History of Epsom

The town of Epsom first became famous for its natural mineral water when a local farmer, Henry Wicker, took his cattle up to a watering hole on the Downs in 1618. The alleged healing properties of the water brought crowds from London who wanted to escape the squalor in return for the country air.

1780 saw the first recorded race meeting to be held on the Downs when one of today's greatest sporting spectacles was established.

Edward Smith Stanley, the 12th Earl of Derby, organised a race for himself and his friends to race their three-year-old fillies over one and a half miles. He named it the Oaks after his estate. The race became so successful that the following year a new race was added for colts and fillies.

The title of the race was decided after the Earl of Derby and Sir Charles Bunbury (a leading racing figure of the day and friend of the Earl's) flipped a coin and so begun the inaugural running of the 'Derby'. Incidentally this was won by Sir Charles Bunbury's horse Diomed.

The contest was held over a mile with the starting point in a straight line beyond the current five-furlong marker. Tattenham Corner was not introduced until 1784 when the course was extended to its current distance of a mile- and-a-half.

In 1913 suffragette Emily Davison threw herself in front of King George V's horse Anmer, bringing him down. Davison's skull was fractured and she died four days later. Meanwhile, first past the post Craganour was disqualified and 100/1 runner-up Aboyeur is awarded the race.

Lammtarra sets a new record time in 1995 of 2 minutes 31.31 seconds, beating Mahmoud’s 2 minutes 33.8 seconds, hand-timed in 1936. In the same year Derby is switched permanently from Wednesday to Saturday.

2006 saw a multi-horse finish rivalling that of 1913 as the closest ever. In a four-way photo, Sir Percy beats Dragon Dancer, Dylan Thomas and Hala Bek a short-head, a head and a short-head.