the derby. epsom. an unloved racecourse.

​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.