Jockey Club announce significant changes to Betfred Derby Festival

Prize money for next year’s Betfred Derby being boosted to £2 million and the Coolmore Coronation Cup being run on the same card are among a string of significant changes to the Betfred Derby Festival announced by The Jockey Club on Friday.

Other enhancements will range from alterations to the race programme to customer experience improvements across the site for two of racing’s biggest days of the year. Examples include parking, as much as £40 in the past, now being free, plus anyone under 18 being given free entry on both days.

The famous Double Decker buses will be staying put, but Epsom will have a new look, with banks of ‘bleacher’-style covered seating along the final furlong on The Hill, giving racegoers a ‘birds eye’ view of the action like never before.

There will also be a new under cover area in the Grandstand Enclosure and an improved track-side hospitality experience near the most famous winning post in the sport.

In addition, a brand new DerbyFest area will be a feature on The Hill, run in partnership with Frank Warren's Queensberry operation, famous for promoting some of the world’s biggest sporting events. It is hoped this will drive attendance and engagement with the local community. 

The changes, costing an estimated £6 million, will form part of a project to reinvigorate the world’s most famous race, which was first run in 1780 and has spurned imitations all over the globe. 

Attendance figures have shrunk markedly since the Covid-19 pandemic, which led to the 2020 edition of the race being run behind closed doors. Last year’s paying crowd had dwindled to 22,000, a far cry from days of old when the course and Downs would be bulging with racegoers.

A six-month review process began with 24 hours of the Aidan O’Brien-trained Lambourn making all in last year’s renewal. It was undertaken by a dedicated team at Epsom and from across The Jockey Club, which has involved analysis of customer, stakeholder and visitor feedback and data. 

Jim Allen took over as General Manager of Epsom Downs in October 2024 and last year’s race was the first under his stewardship. He recognised that change was needed to halt the decline and hopes that a crowd of 40,000 might be possible next Derby Day, on June 5, and perhaps 100,000 within five years. 

Unveiling the alterations, he said:“Epsom Downs Racecourse is the home of the ‘Original Derby’, a race which is widely regarded as the most important two and a half minutes in the racing and breeding industry, shaping pedigrees, stallion careers and bloodstock markets for generations. 

“Since the first running in 1780, The Betfred Derby has not only established itself as the definitive test of the Thoroughbred, but as a race so prestigious that its name has been adopted worldwide, inspiring hundreds of races from the Kentucky Derby to races in Japan, Australia and Hong Kong. 

“My own passion for The Derby and Epsom Downs goes back many years, to my own childhood, and while I was extraordinarily proud to have overseen my first Derby as General Manager earlier this year, I couldn’t wait to address some of the things that the team and I knew could be improved. 

“The changes we are making, both on and off the track, would not have been possible without crucial input from racegoers, annual members, the local community, a number of stakeholders from right across the sport and our sponsors Betfred and other partners, all of which have helped shape this painstaking review process. 

“It is so important for us to be continually evolving and improving to give everyone the best possible experience across the two days. Ultimately, we want to deliver something that Epsom and the surrounding area, along with everyone connected with British racing, can feel truly proud of and one which is befitting of The Betfred Derby Festival’s status as a world class and prestigious event.” 

Explaining the changes made off the track, he added: “From a customer experience perspective, we want to make The Betfred Derby Festival accessible to everyone. From the top hats in the Queen Elizabeth II Stand, to free entry for all on The Hill, we want every racegoer and spectator to feel they have a place at Epsom Downs on the first weekend in June. 

“The introduction of new areas across the site will help create magical new memories for both returning and first-time visitors of all ages. In particular, we are excited to be working with Frank Warren and his team at Queensberry to offer enhanced entertainment on The Hill, which remains a completely free area to enjoy the day, along with an opportunity to learn more about racing while rubbing shoulders with celebrities and even a Derby-winning jockey or two.  

“We are also proud to be encouraging the next generation to join us and get involved in the two days, with the introduction of free General Admission tickets for all under 18s when accompanied by an adult, along with free hospitality and dining experiences for under 12s and discounts in these areas for 12–17-year-olds. 

“For those wanting to enjoy the party atmosphere stand-side, Galileo’s will offer those in the Grandstand enclosure the chance to celebrate with fun entertainment and a great after party.” 

Allen said Friday’s announcement was the culmination of months of hard work. “This project started the morning after Derby Day for many of us and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has worked tirelessly on it,” he said.  “We are now excited about delivering these changes, which we hope will be appreciated by all who join us in June.” 

O’Brien, the most successful trainer in the history of The Derby, having won the race a record 11 times, said: “From the time that matings are planned at Coolmore, right the way through to the training process here at Ballydoyle, there is always huge emphasis placed on The Derby. If we had to pick one race in the calendar to win, The Derby would invariably be it.  

“We are very grateful to The Jockey Club for their increased investment for next year’s Derby Festival and welcome all the new initiatives, particularly those aimed at encouraging more young people to come racing, as they are the future of the sport.” 

1 The Betfred Derby, Britain’s most prestigious race and the second leg of the Triple Crown, will be run for a total value of £2 million. This increase of £500,000 means that no race will be run for more in the UK in 2026, with £1 million going to the winner. 

2 Prize money will be on offer for more Derby contenders, with horses finishing in the first ten places (previously the first six places) taking home a share of the £2 million. 

3 Last year’s trial of 72-hour declarations will become a permanent feature of The Derby, bringing the race in line with some of the world’s other feature Group One races. Connections of all horses will be invited to a live stalls draw on Wednesday 3rd June 2026. 

4 Coolmore will join as a Partner to the Betfred Derby Festival in 2026, supporting the Group One Coolmore Coronation Cup which will move to Saturday. Thanks to the support of Coolmore, the race will now more than double in value, with prize money increased from £450,000 to £1million, the most it has ever been run for in its 124-year history. 

5 A new seven-furlong Group Three race – the Tattenham Corner Stakes – will be run on the Saturday. Formerly the John Of Gaunt Stakes, which has previously been run at Haydock Park, the introduction of this contest will result in seven of the 16 races run over the two days being Class Ones, with three Group Ones, three Group Threes and one Listed race. 

6 There will be a prize money increase of £1.375 million over the two days, taking total prize money on offer to nearly £5 million. It will make Betfred Derby Day the second richest raceday in the UK, worth £3.62 million. 

Andrew Cooper, Head of Racing and Clerk of the Course at Epsom Downs, said: “The Betfred Derby is the pinnacle of any Flat trainer or jockey’s career and a race that remains incredibly important for the Thoroughbred and breeding industry.  It is vital that we continue to do everything we can to maintain its status and prestige and that’s been an important focus of the whole team throughout this review process. 

“We want to ensure that we are hosting competitive racing, not just in our feature races, but across the two-day festival. We had clear objectives in this regard, with our key aim to produce races that suit the wide demographic of horses currently in training. 

“Switching the Coolmore Coronation Cup to be run on the Saturday, the introduction of a new seven-furlong Group Three race and making this year’s change to 72-hour declarations for The Betfred Derby itself permanent are all changes that I think demonstrate the importance placed on what happens on the track. 

“An increase in prize money of £1.375 million over the two days will also bring us very close to the £5 million mark, while increasing The Betfred Derby’s prize money to £2 million will ensure that no other race in the UK will be run for more, in line with the stature of the race. This commitment would not have been possible without the ongoing support of Betfred, along with that of the British Horseracing Authority and the European Flat Pattern Committee. 

“We are also hugely grateful to Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and John Magnier from Coolmore for their support of the Coronation Cup, another of the races we identified as needing investment. By more than doubling its prize money and giving it a prime place on the Saturday we are demonstrating our commitment to promoting it as one of the outstanding middle-distance races for older horses. 

“Finally, we must also thank World Pool for their support, with eight races each day reflecting the importance of the two days globally, along with their invaluable contribution enabling us to increase prize money across the two days. The Betfred Oaks goes back to being a World Pool race in 2026, while the Betfred Derby is the second highest UK race for World Pool turnover.” 

1 As part of a new initiative to encourage young racegoers to attend and to make the event more affordable and accessible for families, anyone under 18 will be given free entry on both days in all General Admission enclosures. Hospitality and dining area experiences will also be free for anyone under the age of 12, with discounts for 12-17 year olds. While the Friday sits within school term time, Epsom hope that more young people than ever before can join us on the Saturday. In the Grandstand enclosure, there will be activities specifically aimed at a younger audience, with entertainment and the chance to learn more about the racing industry. 

2 All car parking across the site will be completely free, whether attending in the Queen Elizabeth II Stand, Grandstand, hospitality areas or on The Hill.  

Whether it is a racegoer’s first or 21st visit to the Betfred Derby Festival, Epsom want them to experience something new and to be planning their return visit as soon as their day out has finished. 

As part of our six-month review, the course listened to customer feedback and prioritised the introduction of new and improved areas across the site. For 2026, these have been focused in three individual areas: 

Galileo’s – named after the legendary 2001 Derby winner, this new area in the Grandstand Enclosure will feature live entertainment, new food and drink concessions and an after party. As a covered area, it will provide the perfect meeting place in all weathers. 

1780 – a brand-new trackside hospitality experience that takes guests back to where it all began, nearly 250 years ago. Positioned just down from the iconic Winning Post, 1780 offers incredible views of all the action from the balcony of this glass-fronted marquee. 

Champions Seating – elevated bleacher-style seating will bring spectators closer to the action than ever before, situated along the final furlong on The Hill. This will give annual members andthose using Cedric’s and 1780 hospitality facilities a bird’s eye view of all 16 races staged during the Betfred Derby Festival, with a roof to protect them from the elements. 

Ladies Day will also return for 2026, featuring the Style Awards which will be supported by Debenhams. 

The Hill remains a completely free to enter enclosure on both days of the Betfred Derby Festival, continuing its long tradition as one of the most accessible and welcoming vantage points in British sport. To ensure that The Hill continues to be open to everyone, several changes are being implemented for 2026. These include: 

Spectators are invited to enjoy the action however they choose to arrive, whether by foot, car or bike, with all car parking on The Hill free of charge.  

A brand new fan and family zone, DerbyFest is being introduced for 2026 in the heart of The Hill. Completely free to enter, DerbyFest will be run in partnership with Queensberry - famous for promoting some of the world’s biggest sporting events – to drive attendance and engagement with the local community. 

The introduction of a ‘Main Stage’ with musical acts and other live entertainment will result in more action on The Hill than ever before, with the chance for fans to also get up close to celebrities, TV and sports personalities and even Derby-winning jockeys.