The Epsom Derby is back for another year, but with train strikes and protestors potentially complicating the day, we have broken down the arrangements for the festival.

What time does the Epsom Derby begin?

Derby day will begin at 10.30am on Saturday, June 3, with the first race running at 12.50pm.

The race times for the day are as follows:

1.30 pm UK time: Betfred Derby (Group 1)

2.10 pm UK time: Princess Elizabeth Stakes (Group 3)

2.45 pm UK time: Aston Martin 3YO Dash Handicap

3.20 pm UK time: Aston Martin Dash (Heritage Handicap)

3.55 pm UK time: Ebbisham Handicap

4.30 pm UK time: Northern Dancer Handicap

5.05 pm UK time: JRA Tokyo Handicap

How to watch the Epsom Derby on TV

For those watching from home, race coverage will be shown on ITV1 and ITV4.

You can also stream the derby on ITVX.

 Some races will only be shown on Racing TV.

Who is the favourite for the Epsom Derby?

Auguste Rodin is the suggested favourite for the derby at 11-4, from the Racing Post.

The three-year-old came 12th out of 14 at the 2000 Guineas last month, but trainer Aidan O'Brien is still hopeful he will improve on that this time around.

Mr O’Brien told Sporting Life: “We are very happy with him physically since the Guineas and he is in very good form.

“We think he’s fit and that’s all you can hope for really.”

What entertainment is running on the day?

In the Upper Tattenham stand, DJ intervals will run from 12.30pm – 5.40pm.

The ‘Derby Family Festival’ will be running close to the track, offering the following activities:

  • Big Wheel
  • Face painters
  • Carousel
  • Helter Skelter
  • Soft Play
  • Game Trucks
  • Inflatable Maze
  • Climbing Wall
  • A Quiet Space 

On the Hill there will be drag performances from Le Fill, Cara Melle, and Bonk, as well as music from Radio DJ Mark Ashley.

The after party will be held on the Hyperion Lawn, by Heart DJ Toby Anstis.

 

How to get to the Derby despite planned train strikes

Strike action from ASLEF will see no service on Southern trains. Tattenham Corner, Epsom Downs and Epsom stations will be closed.

If you choose to drive to Epsom, additional parking has been secured and all parking tickets must be purchased on the day.

Parking cannot be booked in advance or online.

For pick up and drop off, visitors must use Car Park 8, outside the Derby Arms Pub.

Taxis can also be booked to and from this point.

TfL bus 293 operates from Morden to Epsom High Street.

Passengers can take a shuttle bus from Epsom Train Station which will operate from 9.30am to 8pm for £3 single, £5 return. 

Open top buses can also be booked on the Jockey Club website.

Animal Rising protest group plans to ‘disrupt’ the day

In a tweet on May 31, Animal Rising confirmed that they will be “peacefully disrupting the tracks of the Epsom Derby this weekend”.

The animal rights protest group plan to hold a “peaceful alternative festival outside the front, with no animals being harmed”.

They plan to hold their alternative festival in front of the entrance gates, where they will run a soapbox race and other activates.

In another tweet, the group advertised their race by saying, “see if you can outrun someone that can run past police and race barricades!”

The Jockey club says it has been granted an injunction which prohibits acts intended to disrupt next week’s Derby Festival, by a high court judge.

Jockey club’s chief executive, Nevin Truesdale, said: “Our number one priority will always be to ensure that the safety of all our equine and human participants and racegoers, officials and our own employees is not compromised.”

He added: “We believe everyone should have the right to peaceful protest and have offered Animal Rising an area near the entrance of Epsom Downs Racecourse to express their views in a law-abiding way.

“However, anyone who attempts to disrupt the race or compromise the safety of horses or humans will be dealt with robustly by our security teams and the police.