The Epsom Derby is four days away. If you are new to racing or only watch the big occasions, here is everything you need to know before Saturday.
When Is the Epsom Derby 2026?
The Derby takes place on Saturday June 7 2026 at Epsom Downs racecourse in Surrey. The race typically goes off at around 4:30pm, though the exact time is confirmed closer to the day. Derby Day is a full afternoon of racing — supporting races fill the card from around 2pm onwards.
The Oaks — the Classic for fillies over the same course and distance — runs on the Friday, June 6. Both days are worth watching.
How to Watch the Derby for Free
The Derby is broadcast live and free on ITV and ITVX in the UK. No subscription needed. Coverage typically begins in the early afternoon and runs through the full card. Check your TV listings for exact broadcast times.
Sky Sports Racing and Racing TV carry full coverage for subscribers, with additional pre-race analysis, paddock coverage, and interviews throughout the day.
What Makes the Derby Special
The Derby is a mile and a half for 3yo horses at Epsom Downs. It has been staged every year since 1780. The course is unlike any other in Britain — horses climb to the top of the Downs, sweep left-handed through Tattenham Corner at racing pace, then run uphill to the finish. A horse who wins the Derby has passed a test nothing else in racing replicates.
How to Bet the Derby — The Simple Version
For first-time or occasional punters, an each-way bet on a longer-priced horse is one of the most sensible approaches to the Derby. A field of fifteen or more runners typically pays four places at a quarter of the win odds. A horse at 12/1 each-way costs double your stake but pays out if the horse finishes in the top four — not just if it wins.
The Derby favourite wins reasonably often but not always. In a large field on a unique and demanding course, upsets happen. Backing only the favourite to win at short odds is not always the most productive approach.
Free Derby Tips from Horse Racing Oracle AI
Horse Racing Oracle AI will publish its Derby selection on Saturday morning at 11am — before the market opens and before bookmakers react to the morning's moves. The selection comes with the full reasoning behind it, free to access at horseracingoracleai.com.
The same process that identified thirteen consecutive NAP winners through the final two weeks of May will be applied to the Derby field on Saturday. Free to access, no signup required to see the tip.
Want free AI-powered tips every morning? Sign up free at horseracingoracleai.com →
Betting involves risk. Please gamble responsibly. Visit BeGambleAware.org.