Epsom Derby
Epsomderby.org is your complete guide to the Epsom Derby and an indispensable aid to finding the winner of a race that is a national institution and one of the most prestigious thoroughbred contests in the world.
The Derby is one of five classics that are the cornerstones of Flat racing in England, and is the second leg of the English Triple Crown, preceded by the 2,000 Guineas and followed by the St Leger. It has had a long and remarkable history, having first been run in 1780 and is flat racing's equivalent to the Grand National.
The Group 1 race is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies and is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 10 yards (2,423 metres). Over the years, it has provided plenty of storylines, some of them tragic, some dramatic, but all of them equally compelling. This year was no different, as winner Workforce powered seven lengths clear of the field at the line - the biggest winning margin in the race since Shergar's record-breaking 10 lengths in 1981. He also covered the trip faster than any of the other 230 Derby winners, taking 0.98 seconds off Lammtarra's previous record, set in 1995.
Remarkably, victory gave Ryan Moore his second Classic victory in two days - becoming the first jockey since Kieren Fallon in 2004 to complete the Oaks-Derby double. His victory in the Oaks was won in fairytale circumstances as he swept from last to first aboard supplementary entry Snow Fairy. 
However, the 26-year-old was not exactly jumping for joy over his Oaks victory, batting away that win as "not being the Derby". He didn't have long to wait to achieve his true goal and after his Derby success he confided: "It is just great to have won the race as it is the race I most wanted to win and I am lucky to have it out of the way. I shouldn't really say it, but there has only ever been one Classic I have been interested in." Read our full review of his record breaking success in the 2010 Derby.
So what sets the Derby apart from other sporting events? The race takes place on the first Saturday in June each year on Epsom Downs, and both the course and the setting are totally unique.
For the horses, the course is reminiscent of a helter skelter with twists, turns, rises and falls throughout the mile and a half contest, making it the ultimate physical and mental test of a race horse. It also tests a jockey's skills to the limits and it is scarcely surprising, therefore, that those riders with the best Derby records are legends of the sport like Lester Piggott, Willie Carson and Kieren Fallon.
For spectators, the Derby has long been known for its unique party atmosphere and for the full range of social classes on view. 
The Downs is a public area and so entry to the centre of the course is free, encouraging thousands of people to flock there on raceday to enjoy the racing and the massive funfair that is set up especially for the occasion.
Those preferring a better view of the races hire double decker buses, which line the rails up the home straight right from Tattenham Corner to the winning post. In the Queens Stand, by contrast, a morning suit is compulsory and the atmosphere is more reminiscent of Royal Ascot (visit our enclosures and tickets sections for more details).
The race is big business too. The 2007 Epsom Derby winner, Authorized, won over £700,000 for his owners, Saleh Al Homaizi and Imad Al Sagar. In addition, the horse's value rocketed to around £10 million as a result of the fees a Derby winner can demand at stud. 2009 Derby winner, See The Stars, is almost certain to demand even higher stud fees given his near perfect confirmation and unflappable temperament.
Our news section will keep you right up to date with all the developments in the run up to the big day, including the results of the numerous traditional trial races run throughout April and May, starting with the Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown and culminating with the Cocked Hat Stakes (previously the Predominate Stakes) at Goodwood.
Whilst the Derby is unquestionably the biggest and most prestigious flat race run all season, the Derby Festival is now very much a two day affair, with the Oaks being staged on Friday and the Derby on Saturday. It is only fitting, therefore, for us to also provide previews and reviews of “the Derby for fillies” on this site. Our Oaks tips have been remarkably successful in recent years and in 2008 our four selections all finished in the first five, including advising that Moonstone and Look Here were "the best outsiders" - Look Here won at 33-1 and Moonstone was second at 25-1!