Epsom Downs

A contingent of U.S. racing investigators will take part in an intensive two-week tour of France and England beginning June 21 where they will visit their counterparts and exchange ideas about integrity issues. The inaugural trip last year included stops at Ballydoyle in Ireland and during Royal Ascot. The participants are members of the Organization of Racing Investigators and the schedule was put together by board member Jason Klouser of the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission, who will lead the group. Local hosts Samuel Fargeat in France and John Burgess...

The unbeaten Midak will represent the Aga Khan Studs in the G1 Betfred Derby on Saturday, June 7, after connections announced he would be supplemented for the Epsom feature. This year's edition of the race will be run in memory of the late His Highness Aga Khan IV. A homebred, the son of Footstepsinthesand won a maiden on the all-weather at first asking in March and prevailed over turf a month later in a conditions affair both over 2200 metres. He ran out a 2 1/2-length winner of the G3...

A total of 25 colts remain in the June 7 £1.5-million G1 Betfred Derby (In Honour of His Highness Aga Khan IV) at the latest scratching stage. Part of a seven-strong Irish-trained contingent is The Lion In Winter (Sea The Stars), who is still the narrow 5-2 favourite, for Aidan O'Brien and the Coolmore partners, despite running sixth in the G2 Dante Stakes behind 4-1 chance Pride Of Arras (New Bay), who is trained by Ralph Beckett. Other colts carrying the Coolmore partners' colours include G3 Leopardstown's G3 Derby Trial...

An injunction prohibiting acts of intentional disruption at The Jockey Club's Epsom Downs Racecourse has been extended an additional five years by a High Court judge, TJC announced on Wednesday. The injunction will be subject to an annual review. The original injunction was put in place in May of last year when protesters from Animal Rising made it clear that they planned to breach course security and stage a disruptive protest at the Derby Festival. Judge Sir Anthony Mann has ruled that the final injunction--sought by TJC to restrain acts...

In it seems no time at all, Coolmore's big horse City Of Troy (Justify) has gone from "our Frankel" to a colt carrying a huge symbolic question mark over a head that appeared poised to carry racing's crown. There have been few greater anti-climaxes in the history of Ballydoyle than that which accompanied his abject 2,000 Guineas performance and, following the roller-coaster experience of last year's Derby, we are unexpectedly back in familiar territory. What occurred at Epsom last June was heralded as a feat of training without equal as...

Following Monday's confirmation stage, there remains the possibility of a maximum field going to post for Saturday's G1 Betfred Derby at Epsom, with City Of Troy (Justify) the standout name among 20 colts still in contention for the Classic. Unbeaten in three starts as a two-year-old, City Of Troy is a short-priced favourite to provide trainer Aidan O'Brien with a record-extending tenth success in the Derby, despite disappointing on his return to action in the G1 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. O'Brien could field up to six runners at Epsom, with...

EPSOM, UK -- Some may not find an overcast morning in the middle of a deserted racecourse all that exciting but more fool them. Because all around the Epsom Downs the small temporary village that by this time next Friday will constitute the base for the Betfred Derby Festival is gradually being constructed and the sense of occasion is rising.  But of course there's no Derby without horses, and four potential contenders for the race that remains the highlight of every Flat season gained an early sighter of the course...

City Of Troy (Justify) and Arabian Crown (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) head the betting for the G1 Derby after the latest entries were released on Tuesday. Of the 69 set to run in late April, just 41 remain after the latest scratching deadline for the Classic, which will be run at Epsom on Saturday, June 1. A baker's dozen haven been entered by Aidan O'Brien for the Coolmore partners, anchored by City Of Troy, despite his puzzling ninth-place finish in last Saturday's G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas. Last season's G1 Dewhurst S....

A total of 72 horses have been entered for the 2024 G1 Derby at Epsom Downs on Saturday, June 1, the richest race in Britain with total prize-money of £1.5 million. Of the 72, 23 are trained in Ireland, including the outstanding juvenile of 2023, City Of Troy (Justify), last seen winning the G1 Dewhurst S. at Newmarket by three and a half lengths in impressive fashion. He is one of 17 entries for Aidan O'Brien, the most successful trainer in the history of the Classic having saddled nine winners since...

Churchill Downs on Tuesday announced a new partnership with the British Jockey Club and Ascot Racecourse to offer a program where horses competing during GI Kentucky Derby week could receive an entry and travel incentive for races at Epsom Downs and the Royal Ascot meeting. "This is a really special partnership that will give owners and trainers a great opportunity to run in some of our marquee races during Kentucky Derby week and, in exchange, they could receive entries into some of Europe's most prestigious turf races," Gary Palmisano Jr.,...

Ben Newman, a "committed animal rights campaigner" who was filmed running onto Epsom Downs during the running of this year's G1 Derby in June, has been given a suspended prison sentence for breaking a High Court's injunction. The Jockey Club, which owns and operates Epsom Downs, had received an injunction banning the animal rights group Animal Rising of which Newman is a member, prior to the Derby in June. Newman's two-month prison sentence was suspended for 18 months during contempt of court proceedings on Wednesday. Tim James-Matthews, for Newman, said...

Ben Newman, who was filmed running onto the Epsom Downs course after the Derby had started and was subsequently apprehended by security in June, was spared jail time after his 18 weeks of imprisonment was suspended for two years, Sky Sports reported on Thursday. The defendant, 32 and part of  protest group Animal Rising, was also fined a total of £1,356. The defendant entered a guilty plea at Guildford Crown Court for causing a public nuisance. The judge criticised Newman for "endangering" the lives of police and security stationed around...