form – to the cheers of a bygone age.Epsom is one of those funny courses, totally devoid of any atmosphere most meetings but coming to life two days a year.
I spent my early years living about four miles from the course as the crow flies and I have vague memories of, one day a year, the traffic outside our house increasing dramatically and my Grandad telling me about a horse race called The Derby and we would go outside at watch The Queen’s car pass by outside.
Over the years I’ve enjoyed the race from many locations, the Grandstand, The Hill – handy if you’re a cheapskate as it’s free, you don’t see much of the racing but I walked to the start one year and the atmosphere was very different than at most other meetings.
I also had the privilege of watching the race from the roof of the Queens Stand on a few occasions and that gave a fantastic view of the race.
What many people do not realise and you don’t appreciate at home is how steep a climb the first few furlongs are.
If I recall correctly most of the City of London used to close half day on Derby day as all the city types headed to Epsom whilst the “common people” congregated on the Hill.
The Hill is still a regular gathering place for the Traveller community and they certainly add to the flavour on The Hill.
The Hill is still popular but nowhere near as it was in it’s heyday.
This pic is of The Hill on 1948 Derby Day
Whilst the is The Hill in 2012
Some great recollections of Derby days gone by. Great photos too Paul and hill
1948 style was incredible.Gamble you should have been a poet, I could almost taste the atmosphere from
your descripion
For what it’s worth I’d love to see it back on a Wednesday too.
Im not sure it makes a lot of difference. As joyless as Coolmore are (Magnier looks like someone who’s picked a chipolata off a barbecue only to find its a slug), im not sure that kicks in with the public greatly
I think that some sporting events just gradually fall, out of fashion whilst others gain traction. its a bit like the FA cup final. Just not what it was and perhaps no one particular reason
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I think gamble may have modeled himself on John Cooper Clarke
Re Derby- no preference for me.
That’s very unequivocal of you Tank and whether the viscous ‘fluence that I was ingesting libelled you last night, linking you as it did to the anti-vax conspiracy, which I hope you watched after pulling the blinds to prevent the peepers knowing – is a matter of high debate and in the same order of seriousness as whether midweek peoples’ day or bookies’ day should rule.
Bookie Man
Doesn’t have a point of view
Knows not where he’s going to
Isn’t he a bit like you and me?
Bookie man please listen
You don’t know what you’re missing
Bookie man, the world is at your command
So give the people what they demand
Saturday ban for Derby fans
And let em all cheer Wednesday
man And free beer and free stands
You can pay Heer HeerNever heard of John Cooper Clarke – should I have ? ( Written in the guise of a friendly sheep )
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Having a jab is not compulsory. Each to their own and some won’t be blackmailed or guilt-tripped about having it.
By the way – the ‘cool’ Emoji above was JCC, as he always wears shades.
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