Richard Gauthier Collection

Epsom Racecourse

The earliest evidence of racing on the famous Epsom Downs was on 7th March 1661 at a meeting attended by King Charles II, which Samuel Pepys later confirmed in his diaries. The London Flying Post reported a three day meeting taking place from Thursday 27th to Saturday 29th November 1701 when the main contests were a £20 Plate and a Galloway Plate. By 1711 meetings were staged at nearby Banstead with races run over 4 miles, after which the horses were then rubbed down at the Rubbing House. Today a similarly named pub commemorates this process. The Oaks, the fillies Classic, took place on Epsom Downs on 14th May 1779 when won by the Lord Derby owned Bridget. A year later the first Derby Stakes was won by Sir Charles Bunbury’s Diomed, ridden by S. Arnull on 4th May 1780. Every Derby result is accessible using the links below. At Epsom 47 years later, in 1827 William Dorling produced the first racecard complete with runners, riders, betting forecast and colours. On Wednesday 3rd June 1840 Dorling produced a very special silk racecard for Queen Victoria who attended the Derby, witnessing Little Wonder win for owner Mr D Robertson. She never attended the Derby again, famously claiming it was because she was not served bread and butter with her meal. In 1872 the Derby was run on the present day course for the first time and resulted in a triumph for Mr Savile's Cremorne, ridden by Maidment and trained by Gilbert. In 1896 Persimmon provided a Royal victory in the Derby, winning for the Prince of Wales; he won it for a second time with Diamond Jubilee in 1900, and completed the treble in 1907 as King Edward VII, when H.Jones rode Minoru to win the Derby. One of the most famous and controversial events in Epsom’s history occurred in 1913 when Emily Davison was killed as she ran out in front of the Kings horse. Epsom was used for the war effort between 1915 and 1918, causing the Derby to be transferred to Newmarket. Between 1940 and 1945 the same situation occurred again when the Derby was staged at Newmarket for 6 years. The Willie Carson ridden Troy won the 200th Derby in 1979 when trained by Major Dick Hern. The future of Epsom was secured in 1984 after it was purchased with the help of Lord Wigg. Currently the course offers 10 fixtues annually.

Epsom Oaks 1779
Wednesday 14th May 1779
1. Bridget, filly owned by Lord Derby
2. Fame, bay filly owned by Mr Vernon
Also Unnamed filly by Eclipse owned by Sir J Shelley
Unnamed brown filly by Metaphysician owned by Sir J Lade
Unnamed filly by Otho owned by Lord Egremont