EpsomDownsCourse guide
Left-handed, hilly and shaped like a horseshoe. Epsom climbs 134 feet, drops round Tattenham Corner and stages the Derby on the first Saturday of June.
The course, piece by piece
It is Derby day and the stalls are loaded on the far side of the Downs. Here is the ground the field has to cover. Match each number to the plan above.
- 1
- The Derby start. Races over a mile and a half begin here, across the Downs from the stands. The Oaks and the Coronation Cup use the same start.
- 2
- The top of the hill. The field climbs about 134 feet from the start to reach it. Then the course swings left and begins to fall.
- 3
- Tattenham Corner. The downhill left-hand bend into the straight. Horses take it at racing pace, so a rider wants a clear position before it.
- 4
- The five-furlong start. A furlong is an eighth of a mile. Sprints over five furlongs start on a straight chute that joins the home straight. It is downhill most of the way.
- 5
- The home straight. Under half a mile long and still falling. It also has a camber, which means it slopes sideways, from the stands side down to the far rail.
- 6
- The winning post. The ground rises again close to the line. A tired horse feels it.
- 7
- The stands. The Queen Elizabeth II Stand looks over the finish. Tattenham Corner station is close by.
- 8
- The Hill. The open downland inside the horseshoe. The Downs are public land, so crowds have long watched the Derby from here.
Epsom at a glance
The numbers a punter needs before reading the form.
| Direction | Left-handed |
| Shape | Horseshoe, open at one end |
| Racing | Flat, on turf |
| Derby distance | About 1m 4f |
| Climb from the start | About 134 feet (41 metres) |
| Home straight | Under half a mile, with a camber |
| Sprint course | 5f, straight, mostly downhill |
| First Derby | 4 May 1780 |
Up the hill, down the hill
Watch the Derby field leave the stalls and you will see it run uphill at once. Epsom has almost no level ground. This is the Derby course seen from the side.
- A
- The start. The field runs uphill for roughly the first half mile.
- B
- The top of the hill. About 134 feet (41 metres) above the start. It is the highest point of the race.
- C
- Tattenham Corner. The ground is falling as the field turns left into the straight.
- D
- The low point. From the top the course drops around 100 feet (30 metres) by the time it nears the finish.
- E
- The winning post. A short rise comes close to the line.
Why it matters for a bet. A horse has to climb, run downhill round a bend and then stay straight on a slope. Past form on a level track tells you how fast a horse is. It does not tell you how the horse will cope with all three.
What wins here
Picture the field pouring down the hill towards Tattenham Corner. Some horses lengthen their stride. Others start to wobble. The shape of this track asks three things of a horse.
Balance
The straight slopes sideways as well as downhill. A horse who stays balanced keeps a straight line and wastes no ground. Look in the form for good runs on other tracks with hills. Over jumps, Cheltenham sets a similar test.
Handling a downhill bend
Few British tracks ask a horse to turn while running downhill at speed. A horse who has done it before at Epsom has answered that question. A first-time visitor has not, however good its form.
A position before the corner
The climb sorts the field out early. A horse stuck at the back on the hill has to pass rivals on the bend or wait for the straight. Horses who settle in the first half of the field have fewer to pass.
A £10 each-way example. Say 18 run in the Dash and your horse is 12/1. Each way is two bets, one to win and one to be placed, so your stake is £20. Standard terms for a handicap of 16 or more runners pay four places at a quarter of the odds. If it wins you get £170 back. If it finishes second, third or fourth you get £40 back. Try your own numbers.
Epsom in depth
By Ryan Edwards. The stalls are about to open for the Derby. This is what happens next, and how to use it when you bet.
How the Derby unfolds
The stalls open on the far side of the Downs, across the Hill from the stands. For roughly the first half mile the field runs uphill. Jockeys want a horse to settle here, which means to relax and stop pulling at the reins. A horse who pulls hard on the climb has less left for the finish.
At the top the course swings left and starts to fall. The field runs downhill round Tattenham Corner and into the straight at racing pace. From there it is under half a mile to the post. The ground keeps falling until a short rise close to the line.
What the ground does
Before the first race, look up the going, which is the official word for how soft or firm the turf is. It matters a lot at Epsom because the horses meet it on a slope. Firm ground is fast, and a downhill run makes it faster. Soft ground makes the climb harder work.
The camber adds to the test. The straight tilts from the stands side down to the far rail. A tired horse can drift down the slope, which is why you see riders working to keep a straight line late on.
Reading form from Epsom
Open the racecard and look for past runs at this track. Course form counts for a lot here. A horse who has run well down the hill has shown it can cope.
Most Derby runners have never raced here before. So you have to judge them on trial races at other tracks. Form from a wide, straight course such as Newmarket tells you about ability. It tells you less about balance on a bend.
The history in brief
The Oaks came first, in 1779. It took its name from an estate near Epsom that the Earl of Derby leased. The Derby followed in 1780, and a colt called Diomed won it. In 1784 the race was stretched to a mile and a half and Tattenham Corner became part of the course.
The Derby is the middle leg of the Triple Crown. That is a set of three races for three-year-olds: the 2,000 Guineas, the Derby and the St Leger. During both world wars the Derby moved to Newmarket. In 1913 the suffragette Emily Davison ran onto the course at Tattenham Corner and was struck by the King’s horse, Anmer. She died four days later.
Getting a bet right here
The Derby market opens months before the race. A bet placed that early is called ante-post, and you lose your stake if the horse does not run. Prices are bigger for that reason. Weigh up that risk before you take one.
On the day, check the type of race first. The Derby, the Oaks and the Coronation Cup are Group 1 races, the top class, with set weights. The Dash is a handicap, where better horses carry more weight to even out the field. Big handicaps pay more places, so each-way betting has more to offer there. If a horse is pulled out late, a cut called Rule 4 can reduce what you win.
Who it does not suit
Some good horses never show their best at Epsom. A big horse with a long stride can find it hard to stay balanced down the hill. A horse who gets worked up by a crowd can waste energy before the start, and Derby day is loud.
So treat one poor run here with care. The same horse can look far better next time on a level track such as York. Make a note and look again.
The big races
Epsom’s year turns on two days in early June. These are the eight races that bring the best horses to the Derby meeting.
- JunGroup 1
The Derby
The most famous Flat race in Britain, first run in 1780. It is open to colts and fillies, though fillies rarely run.
- JunGroup 1
The Oaks
The fillies’ version of the Derby, over the same course. It is a year older, first run in 1779.
- JunGroup 1
Coronation Cup
The Derby course for older horses. It was founded in 1902 to mark the coronation of Edward VII.
- JunHandicap
The Dash
A big-field sprint down the straight course. Stone Of Folca won it in 53.69 seconds in 2012.
- JunGroup 3
Diomed Stakes
Named after the first Derby winner. It has been run under this name since 1971.
- JunGroup 3
Princess Elizabeth Stakes
A Group 3 over about a mile. Group 3 is the third tier of the top class of Flat racing.
- JunGroup 3
Tattenham Corner Stakes
The newest race at the meeting. It moved here from Haydock Park, where it was the John Of Gaunt Stakes.
- JunListed
Surrey Stakes
A Listed race, which is one step below Group class. It has held that status since 1998.
The Derby, counted
The same names keep coming back to the winner’s circle at Epsom. That tells you how much knowing this track is worth.
Most Derby wins by a jockey
Read it this way: Piggott’s first Derby winner was Never Say Die in 1954 and his last was Teenoso in 1983.
| Who can run | First run | |
|---|---|---|
| The Derby | Three-year-olds | 1780 |
| The Oaks | Three-year-old fillies | 1779 |
| Coronation Cup | Four-year-olds and up | 1902 |
Most Derby wins by a trainer
Read it this way: seven wins was the record for nearly two centuries. O’Brien’s count runs from Galileo in 2001 to Christmas Day in 2026.
| Record | Set by | |
|---|---|---|
| Fastest Derby | 2m 31.33s | Workforce, 2010 |
| Fastest 5f | 53.69s | Stone Of Folca, 2012 |
Quick answers
The questions people ask most about Epsom Downs, each answered in a line or two.
Is Epsom left or right-handed?
Epsom Downs is left-handed. The course is an open horseshoe, so the Derby field turns left once, round Tattenham Corner.
How far is the Derby?
The Derby at Epsom Downs is run over about a mile and a half. It is for three-year-olds and takes place on the first Saturday of June.
How steep is the Epsom course?
The Derby course at Epsom Downs climbs about 134 feet from the start to the top of the hill. It then drops around 100 feet through Tattenham Corner and down the straight.
What is Tattenham Corner?
Tattenham Corner is the downhill left-hand bend at Epsom Downs that leads into the home straight. It has been part of the Derby course since 1784.
Who has won the most Derbys?
Lester Piggott rode nine Derby winners at Epsom Downs between 1954 and 1983, the most by any jockey. Aidan O’Brien has trained 12 Derby winners, the most by any trainer.
Can you bet on the Derby early?
Yes. Bookmakers price up the Derby at Epsom Downs months ahead, and a bet placed then is called ante-post. You lose your stake if the horse does not run.
More courses
Every track asks a different question, so read the guide before you bet at a new one.
Keep reading
The guides that go with this page, and the tools to check a bet before you place it.