Guide to the Epsom Derby and Best Betting Sites
Updated: 15.08.2025
When it comes to Thoroughbred horse racing, there isn't much in the way of tradition and prestige quite like the Epsom Derby, held each year in Surrey, England. Most folks across the pond simply call it "The Derby," as if to distinguish it from all the other "Derby" races held around the world in the wake of this one (which, thanks to a corporate sponsor, is now also known as the Investec Derby).
The entire country of Great Britain, along with millions of horse racing punters and online gamblers, hold their breath for this unprecedented race, which takes place every year on the first Saturday in June and captures the attention of spectators and bettors in the UK and around the world.
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The Epsom Derby predates most other major horse races; it was first run in 1780. It is run over a distance of nearly 1.5 miles (2,420 meters) on turf at Epsom Downs racecourse. It is a race for three-year-old colts and fillies only, and is the second leg of the Triple Crown of British horse racing.
The Epsom Derby has seen its share of the country's most famous racing superstars. They have made their mark by winning this most prestigious of races. But it is more than just the majestic quality of the race itself and the impressive champions it has produced that draws the public to this most public of equestrian events. In fact, the whole atmosphere surrounding the Epsom Derby is definitely that of a carnival.
It is especially tempting for horse racing bettors, or "punters" as they are called in the UK, who place their bets at the track, in betting shops around the country, or on some of the many horse racing betting websites that include the Derby in their offerings.
Epsom Derby History
The Derby family's interest in horses and racing dates back to the 17th century. Such was their fascination that in 1779 they initiated the running of the Epsom Oaks, a race for three-year-old fillies. It is run at the same venue as the Derby and is the sister race to the more famous event.
Twelve months later, the Epsom Derby began, and it is said that the title of the race came down to a coin toss between the 12th Earl of Derby and his house guest at the time, Sir Charles Bunbury.
On May 4, 1780, after calling heads to win the flip, the Earl saw a horse named Diomed win the first Epsom Derby. While the first race had been run at a mile, the Derby soon moved to the more familiar distance of a mile and a half. It also did something else: it began to mean something.
As the race was held at the same time as the Epsom Fair, it was often run on a Wednesday. In 1995, the Derby was moved to a Saturday to give it a better chance of attracting a relocated, larger crowd. Held on the first Saturday in June, this Derby also has a pretty good chance of attracting some crowds that might otherwise have been working.
Over time, the Derby at Epsom has become the race that forms the middle leg of the British Triple Crown. This prestigious group of three races also includes the 2,000 Guineas and the St. Leger Stakes. Incredibly, since 1809, the year all three races were first run, only 15 horses have managed to take top honors in all three events.
In a sense, the Epsom Derby became a national event when radio got involved, with the first broadcast by the BBC in 1927. The Epsom Derby became a truly national event in 1960 when the BBC and ITV first showed it live to viewers at home. Now it is even more international, with punters from all over the world able to watch it live online.
Classic Epsom Derby Champions
With the benefit of hindsight, history reveals a remarkable list of Derby winners, many of them among the finest Thoroughbreds in British racing. Ormonde made the Epsom Derby part of his astonishing unbeaten run in 1886, finishing his career without a loss in 16 races.
When all factors are considered, the famous winner of the Sea Bird may be the greatest Derby winner of all time. He was assured of that status long before he became a cunning old rhyme in horse racing. Barely two minutes after the colts crossed the finish line at Epsom on June 1, 1845, the second son of the second Duke of Richmond was carrying his well-known lines to a rather unknown future in a place called America.
In 1971, Mill Reef won the Epsom Derby, continuing his long rivalry with Brigadier Gerard; Mill Reef won 12 of 14 races. Four years later, Grundy won the Derby only a month or so before winning the so-called "Race of the Century" against Bustino. In 1981, Shergar made a mockery of the field by winning the Derby by 10 lengths, still a record.
In 2009, Sea-Bird scored a magnificent victory in the Epsom Derby to stake his claim as the all-time champion. He had previously triumphed in the 2,000 Guineas Stakes and decided not to go for the Triple Crown. Instead, he opted to run against older horses in the Eclipse Stakes, a race he also won. That left him with two wins over musty old champions in the history of horse racing - Epsom and Eclipse. But Sea-Bird still had one big race to go before he could call it a year.
Notable Epsom Derby Races
The race had a female champion for the first time in its history. Total winners of the race by non-human females: six.
The two winners in those years, Middleton and Amato, had never raced before the Derby and would never race again.
In perhaps the biggest scandal in Derby history, a horse named Running Rein was declared the winner. However, this horse was reportedly a four-year-old impostor who had been substituted for the real Running Rein.
Judges disqualified this horse and named second-place finisher Orlando the winner.
In a unique moment in Epsom Derby history, when the race ended in a dead heat, the victory was shared by Harvester and St. Gatien, who crossed the line together.
Mirrors won the Derby, becoming the first royal-owned horse to win the race. King Edward VII owned the horse.
Another controversial finish. Craganour, the heavy favorite, and long shot Aboyeur battled neck and neck in the stretch, with both jockeys steering their horses as if they were headed for a head-on collision. After a lengthy discussion, track officials decided to award the victory to Aboyeur and, in a rare move, disqualified Craganour. Betting on Aboyeur at 100-1, you would have liked those odds for the surprise and historical significance of the moment.
Airborne won the race, which was Princess Elizabeth's first appearance at the Epsom Derby. She would later become Queen.
Nijinsky, the last of the British Triple Crown winners, won the Derby on his way to that amazing accomplishment.
When Pour Moi crossed the finish line, his teenage jockey, Mickael Barzalona, stood up in the saddle to celebrate before they had actually crossed the finish line. For this act of premature celebration, Barzalona was reprimanded.
Recent Epsom Derby Champions
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Australia | Joseph O’Brien | It was the third straight win for trainer Aidan O’Brien, made special by the fact that his son Joseph was the jockey |
| 2015 | Golden Horn | Frankie Dettori | The win marked the second for Dettori, with his first in 2007 ending a long drought for him in the Derby |
| 2016 | Harzand | Pat Smullen | Won the Derby despite the fact that he was injured before the race, and many thought he wouldn’t even compete |
| 2017 | Wings of Eagles | Padraig Beggy | He was one of the bigger long-shot winners in recent years, flying up in the final strides to win at 40-1 |
| 2018 | Masar | William Buick | He became the first winner of the Epson Derby to be owned by the highly successful Godolphin Stables |
Epsom Derby Traditions
The Epsom Derby is part of a much larger celebration known as the Epsom Fair. In the early days, the race was just part of the festivities. In recent times, however, the Derby has become the centerpiece of this four-day event due to the huge worldwide audience and betting interest that the race attracts.
However, many of the old customs remain, such as Ladies Day, which is held on the Friday before the Derby. On this day, the Epsom Oaks is run, and it is a day for extremely stylish and fashionable attire on the part of the attendees. It is also a day for hats.
Derby Day at Epsom feels as if its very architecture has been twisted and turned to create a light, sound and music show that dazzles the senses. This atmosphere is present and palpable on the Saturday of the Derby itself, but extends almost to the two days before. The racetrack opens up on Derby Day. It is ready; it holds court in the ubiquitous English countryside. And the thrill is that it feels no different to those hidden in the Derby apocalypse than it does to the thousands gathered on the green hillsides above and around Epsom itself.
For those who wish to mingle with the well-bred during the competition, the most notable area is the Queen's Stand. There, an almost total sartorial elitism is enforced; male patrons must wear top hats and tails to even attempt entry. The rest of the grandstand has a similar vibe, insisting on more formal horseracing attire.
The Epsom Derby Betting Frequently Asked Questions
You cannot shout Epsom Derby without mentioning the money. If you're an Epsom Derby newbie, know this: This race, England's most famous money moment, is not just a horse thing, but a horse betting thing. So instead of just focusing on "Ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross," let's give six lines to "Bet on a horse at Banbury Cross.
Where Do I Bet on the Epsom Derby?
If you happen to be one of the lucky few to attend this thrilling and historic race, you can place a bet right there and then. One of the things that makes British horseracing unique is that, unlike most other racetracks around the world, you can find bookmakers taking your bets in much of the grandstand and on the side of the track, not far from the finish line. These bookmakers operate independently of each other, so you can go from one to the next looking for the best price on the horse you want to back.
It is important to understand that the odds offered by bookmakers are fixed. This means that when a bet is placed, the odds will not fluctuate as the race approaches. Some people enjoy the stability of having their odds set in stone. This is especially true if they are able to secure favorable odds on the horse they are betting on.
In contrast, tote betting is also available at the Epsom Derby. It differs from other forms of betting in that it uses pools that collect all the money that has been wagered. If you were to win a bet placed in this way, the amount you would receive as your winnings would depend not only on the size of the total pool bet, but also on how many winners there were in that pool.
When you use the tote to place a bet, you may not know the odds until just before the race starts. Betting on the tote is a bit like trying to find a diamond in the rough. You need to pick a horse that's good enough to do well, but also one that the other bettors have largely overlooked.
Is There Online Wagering Available on the Epsom Derby?
If you are unable to attend the Derby, several of the leading betting companies in the UK offer online services. Alternatively, you can find an internet sportsbook that accepts international horse betting. Given the importance of the Epsom Derby in the horse racing world, we would not hesitate to suggest that you consider online betting as a method of placing a bet on the Derby.
When selecting such a site, it is important to find one that meets your requirements. These requirements may relate to the incentives offered for joining the site. They may also relate to the site's policies regarding the amounts and timing of withdrawals and deposits.
You can expect there to be a plethora of sites these days to cater to your interest in betting on the Epsom Derby, what with online gambling being such a huge and thriving business. But you should know this: not every site that caters to your interest in the Epsom Derby will be safe; not every site will be reliable; not every site will pay out quickly; not every site will be fun to bet at; and not every site will give you a great experience. In fact, some sites will never be safe, and some will be a terrible value. Plain and simple. You really should know what to look for before you dive in and start placing your bets.
Nevertheless, choose one from our carefully curated list above, and your experience should be a positive one, especially if you manage to identify the standout selections.
What Kinds of Bets Can I Make on the Epsom Derby?
Casual bettors on the Epsom Derby generally place two types of bets: win bets and place bets. These can be placed together in what is known as an each way bet. The each way bet is similar to an overall bet for those familiar with American horse racing.
A win bet on a horse is exactly what it says: you win on this bet if the horse finishes first. A place bet returns money, but only if the horse finishes first, second or third (it is a 3-way in the money condition). If the horse finishes fourth or worse, you lose. The odds are set by the bookmaker or the odds-makers - both are acceptable.
Accumulator bets can also be found in various forms. They require the player to hit all parts of a combination of bets. Since hitting an accumulator is naturally a long shot, the payouts are generous, even if the sneaky ones pay out on bets placed with pennies.
Once you understand the different types of bets, you can start working on an overall strategy for picking the right horses. Regardless of the outcome, you are sure to feel the exhilaration of the event. And even if you do not win any money, you will have experienced one of the greatest equestrian spectacles on earth.
