​A thought came to me on day 3: if the Cheltenham Festival were to be staged in mid-November, field sizes and competitiveness would be the equal of Royal Ascot as there would be a larger pool of horses still available. Come March, many of the lesser number of class horse are always going to be sidelined due to injury sustained throughout the season. I am not suggesting the Cheltenham Festival be moved to the start of the campaign, it is just a good reason why people should stop making comparisons between the top two meetings of the year.
In Willie Mullins and Aidan O’Brien, horse racing has two of the greatest trainers, numerically and as harvesters of the major prizes, in the sport’s history. No question. No debate. The difference between the two, I suggest, is that Mullins and his team have to search for the superstars of Closutton, whereas O’Brien has no need to traipse around the sales for the Coolmore superstars as the majority are home-bred, with a select few bought by ‘the lads’ themselves.
I reckon, perhaps unfairly, that Ryan Moore wanted to win the Gold Cup far more than Kyprios did. Great horserace, two great jockeys fighting out the finish. Trawlerman was brave in defeat, Kyprious won while whistling through his teeth and looking forward to supper.
It would not have happened in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, the tardy time-keeping of the royal procession. Early one-day, so late the next day that we feared something diabolical had occurred. And on the first day, the King chatted through the national anthem. Will not do, sir. Must do better.
There is an accident waiting to happen, mark my words. Owners leading in their winners, that is my reference. Kyprios was unhappy with the swelling crowd inside the winners’ enclosure and it was only by the grace of God he did not trample on the woman in the pink dress(?).  The B.H.A. must look into the matter otherwise bad publicity is coming our way.
What I admire about Ryan Moore, and the same with Frankie Dettori, is he always tries to win without resorting to the whip. Kyprios needed a reminder to concentrate, his other winners, including Fairy Godmother, were hands and heels effort.
Although the connoisseurs will always look to the Group races for their greater enjoyment, I have a preference for the handicaps, the Royal Hunt Cup, the Ascot Handicap and the Wokingham, along with the Queen Alexandria, being my favourite races of the meeting.
Rachel King was a great addition to the jockey ranks this year, almost sneaking a surprise win in the Sandringham for the Gosdens, a team that have knocked on almost all the doors this week. Holly Doyle has also knocked on several doors to no avail, the photo-finish camera not being her friend so far. Hayley Turner also finished a runner-up. Hopefully Saffie Osborne can get one in for the girls today and also get Sir Michael Stoute on the winners’ list.
Without originality, I suspect, at the beginning of the season I predicted that Billy Loughnane would in a few years become champion jockey, not ruling him out of going close this season. After two Royal Ascot winners already this week, his season can only go in one direction and though it is highly unlikely he will catch and pass Oisin Murphy, he might yet prove his deadliest rival. He is the new Lester Piggott, thankfully a smiling version of the legendary one. At the time of my birth the tall fellow was the super kid on the block; as I dither towards the end of my life, Billy the Kid is the wonder boy. George Boughey has invested wisely in Loughnane; I doubt though he will be in a position to keep him for more than a few seasons.
I like Sheikh Mohammed Obaid. Even without being asked the question, he made the commitment to keep both his Group 1 winners in training next season. Just the boost British racing needed during these troubling times. Hopefully other owners will follow suit.
In my eyes, Royal Ascot is perfect, with no meddling required.

​Sean Levey regular proves he is a top-notch jockey, when given class horses to ride in classy races can get the job done as well as any other jockey. As Richard Hannon, tongue firmly in cheek, said. “He is lucky that he rides for a good trainer.” Though said in jest, Hannon is correct. What should equally be said is that Hannon is lucky to have Levey as his retained jockey. Long may the duo be successful. 
Also, Sean Levey is a characterful jockey, someone who should be better used to promote the sport to people of the same skin colour as himself, to demonstrate that horse racing is a diverse community that allows opportunity for success to one and all.
Willie Mullins is a serial achiever, be it at summer festivals in Ireland, the big festivals in the winter or Royal Ascot. His eye for opportunities is almost supernatural. And he invariably gets horses fit for Ascot by winning a maiden hurdle, sometimes at obscure places like Ballinrobe or Sligo. Who else would take that path to success? The only question left to be asked about Mullins is this – is he a better genius than Aidan O’Brien? I would say yes, others might disagree.
Kevin Blake’s love affair with electronic data amuses me, though I fear for his marriage with all the candle-burning he must do to be able to present all the gobbledygook figures in a way to have them look even remotely helpful. It is my contention that electronic data will prove as misleading as informative as horse racing is far from scientific due to horses being sentient and prone to whimsy. It is a game of fate, with a hundred and one throws of the dice in every race. Dear old Blakey will say the data proved correct in the Prince of Wales yesterday, though many ‘experts’ were of the opinion that Inspiral would fail for stamina without consulting the runes of electronic data. Also, the mare fell out of the stalls and because of the suicidal pace set by pacemakers, she was so far out of her ground by halfway she had no chance of winning, with Kieran Shoemark looking after her in the final two-furlongs.
What is always a pleasure is witnessing Sir Mark Prescott training a big winner, as he did on the opening day. Possibly the greatest man of present-day racing and by far its best promoter; a man, if he should ever retire and hand the keys of Heath House over to ‘poor William’, should be head-hunted by the B.H.A. to avail the sport’s regulatory body of his immense wisdom and knowledge.
I have no doubt that Kieran Shoemark will establish himself as a worthy successor to Frankie Dettori at Clarehaven once the Gosden horses get into full-swing. But his achievement thus far is that, despite the early problems he got himself into, he is well-liked by almost everyone. Addictions of all kinds distort the personality of people. It is why the B.H.A. policy of giving jockeys both the help they require and a second chance at their career cannot ever be called into question.
I took a liking to Highbury when he won a maiden at Leopardstown and though beaten by stable companion Illinous at Ascot yesterday, I believe he is the one to back for the St.Leger. He was ridden with tomorrow in mind, with Wayne Lorden riding him out hand and heels and not subjecting him to an overly-hard experience. A horse with a big future, I predict.
Horse racing has so many good people at its summit, with Oisin Murphy being one of the brightest lights. Yes, he is a little goofy when compared to Ryan Moore or Will Buick but a jockey who owns, and rides, show-jumpers and even owns an event horse, is someone who clearly has a love of the horse, not simply a love for his career. That he still visits a mental health councillor tells you that he recognises his flakiness and is resolute in his desire to become a better man that he is already. Sounds corny, but I hope he finds true love and will be able to dispense with the chats with his ‘not inexpensive’ councillor. 
Finally, and this is not a knocking exercise, why was Auguste Rodin a ‘decisive’ winner yesterday, when other horses winning by a similar distance are usually only described as ‘just getting on top’ or words of a corresponding meaning? He won tidily, in my opinion, and doubtless would have won if the race had gone on for another half-mile. But he was not decisive. He won and that is all that matters, I suppose. But Illinois won in a similar manner but his victory was not described as ‘decisive’. To win decisively, to my mind, is to win with ease, which Auguste Rodin never bothers with. Just getting the job done is the be all and end all as far as he is concerned, though he seems to have diminished from being a ‘collectors’ item’ to only ‘very special’ since last season. That said, in the unlikely event he should tackle City of Troy this season (the Arc) I would back him to beat his more illustrious stable-mate.

​As many people have said, to get horses into the main parade ring to allow spectators plenty of time to cast their eye over their fancies should be an easy win for the B.H.A.. It is only a matter of going back to the way things used to be. Mind you, it is a telling indictment on the sport’s regulator that no one at B.H.A. headquarters has paid any attention to the situation and that it has taken a long ‘campaign’ by people such as Richard Hoiles and Ken Pitterson to achieve some progress in the matter. All that is needed now is to put out an edict (or to politely inform trainers of their responsibility to the fee-paying racegoers) that horses must be in the main parade ring in time to do at least 3 circuits before the jockey is legged-up. And emphasise the word ‘parade’ as that is the purpose of the ‘parade ring.’
Of course, the B.H.A.’s initial response is to talk the matter over with relevant parties before coming to a decision. Delay, delay, delay, when for no expense the racegoers experience will be improved by acceding to the demand of those who want nothing more than to see horses walking around the parade ring before they canter down to the start. I should imagine the racecourse where it will be most beneficial to racegoers to have a good view of all the runners is Newmarket, where once the horses have left the main parade ring, the horses are forever going away from the stands as they canter down to the start.
Perhaps what the B.H.A. should do over the next few months is to conduct a survey/investigation into ways to improve overall the racegoer experience at racecourses, to establish a required minimum standard of racegoer care and how best to encourage local people to support their local racecourse. It is said that the B.H.A. have no real power in which to govern a multi-faceted sport, which is doubtless true, but they might use the regulatory powers they do have to conduct research, or even just to have visibility at racecourses to learn the gripes and moans of those who do go racing, both on a regular basis and of those new to the racecourse experience. It is all very well paying someone a large salary to meet and greet politicians and to represent the sport at swanky sporting gatherings, but what about meeting the people who actually attend race-meetings, especially those who go through the turnstiles at the bread and butter meetings?
Incidentally, the B.H.A. is advertising for a Chair – not something to sit on, things are not yet that bad but what might have once been termed as a Chairman, Chairwoman or Chairperson, the position now reduced to that of any old Windsor chair, not even a Chippendale or Sheraton. Slightly classier, don’t you think, than Chair would be the position of ‘Sheraton.’ – with a £100,000 salary, though anyone wishing to apply for the post must be willing to work for at least 2-days a week. How many actual hours that entails is not established or whether the position allows the successful candidate to work from home. If interested, applications close on July 15th.
Yes, the phrase ‘jobs for the boys’ does come to mind, even if a female is to be appointed. If you presently work in horse racing, no matter the amount of experience you have, I doubt you have much chance of being selected for this particular gravy train appointment.
Royal Ascot next week, so obviously the ground is going to dry-up so as to prevent Alan King from finally being able to give Trueshan and his connections a chance of Gold Cup glory.

​Though no female jockey is yet to break the gold-glass ceiling of winning a British classic, though, of course, Holly Doyle has achieved the fete by winning the French Oaks on Nashwa, the steady rise of the female rider continues unabated. 
The ease in which Saffie Osborne has risen from new girl kid on the block to top-ten professional is impressive. Seemingly, Hollie Doyle had to fight tooth and nail to establish herself in the top echelon of the sport, whereas for Saffie it has been one seamless ascent. Of course, it was helpful to Saffie that her father is a winning trainer and was able to get her started and that she had a successful background in junior eventing, yet it was not her father who propelled her forward trajectory but the likes of Ed Walker and Charlie Hills who recognised her talent. This season, and perhaps the signature that underlines her arrival as one of the flat’s top jockeys, is that Sir Michael Stoute now regularly uses her on the occasions when Richard Kingscote and Ryan Moore are unavailable to him.
I was fortunate to see one of, if not her first, rides, at Ascot, if my memory is not playing tricks, and made the claim that she would make her name as a rider. Not that I expressed the opinion that she would become a leading light of the sport. All she needs now is that one big winner, not necessarily a classic but a race of significance. She has a Chester Cup to her name and a clutch of Group 3’s and listed races and with Royal Ascot just around corner where better place could there be to find that significant winner to take her career on to the next level.
As Saffie’s career, or at least season, is heading upwards, at present she is seventh in the jockeys’ championship, Holly Doyle is suffering a rare lapse in either form or fortune. She is only rarely seen at the major meetings this season and on occasions she is travelling long distances for as little as three-rides at minor meetings. What is more, a couple of Archie Watson’s best two-year-olds have been sold to Wathnan Racing, meaning she will lose those rides, perhaps at Royal Ascot, to the other Doyle, James. It is not what is needed when the winners are not flowing as in past seasons. Last year, it must be remembered, she rode two-winners at Royal Ascot. The other factor not aiding her cause this season is that Nashwa is off-games until the Autumn due to ‘taking a long time to get over her trip to the Middle East in the spring’ and that it looks like Trueshan may be past his best. Though on that front, the ground may be soft enough next week for the old boy to finally get his chance in the Ascot Gold Cup where the 20-furlongs will be greatly in his favour. Crossed-fingers for Holly next week.
The other favourable aspect as far as female jockeys are concerned is the return up the ranks for Josephine Gordon who is riding winners again at the same rate as when she was champion apprentice. She was recognised as a major talent back then and there is no reason to suggest she is not just as talented now. Hopefully, rides will come her way at Royal Ascot.
Jo Mason continues to display her considerable talent, especially when winning at Chester’s May meeting. She is, to my mind, the equal of most of the top jockeys and one day soon one of the top trainers will also recognise her talent. Certainly, William Haggas took note of her when she won a race at the Shergar Cup for him. Unlike the majority of her female contemporaries, she did not come through the apprentice ranks, though she is a proper horsewoman, with a background in most of the different forms of equestrianism, especially point-to-pointing. She is a brilliant jockey, with an insatiable work ethic, whose chirpy personality is just what the sport requires in this post-Dettori era. Hopefully she will get on a couple of fancied lightweights in the handicaps next week.
Of course, any discussion about female riders cannot leave out the Queen of female jockeys, the grand old lady Hayley Turner. As I have said before, when the next history of flat racing is written, Hayley deserves a short chapter all to herself, so influential has been her career to the ascent of the female jockey. On or off a horse, she is a wonderful ambassador for the sport and remains a supremely effective rider when she receives the opportunities her talent deserves. Next to Frankie, she is the face of Royal Ascot and it will be a sad day for racing when she next announces her retirement.
The list of able and effective female jockeys is at present longer than it has ever been, with the likes of Georga Dobie, Faye Macmanoman, Laura Pearson and many others making their mark in the sport. Though I shall not live long enough to witness the satisfaction, it is not many more years before all the major races will feature at least one female jockey involved, and that can only benefit the sport.

​There is a call from certain influential people in the sport for trainers to be required to have their horses saddled and in the paddock nice and early to allow spectators plenty of time to inspect their well-being and demeanour. In a perfect world this would be a reasonable request, and even in a less than perfect world it is something trainers should aspire to. Lateness in any walk of life is close to unforgivable.
When Aidan O’Brien can saddle his Derby runners in the centre of the collecting ring – did you see how quiet City of Troy was during saddling, quite remarkable – I cannot understand the trend for trainers to saddle in the racecourse stables. Without accusing anyone of any rule-breaking, I would have thought stewards would not wish to encourage the habit of saddling out of the public eye, if only to prevent the temptation of nefarious practices. If a horse is not ‘wanted’ that day, the easiest stopping method is just to give the horse a bucket of water. I think the act of saddling-up in public view, or in view of stewards, might be considered best practice. 
Of course, there must be exceptions to the rule. Some horses can be dangerous to saddle when wound-up by the noise and activity of the racecourse and there is a strong case for this type of horse to be kept in a quiet area to be saddled if only for reasons of health and safety. Though even in this situation, I believe a steward should be present.
What any horse does not need in the build-up to race-time is to be hurried and hassled and to that effect perhaps there should be a longer period between races to allow trainers a chance to get a blow between runners, especially if they have had to collect a prize after the previous race. The racegoer is important but so is the trainer, groom and horse. That said, there should be an emphasis placed upon a trainer to have his or her horse in the pre-parade ring by the time the runners in the previous race are going down to the start, with it expected of any trainer without a runner in that race, having his horse saddled and ready to run by the time the judge is calling the winner of the previous race. I know Francesa Cumani would appreciate all the horses being in parade-ring at the same time during her paddock walk for the benefit of I.T.V. viewers.
That said, as with any activity involving animals, it is easier said than done and there must always be wriggle-room when it comes to applying new guide-lines.
An aspect of race-day where thought should be applied is at the starting stalls. Before the advent of starting stalls, races were regularly late-off, sometimes by up to 20-minutes, due to the near impossible exercise of lining-up a large number of excitable horses in correct order behind a barrier. Starting stalls have greatly reduced late starts, though even the shorter delays achieved nowadays can be associated with incidents that risk the health of jockeys and horses, when recalcitrant horses hold up the start by arguing their case for a day off games. 
There needs to be a set number of minutes allowed for stalls handlers to have horses loaded, with any horse refusing to enter their stall at the first time of asking not asked again until the majority are loaded. Too much time is wasted getting misbehaving horses in the stalls, while well-behaved horses must wait in an enclosed space while ‘wired’ to race. Any horse that is not loaded within the time-period allowed for loading should be considered non-runners. At the moment, some well-behaved, perfectly schooled horses, are having their chances diminished by the unruly behaviour of horses, who when installed will have to stand still for far shorter periods.

​Ascot’s racing director, Nick Smith, is whining about the lack of foreign runners, especially from Hong Kong and Japan, at Royal Ascot this year, citing the poorer levels of prize-money for the middle-distance races when compared to countries overseas as the main reason. I would contend British and Irish racing have more pressing problems than prize money at the higher echelons of the sport.
While it adds interest to races like the Prince of Wales Stakes and the Queen Anne to have horses from the former colonies and Japan competing, extra money given to already well-endowed races would be better used to plump up prize money for the lesser races either at Royal Ascot or at its non-Royal meetings.
Also, given the financial pressures on even the trainers at the top of their profession, at this moment in time big prize-money needs to be staying in this country. Indeed, I would suggest Nick Smith would be better advised to ensure all races run at Ascot have prize money worth winning, rather than hoping to seduce overseas connections into sending their top horses to mop-up British Group 1’s, leaving the home trainers with crumbs of comfort. If races with £750,000 prize pots do not attract horses from around the word, especially given the prestige of winning at the Royal meeting, adding a quarter or half-a-million isn’t going to change trainers and owners minds as the pool of top-class horses around the world remains quite small.
As far as I am concerned, Royal Ascot is about competitive racing and even when stretched to five-days, that is exactly what is served-up year on year.

Nobody has made mention of this but then nobody who writes about racing shares my fascination with events that are hard to explain without veering into paranormal reasoning. The world works in mysterious ways, with coincidental events just that, coincidence. There was the woman who came across a young boy on the ground and gasping for breath. Using her medical skills learned on a first responder course, she is attributed with saving his life. Fast forward eight-years and that same woman while dining out at a restaurant got food stuck in her throat and a waiter using the Heimlich procedure saved her from choking to death. That waiter was the boy she saved using the same procedure. Coincidence? The stars aligning?
Last Friday at Epsom, Dermot Weld won the Oaks, two-days later a race was run in memorial to Pat Smullen, for so long Weld’s stable jockey. On the Saturday at Tramore, Pat’s daughter Hannah won her first race on a horse owned by her mother. I thought it a good news story. A story only the gods could have designed.

I have written to Tom Sammes, general manager at Epsom, on the topic of what to do about the lack of interest in the racecourse by locals and how to get the Derby back to where it once was in peoples’ perception. I outlined my thoughts in a previous blog and will not belabour the subject. I dare say my ideas will prove impractical, if only financially, though I hope it stimulates Tom Sammes brain into improving upon my suggestions. What I do hope to receive is a reply, as Jon Pullen at Cheltenham did, even if he politely poured tepid waters on the very best of my thoughts. Suleka Varma, on the other hand, at Aintree did not reply and no, as you might think given my criticism of her, I was not at all rude to her as I was trying to be helpful and supportive. Politeness costs nothing, especially if the reply comes by e-mail, as my mother used to say. Not that there was such a concept as e-mail back in the 1960’s. Not that she sent an e-mail during her 86-years of life.
What I did say to Tom Sammes was not to think of the Derby meeting as equivalent to Aintree or Cheltenham but to consider the attributes of the Punchestown and Galway festivals to make the Derby meeting unique. I have suggested a return to 3-days, with apprentice and amateur Derbies added to the mix, as well as the most valuable race in the world restricted to professional female riders. I wait with baited breath for his reply to either fall on the doormat or through my e-box.

​He came, he saw, he conquered. Yet again. And he was happy. While the rest of us shook our heads and bowed in the light of his genius. Aidan O’Brien is king, the new king of Epsom. Lester Piggott’s rein is finally over. All hail the Epsom king! A Tenth Derby winner. One better than his predecessor and former crown wearer. For Moore it was his fourth. He deserves more.
It makes one wonder how Aidan got things so terrible wrong at Newmarket. He blames the momentary blip in the stalls for the calamity; that City of Troy’s heartrate sky rocketed as the gates opened, resulting in the horse running out of energy at half-way. Aidan’s reasoning may have validity. But greater validity can be accrued from the ‘he was too fresh’ part of the analysis and ‘I treated him too much like a god.’ Yet I believe, and I say this with humility and not as criticism as we all get things wrong on occasion, at Newmarket, City of Troy was not fit enough to do himself justice. The stone left unturned was the most obvious stone of all, fitness.
Whether it was complacency, over-confidence or simply Aidan’s new trick of not over-doing his horses early on so they last out the long season, only Aidan will know. But you can be sure that City of Troy was trained to the 100% zenith in the run-up to Epsom. On the racecourse City of Troy may in future treat the opposition as if they are mere serfs but on the gallops at home he will never get the god-like, we are not worthy to live in your shadow’, treatment again. Making mistakes is data-gathering and as long as that mistake is not made twice, only good can ever come from it. I doubt if Aidan has repeated a mistake too many times in his life.
I will say this about the 2024 Derby. The race won by team tactics as much as anything else. Euphoric was run not so much as a pacemaker but to set a strong enough gallop to string out the field to make Ryan’s job easier in getting an unmolested run, which he did with the confidence associated with one of the greatest jockeys of all time. He got a golden passage up the rail and won with the zest of a true champion. Ryan Moore’s hardest job was pulling up as City of Troy gave the impression he wanted to do a lap of honour. It would have been interesting how long it might have taken to persuade City of Troy to stop racing if the fence at the end of the course was not there to put a stop to such exuberance. 
Though I doubt it would have made any difference to the result, though it might have made Ryan’s job in pulling up a lot more difficult, is if Rab Havlin had kicked for home instead of taking a pull at the very moment Ryan gave his mount the office to go win the race. We will only know how good City of Troy is if Ambiente Friendly wins the Irish Derby, if they go there next.
That is the thing with these ‘great’ horses, they need horses within a pound or two of themselves to truly judge where they lie in the pantheon of the ‘great ones.’ It is why I continue to rank Brigadier Gerard above Frankel as in beating Mill Reef the Brigadier beat a better horse than Frankel ever achieved. It is why, I believe, going next to America with City of Troy, especially if they choose the Bleeders Cup over the Arc, will dent the ‘lads’ aspirations and expectations of greatness for him. For true sportsman, which the Ballydoyle lads undoubtedly are, it will be a shame if they put the breeding shed before the racecourse with, perhaps, their first true champion, a horse of the calibre of Brigadier Gerard and Frankel, I have little doubt.
Finally, why is it that the connections of the fancied beaten horses in the Derby immediately tie themselves to ‘he didn’t stay, he will be better at a shorter trip’ mentality. Dancing Gemini was given an impossible task coming from so far back, especially as at Epsom they have to climb a stamina-sapping hill before they get racing, did not get a clear passage in the straight and was bumped late on. The bird had flown long before Dancing Gemini got into full flight himself. Yes, go back a couple of furlongs next time but do not cross-off the possibility of returning to 12-furlongs at some point this season. Oh, and for those who now crow with hindsight that Roger Teal should have waited for the French Derby – the ground is very soft at Chantilly and in that ground stamina might also have proved an issue.
The biggest threat to the reputation of the Epsom Derby in the years to come is breeders breeding almost exclusively for speed and foregoing the bedrock of thoroughbred breeding that is stamina. On the flat, all the great horses have been 10-furlong plus horses, with the majority of those 12-furlong plus horses. Breeders, I contend, are to blame for the lessening of the prestige of the Epsom Derby.

​The first Epsom Derby was run in 1780, though it can be argued that as the distance was only a mile, the 1781 race should be considered the first. Diomed won in 1780 and a race is still run in his name at the Derby meeting to this day. Perhaps, though, Young Eclipse should be similarly honoured having won the first Derby to be run over 12-furlongs.
In 1780, the owner of the victor, Sir Charles Bunbury, who might have had what become known worldwide as the Derby named in his honour if only he had called heads instead of tails and lost the naming rights to Lord Derby, picked up £1,065 15-shillings, which at todays values comes in at a cool £225,000 give or take a guinea or two. This year’s winning owner will receive close to £900,000, so at least the Epsom Derby is going up in value if not in prestige.
Unlike British and Irish jockeys brought-up on the unique topography of Epsom racecourse, foreign jockeys, used to flat oval tracks, on first experiencing the ups and downs of the Downs must get butterflies the size of cart-horses in their stomachs. The twists, turns, undulations and cambers of Epsom must be the equivalent for flat jockeys of Aintree before its sad emasculation by the well-meaning though wrong-headed allies of the ignorant minority. The Derby can be a helter-skelter of a race with a right-hand bend directly after the start, a steep rise of 140-feet, the descent to Tattenham Corner and then the free-wheeling dash for the home straight and a camber that can easily undo the good progress of favourites and hasten to the back of the fields outsiders that have given their all as the winning post hoves into view. Then there is the noise of the revellers in-field, the fun of the fair, the Ferris-wheel and the merry-go-rounds. Is it any wonder French trainers prefer to stay at home these days, even if their own Derby at Chantilly is nowadays a lesser race due to having 2-furlongs cut from the traditional Derby distance of 12-furlongs.
The only dead-heat for the Epsom Derby was way back in 1884 when St.Gatien and Harveste could not be separated.
Fred Archer won the race five-times in ten-years, Silvio, Bend Or, Iroquois, Melton and perhaps the best of the five, Ormonde in 1886.
There has not been a royal winner since 1900, Persimmon.
In 1946 Airbourne, a grey, won the race during which there was a snow storm.
It is hard to reconcile with the fact that Lester Piggott first won the race in 1954, the year of my birth, on Never Say Die, an apt name for a jockey who never gave in no matter the injury or circumstance of life.
Amazingly, it took the legendary Sir Gordon Richards all his career to win a Derby, finally achieving his most cherished goal in1953 on Pinza, only 12-months before an eighteen-year-old upstart won his first of nine Derby wins. Given the longevity of both their careers it is difficult to conceive that Piggott and Richards competed against each other.
The half-brothers Blakeney and Morston won in 1969 and 1973 for their owner-breeder-trainer, Arthur Budgett. Budgett, as with another owner-breeder of the era, John Hislop, was a believer in determining the limitations of his horses, with Blakeney staying in training as a 4-year-old to run in the Ascot Gold Cup. That sure does not happen these days.
In 1962 seven-horses failed to complete the course. As the field started down the hill chaos ensued when horses on the outside of the field drifted inward, with the result that a scene bearing more resemblance to Aintree than Epsom occurred. Romulus and Crossen collided with the heels of horses back-peddling and fell, five more, including the favourite Hethersett, also came down, one of which, King Canute suffered a fatal injury. Several of the unlucky jockeys suffered injuries, though only Harry Carr with concussion and Stan Smith with a broken leg were off-games for a period of time. In 1962 knee-jerk reactions were unknown and the incident was put down to a rare racing incident. Today, of course, after a similar incident, the maximum field size would be reduced, just so people could see something was being done, and jockeys lectured on being polite good boys next time they go race-riding.
The Epsom Derby is not what it used to be. There is never a maximum field – 20 nowadays – the in-field is not jammed-packed as in the good old days, the race does not receive the coverage in the media that other prestige sporting events achieve and it flies in the face of common-sense and fact to say it is the greatest race in the world. But it is still The Derby and there is only one race like it in the world if you discount the Oaks and perhaps the Coronation Cup and the other 12-furlong races held at Epsom, though they are not known throughout the racing kingdoms of the world. Long live Epsom. Long live the Derby.

​As with horse racing in general, both in Britain and Ireland, sadly, the Epsom Derby is no longer as fashionable or popular as in days gone by and Tom Sammes, the general manager of Epsom, has set himself the almighty task of doing something about it. Epsom and the Derby, I mean, not sorting out all of horse racing’s problems as that would need twenty Tom Sammes plus someone with experience of manifesting miracles.
Although no one will acknowledge the fact, the decline of the Epsom Derby began when the race was removed from its traditional date in the calendar, the first Wednesday in June, and given a Saturday slot to, as was said at the time, to boost betting turnover. Doing what the betting companies has wanted has not served racing well, I believe.
The grand old days when Parliament would adjourn early to allow ministers to attend the Derby in time to greet the monarch at the racecourse are sadly no more. In these wokish times a Prime Minister who owned even a share in a racehorse would suffer almighty abuse on social media, to the point when it would be considered a vote loser at the ballot-box. And running the race on a Wednesday allowed the hoi-polloi the excuse for an unsanctioned day off work and the masses would procure any form of transport, including shank’s pony, to attend all the fun of the fair on the Downs. The Epsom Derby of then is not the Epsom Derby of now.
Another reason why the Derby no longer attracts the attention of the wider public is the ever-increasing lack of competitive feel about the race. It is not that long ago there would be enough runners to have office sweepstakes on the race, as still happens, to a lesser degree than in the past, I admit, with the Grand National. Ten-runner races do not excite the public, especially when there is a hot favourite, as there is most years, if not this year. No would have raised an eyebrow at 25-runners at the height of its fame, even with the element of lottery that entailed with front-running long-shots falling back and hindering the better-fancied runners vying for a good position coming round Tattenham Corner.
And as with Willie Mullins domination of jumps racing, the domination at Epsom by the powerful stables of O’Brien and to a lesser extent the established power-houses of Cecil, Stoute and more recently Godolphin, the romance of the Derby has seeped away. Unlike the Melbourne Cup, a race that used to and continues to do so to lesser effect, stop a nation, the Epsom Derby is not a peoples’ race. The dress code is too stuffy, the race too associated with royalty and increasingly by foreign dignitaries of fabulous wealth and associated aloofness.
To reignite the appeal of the Epsom Derby Tom Sammes must give the race back to the people, local people, the people of London and racing people. It should not be packaged as a corporate event or a rehearsal for Royal Ascot. Remove it from the social calendar and play every trick in the book to attract 20-runners every year. The Epsom Derby has lost its parochial razzmatazz and removed from its historical past. The Derby is meant to be a test of the racehorse and rider. The course is quirky and unique. It is the racecourse itself that sets the Derby apart. People should just shut-up about how hard a race it is and talk about the great horses that won round there, with the Derby winner usually the best horse in the race and the season. Owners and trainers should stop moaning and finding excuses not to run, mainly based on protecting future stallion returns, and get on with supporting the race. Use it or lose it.

It continues to rankle with me that journalists will make the argument that the owner pays the bills and he or she can do as they please. I believe it is shameful that Callum Shepherd has lost the ride on Ambiente Friendly given he has done no wrong on the horse. It is especially wrong that the jockey they have replaced him with, as good and popular as Rab Havlin is, has a worst record around Epsom than the man he replaces. Callum Shepherd has 25% strike-rate at Epsom, bettered only, I believe, by William Buick.
I suggest, as I predicted, that the Gredleys have been in contact with Frankie Dettori, perhaps offered him the ride, which he had to turn down because of contractual obligations and he has then suggested his best mate Havlin for the ride. Whatever the circumstance, it is a sad state of affairs and the Gredleys should be ashamed of their lack of loyalty to a young jockey on the up and I only hope their decision comes back to bite them on the backside. As much as I would like to see James Fanshawe win a classic, on this occasion I hope it slips by him.
With the ground likely to be soft, I am favouring Ancient Wisdom at the moment, though on the day I might change my mind. Treasure is my idea of the Oaks winner.

​When you think of Aintree, you think of the Grand National – though not so grand since Suleka Varma took charge of British racing’s crown jewel – and its iconic fences and topography. When you think of Epsom, you think the Epsom Derby. And no other race but the Derby.
Considering Epsom owns and hosts flat racing single-most influential and best-known horse race, it is odd to suggest it is both underused and under-appreciated. As with Aintree, the topography of Epsom is distinctive, idiosyncratic and a test for horse and jockey unequalled around the world. Lingfield is similar enough to stage meaningful trials for both the Derby and Oaks and Brighton is up, down and twisty. But Epsom is Epsom and there is nothing like it outside of a point-to-point staged on a hill in the Peak District of northern England.
Once upon a time the racecourse was circular (ish), with the Great Metropolitan Handicap run over 2-miles 2-furlongs, with the course snaking around and passed the Derby start. It used to be a strand of the build-up to the Derby for runners to meander across the centre of the course, rather than canter the whole of the 12-furlongs as they do today to get to the starting stalls. It was part of the test, going by members of the public who were rightfully occupying the public spaces of the Downs.
The current management of Epsom are of the same opinion as myself in believing Epsom is unloved and in need of sprucing-up in order to bring back the crowds and to weave the course back into the fabric of the local community. Outside of the Derby meeting, Epsom hardly splashes a puddle, with none of its other meetings deemed worthy of being a major focus for I.T.V. racing.
Unless the B.H.A. decide to help out and transfer a race of significance to Epsom, which is unlikely, Epsom will have to come up with something eye-popping of its own. The task will be difficult and I have no single stand-out idea to work the oracle. I doubt if anyone has. But here are a few suggestions to start the debate.
Aintree, I believe, should not stage a meeting with at least one race over the National fences, Epsom equally should not stage a meeting without a race with the word ‘Derby’ in its title. The first meeting of the season has a Derby trial and that satisfies the brief. It already has an amateurs Derby and an apprentice Derby, these three races should be boosted in prize-money, especially the Blue Riband trial.
I would add to the list of ‘derbies’, a female professional jockeys Derby, a Derby for veteran horses, seven-years and up, a female amateur riders Derby, a Derby handicap for 3-year-olds, a Derby for jockeys who have not ridden more than 100-winners in their careers, even some kind of Derby consolation race. I am sure others could suggest better Derby ideas.
The ideas above are all mock derbies, of course, with only a vestige of the prestige of the Derby run in June but such inventions would keep Epsom synonymous throughout the season with the one race that matters the most.
My second proposal would be to try to stage 2-year-old races throughout the season specifically aimed at the middle-distance bred horse, the 2-year-old that might develop into a Derby horse as a 3-year-old.
A Derby with ten or less runners is pretty useless for both promoting the sport to a wider public or to boost betting revenue. Epsom should always be looking for twenty-runner fields as was usual for the race when in its hey-day. Unlucky stories may be a disaster for the connections of the impeded but they continue the narrative of the Derby to the rest of the season.
The Derby meeting should not, as has been suggested, be extended beyond 2-days, though they might consider a 3-day summer festival with one of the mock Derbies as a highlight. Racecourse clerks and executives always think festivals should be about quality horses. No, as Ireland proves throughout its season, competitive races is the answer. Galway is the example that should be studied, or Cartmel, not the Punchestown Festival or the D.R.F. If Killarney, Kilbeggan, Ballinrobe or any of the other country festivals can be highlights of the racing year, similarly a summer festival at Epsom might be part of the solution that is being sought. 
Epsom should be synonymous with one type of race and one distance of race.