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Vodafone Derby Meeting
Epsom Downs
7 June 2008
Much copied but never bettered, the Derby at Epsom is famed throughout the world as one of racing’s greatest spectacles. First run in 1780, the race is known as the Blue Riband of the Turf and is probably the most coveted prize in the sport.
Derby Day provides an unforgettable experience every year. Set high on the Downs, Epsom racecourse is regarded as the ultimate test of the three-year-old Thoroughbred. Runners require an abundance of speed, stamina and balance to cope with the unique undulations of the horseshoe-shaped course.
This is the place where legends were made – the consummate skill of Lester Piggott’s unrivalled nine wins, the brilliant training feats of Vincent O’Brien, the elegance of great winners such as Sea-Bird, Nijinsky and Mill Reef.
The occasion attracts a diverse crowd of more than 100,000 people, from royalty and famous celebrities bedecked in traditional morning suits and stunning dresses, to gypsies handing out good-luck charms, to partygoers on the famous Hill in the centre of the course.
The Derby buzz has returned in recent years – not least on the Hill, where fairground attractions, live music and open-top bus parties create a magical atmosphere.
As well as the Derby, of course, there is the Oaks – the fillies’ equivalent on the opening day of the meeting. The Coronation Cup, for older horses over the Derby/Oaks course, is the third Group 1 race of the meeting, also on day one.
Top-class racing, history in the making, all the fun of the fair – it doesn’t come any better than this.
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