Epsom Downs Racecourse & Betting Review: Best Events, Top Offers and Facts

Here, in our total review of the Epsom Downs Racecourse, we will be guiding you through all the most important aspects of the world-famous venue. To kick things off, the table above offers a brief overview of the features of some of the best UK betting sites when the time comes to start betting on the different races at the track. Further down the page, however, you’ll find more in-depth information, such as what kind of welcome bonuses and special promotions are available, how the payout prices shape up, and also some general facts, stats and a bit of historical context. Scroll down the page to discover more, or if you are looking for more, check out some other tracks here!

The Turf Itself

This oval-shaped course is two miles all the way around, which makes it one of the longest circuits in the UK. Because of this, there are only a few turns and some very long straights, making it enjoyable for long-striding, galloping types. It is, however, noticeably hilly in places, but this doesn’t tend to cause too many issues. There are eleven fences of fair height and difficulty and a final uphill straight of around 170 yards, which makes for a challenging but very manageable finish. The five-furlong course is pretty much downhill from start to finish and is known for being one of the fastest surfaces in the world. Overall, Epsom Downs Racecourse requires a certain type of competitor depending on the race. We would say, however, that balance is key across the board. The course has lots of hills, divots and turns, so you’re best advised to opt for sure-footed runners.

Most Popular Epsom Downs Horse Racing Events

There are three major Group One races staged at Epsom throughout the year, although, the most-anticipated and most-prestigious is probably the Epsom Derby. Traditionally held on the first Saturday of June each year, it’s Britain’s richest race – it offers £1.5million worth of prize money – and is the most prestigious of the five British Classics. The other Group One events include the Epsom Oaks, another one of the five British Classics, and the Coronation Cup, worth around £420,000 and reserved for horses aged four years above. Other notable races held around the same time include the Princess Elizabeth Stakes, a Group Three race for three-year-old fillies and mares; the Woodcote Stakes, a Conditions race worth around £60,000 for two-year-olds; and the Diomed Stakes, another Group 3 event. The other important Epsom Downs Racecourse horse racing events are held in April and include the Blue Riband Trial Stakes, the City and Suburban Handicap and the Great Metropolitan Handicap.

Some Interesting Facts

Along with the Ascot Racecourse, the Epsom Downs Racecourse horse racing track is a venue that is highly favoured by the royal family. Queen Elizabeth has been attending the different events at the track since her youth and has even enjoyed a few famous victories. Among these are the 1957 Epsom Derby, which she won with a horse named Caroza and the 1977 Epsom Derby, the year of her Silver Jubilee, with a horse named Dunfermline. As she celebrated her 90th birthday in 2016, she opted to present the winners of the Epsom Derby with their winner’s honours, a symbol of her appreciation for the event.

Racecourse Information:
First Opened:	1661	Epsom Downs Racecourse logo The Grandstand at Epsom Downs Racecourse
Max. Race Distance:	1m 4f 6y
Surface:	Turf
Event:	Epsom Derby
Average Temperature:	3°/22°
Racecourse Capacity:	120000

Given the calibre of competition at Epsom it stands to reason that some truly great champions have won there – and also why Epsom Downs Racecourse betting is such a lucrative market for UK betting sites. Most recently, Golden Horn, a British-bred colt that won the Epsom Derby in 2015 stands out – he also won the Irish Champion Stakes, the Dante Stakes at the Dante Festival and the Eclipse Stakes. In addition, Highland Reel an, Irish thoroughbred trained by the legendary Aidan O’Brien, is but one of several great champions to find success at Epsom. He won the Coronation Cup in 2017 and also has the Breeder’s Cup Turf, Hong Kong Vase, Prince of Wales’s Stakes and Vintage Stakes trophies to his name.

Epsom Downs Racecourse: The Story so Far

Although the first recorded race at Epsom was back in 1661 there are historical accounts, albeit unconfirmed, that suggest racing goes back much further. Nonetheless, by 1684 Epsom had named a clerk of the course and from about 1730 there were two major annual meets in May and October that awarded prizes donated by local nobles. In 1778 one Lord Derby was at his home – which was named the Oaks – and began to muse about the idea of an annual race for three-year-old fillies. A year later it took flight and the first one-and-a-half mile race was staged, with his own horse, Bridget, emerging victorious. Thus, the Epsom Oaks was born. Epsom Downs horse racing betting, however, would not emerge until centuries later.

Although the conception of the Epsom Derby is not entirely confirmed, tradition states that after the success of the Oaks the decision was made that a new event for both colts and fillies would be staged alongside in the future. In 1779, the 12th Earl of Derby and Sir Charles Bunbury flipped a coin to decide whether the race would be called the Derby Stakes or the Banbury Stakes. To this very day, both races remain key events at the Epsom Downs horse racing track and have become two of the most celebrated events in the sport of kings, period.