Epsom Derby Betting Sites & Event Review: Odds, Promotions, History, and More

Here, in our complete review , we will be guiding you through some of the most important aspects of the world-famous classic. To begin with, the table above provides a brief overview of some of the best UK bookies when it comes to wagering on the race. Further down the page, though, you’ll find more detailed information, such as what kind of bonuses and promotions are available, how the odds levels fare, and also some general facts, figures and a bit of historical background. Scroll down the page to discover more!

Epsom Derby Betting Offers and Promotions

You’re near enough guaranteed to find a good selection of some of the more general betting bonuses and promotions when the Epsom Derby takes place in June of each year. This will include the best odds guaranteed promise that you’ll be able to find at any betting site worth its salt, and also any free bets that you may have stored in your account – you may have to check your the specific T&Cs of your operator just to be sure, but in most cases you’ll be able to redeem any accrued free bets on selections in the Epsom Derby.

Event specials can be a little harder to find, but if you look hard enough there will be the odd free bet deal, bet refund offer and perhaps even a few special place payout specials up for grabs. In our experience, Betfred and Paddy Power have been known to offer top Epsom Derby betting offers and promotions.

Epsom Derby Odds Levels

Given its status as one of the most eagerly anticipated sporting events in the British Isles, you’re bound to find some top-value Epsom Derby betting odds prices on offer here. You’ll find that while the prices do fluctuate in the weeks and months leading up to the race, they tend to float between the 80-85% mark.

As is the case with any of the top-ranked races in the UK, Epsom Derby betting is highly competitive, the event that has produced its fair share of surprise results over the years. For instance, the winner in 2016, Wings of Eagles, entered with a starting price of 40/1 and ended up seeing off favourites Cliffs of Moher and Cracksman in dramatic fashion to claim first-place. Long shots with odds as short as 100/1 – such as At First Sight in 2010 – have been known to place as well. In short, you’re best off waiting until closer to the event and reviewing the form of the competitors before you make a wager.

The Derby Information

In horse racing circles the term “Derby” has become synonymous with the greatest horse races around the world – just think of the Kentucky Derby, the Australian Derby or the Hong Kong Derby. The Derby is, in fact, the original derby, and its name has since been borrowed by numerous races to denote prestige and quality. With a combined purse of over £1.5million, it is also the richest race in the UK and is believed, by many, to be the most distinguished flat race in the world.

Event Information:
First held:	1780	Epsom Derby logo  Epsom Derby racecourse view
Top Prize:	£1,500,000
Duration of Event:	One day
Track:	Epsom Downs Racecourse
Weight:	Varied
Qualification:	Three-year-olds

While Royal Ascot is perhaps the race most often associated with the British Royal Family, history has shown that the Epsom Derby is also held in great admiration by the crown. The Queen herself has been attending the event since 1953 and has enjoyed a couple of victories over the years with Caroza in 1957, and then again in 1977 – the year of her Silver Jubilee – with Dunfermline. As a demonstration of her passion for the event as well as for horse breeding and racing, she presented the winner’s trophy to the victors of The Derby in 2016. The event also commemorated her 90th birthday.

The Story So Far

Historical facts concerning the inauguration of the first Derby are not entirely clear; tradition states, however, that in 1779, the 12th Earl of Derby and Sir Charles Bunbury flipped a coin at a dinner party to decide whether the race would be called the Derby Stakes or the Banbury Stakes. The two men were celebrating the success of the Oaks Stakes, which was run the previous year in 1778, and came up with the idea of creating a new, shorter race that would add to the fun and excitement.

Today, The Derby is run over the considerably longer distance of a mile-and-a-half but is still held at it’s original home – the Epsom Downs. The event, now known as the Investec Derby for Sponsorship reasons, is held over two days on the first weekend in June of each year. The first day is known as Ladies Day and features Grade 1 races such as the Coronation Cup and the Epsom Oaks. Day two, or Derby Day, hosts the main event – the Epsom Derby and is seen as one of the most anticipated social occasions of the British Summer.