The debate is raging for one simple reason – people care. When an event that formed part of so many childhoods and created so many legends doesn’t shimmer as it once used to, the fallout is often noisy and won’t go away.
This is where Epsom’s Derby finds itself. Lambourn, Aidan O’Brien’s eleventh winner of the ultimate flat race, has barely been mentioned since Saturday and that cannot be right. There was no luck around the colt’s display of raw power and relentless galloping, he was by far the best in the field.
But the reason that nobody is talking about the performance is down to the entire show. The noise on social media, the reporting in the Racing Post and the volume of emails this correspondent has received in recent days, all centred on the Derby and its relevance show the depth of feeling.
Saturday, as an occasion, felt hugely disappointing. Walking around the course, it was impossible to shake the feeling that Epsom has been neglected even more so than Kempton, which always finds itself in the eye of a storm after it stages The King George VI Chase on Boxing Day.
Spectators in a variety of enclosures remarked how the facilities were not up to standard; the course commentary, depending on where you were standing, was muffled or inaudible and the lack of screens to show the action was disappointing.
The Epsom Derby, as an occasion, felt hugely disappointing last weekend
There can be no doubt that many of the crowd who went to the races on Saturday wouldn’t have been aware they were on track for the kind of race that makes you want to come back for more as they head straight to the end of the site that had a huge beer hall and later welcomed DJs.
Away from The Derby, which will be sponsored by Betfred until the end of 2026, there wasn’t really anything to excite. After Lambourn had secured his place in history, the quality of racing resembled a wet Monday at Redcar, not an event that attracts interest from all around the world.
We argued in this space last Saturday morning that Epsom should be the only card when the Derby is being staged and nothing that happened last weekend changed that view. If anything, we should go further and be totally revolutionary.
Why not have an eight-race super card, one that starts at 3pm and finishes at 7pm with the Derby as the last race – there would be a peak time Saturday evening audience tuning before the family entertainment programmes.
On the card you would have the Coronation Cup, run over the same mile-and-a-half course as the Derby; Epsom could also potentially take the Temple Stakes from Haydock Park, a straight five furlong dash and sell it around the possibility of seeing the fastest horse on the planet.
The straight five furlongs at Epsom descends like a ski jump and the sight and sound of sprinters thundering past crowded stands at 40mph would be breathtaking. Never forget that racing is all about the majesty and power of the horse – they are the true stars of the game.
Jim Allen, Epsom’s new general manager, is aware of all this. He told me this week his first challenge is to get the local community onside and make them proud of what is on their doorstep. The town centre last weekend felt as underwhelming as the course and this has to change.
Allen, an enthusiastic and passionate man, is determined to tap into all the stories that have been told at Epsom. It should be a venue that feels as special as walking to Wembley, Lord’s, St Andrews, Twickenham or Silverstone: it’s time to write another chapter and bring back former glories.
Scampering Satono has what it takes
The countdown to Royal Ascot has started in earnest and what a privilege it was to be on Newmarket’s July course at daybreak on Wednesday to see some of the international runners.
There aren’t many more picturesque settings than the July Course in full bloom and those last words certainty applied to Satono River, the Japanese contender for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes on Saturday week; he’s been based at the stables of James Horton.
Ryan Moore made a flying visit to partner the six-year-old in his gallop and the manner in which Satono Reve scampered away at the end of his work left you very much with the impression that he has what it takes to become Japan’s first winner at the 11th attempt at the Royal meeting.
‘After arriving from Hong Kong, Satono Reve had some time to recover before steadily building up his training,’ said trainer Noriyouki Hori. ‘It’s a different environment from what he’s used to but he’s been coming along well thanks to the support of James, his team and everyone involved.’
Nori is a man of few words and didn’t give the impression he wanted to engage in any small talk but the forensic level of attention he was giving to Satono Reve showed no stone has been left unturned. He’s primed to run for his life.
Mullins’ Royal pride
Regular readers will know all about the pride Willie Mullins felt when he was given the opportunity to become the first Irishman to train a horse for the reigning monarchs.
Reaching High, who started his career in the care of Sir Michael Stoute, moved to Mullins’s Closutton base two months ago and has been brought along slowly. The idea is to have the gelding cherry ripe for an assignment in next Tuesday’s Ascot Stakes and the vibes are positive.
It has been noticeable that The Queen has been an increasingly visible presence on courses – she was at Hexham last week – and her wishes is to see the Royal horses run well at the meeting that matters most. Reaching High is 10/1 currently and there would be worse each-way wagers.
The Queen has been an increasingly visible presence on racecourses of late
Rutter to expand his stable
Georginio Rutter, once of Leeds United and now plying his trade at Brighton, was at Epsom on Saturday and his passion for racing is huge. His horse Bopedro, trained in Yorkshire by David O’Meara, finished sixth in one of the races at the Derby.
It wasn’t difficult to come to the conclusion, though, that he will be adding to his stable in the coming months. He had several conversations with the excellent Richard Hannon during the afternoon and it would be a smart move to have runners with him
SOMETHING FOR THE WEEKEND: Competitive cards this weekend means it’s prudent to keep your powder dry for Ascot. Backing BELIEVING at 4/1 for the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot on Tuesday would be a much more sensible course of action. George Boughey’s filly is in fine form.
