What is the Epsom Derby?
The Epsom Derby is the most prestigious flat race in the world, the Classic that defines a generation of thoroughbreds and writes the names of horse, jockey and trainer into history. First run in 1780, it is the centrepiece of the British flat season and the race that has given its name to "derbies" the world over.
The race and the course
Run over a mile and a half for three-year-olds, the Derby is staged on one of the most idiosyncratic courses in racing. Epsom's left-handed horseshoe climbs early, swings downhill to the famous Tattenham Corner and then runs home on a marked camber. It rewards a particular kind of horse: balanced, genuine and quick enough to handle the contours at speed. A poor draw or a green temperament can undo even the best, which is why a Derby winner is regarded as a complete racehorse.
A race steeped in history
For more than two centuries the Derby roll of honour has read as a history of the thoroughbred itself. Its winners have shaped bloodlines around the globe, and the race remains the supreme test by which a middle-distance colt or filly is judged.
Epsom Derby betting
The Derby market takes shape across the spring trials and is one of the most keenly followed ante-post heats of the year. For a full breakdown of the field, see our runners and tips coverage in the build-up to the race.