The Betfred Derby Festival 5-6 Jun 2026

Held annually at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey, UK, the Derby Festival is one of the highlights of the flat racing calendar, hosting an array of the world’s most elite racehorses.

In 1779, Edward Smith-Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby, designed a horse race for himself and a group of friends to race their young female horses (fillies) which he named after his estate: the Oaks. The success of this idea lead to the creation of a race for young male horses (colts) and fillies the following year; the Derby. The two races have been interlinked ever since.

The Derby Festival in its current format is a 2-day meeting on the first Friday and Saturday of June. When taking into account those watching the event without tickets from the Epsom Downs, a single day can attract 130,000 people. The number of ticketed racegoers can reach around 36,000. Onlookers can experience prestigious races like the Coronation Cup, the Oaks, and the Derby from several atmospheric enclosures.