The Jockey Club has halted ambitions to radically alter the Derby festival, with Epsom’s signature meeting now due to be staged in its current form until at least next year.
As part of efforts to strength links with Epsom’s local population and improve the track’s commercial performance, proposals were last year developed for 2026 that would have resulted in a week-long festival, during which the Betfred-sponsored Oaks and Derby were slated to be run on consecutive Saturdays.
In a further twist, the Coronation Cup was set to highlight a new Wednesday or Thursday fixture in between the two Classics. Initial thinking was also given to transferring a small number of races from Haydock’s upcoming weekend cards in order to ensure sustained quality action across the three racedays.
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Published on 22 May 2025inDerby festival
Last updated 13:16, 22 May 2025