Countdown to Epsom Derby 2009

It is under three weeks to this years Derby which will be run on Saturday 6th June at Epsom. For us old timers the Derby was always run on the first Wednesday in June. The switch to Saturday was made a few years back in order to get the crowds, who create the atmosphere, back to Epsom again. The Derby is the biggest Flat race in the calendar for the three year old colts. No horse has completed the Two Thousand Guineas/Derby double since Naswan in 1989. New Approach, last years Derby winner, was only beaten a nose in the Two Thousand Guineas and came that close to doing the double. This years Two Thousand Guineas winner, Sea the Stars (pictured beating Delegator), could be the one to do the double again. He won comfortably at Newmarket. Aidan O’Brien and the Ballydoyle team also have a very strong hand and it will be interesting to see which horse Johnny Murtagh chooses to ride. I suspect it will be Fame and Glory who stayed on well to win his race in Ireland. Rip Van Winkle finished strongly to be fourth behind Sea the Stars after an interrupted preparation for the Two Thousand Guineas. Black Bear Island finished like a stayer to beat his stable companion Freemantle in the Dante at York. Behind them was the one time antepost favourite for the Derby, Crowded House, who has now been pushed out to 16/1 and his participation in the race is in doubt. Sea the Stars has that change of gear which only the great horses have. I hope he gets to Epsom fit and well.

With regard to getting attendances up at the racecourses, the first thing they should do is reduce the entrance charges. Secondly, in order to attract the younger racegoer, the entrance charge should be free for those under 21. Thirdly there should be concessions for the over 60’s (not 65’s) all of the time, not just on selected days when the racing is mediocre and of little interest. I personally like to attend the big meetings and see the best horses running under National Hunt or Flat. Concessions are never allowed for these meetings by the greedy racecourses. I can understand their logic but eventually they will be shooting themselves in the foot. Horse racing is a minority sport. If the powers that be want to attract more people to the racecourses they must reduce the entrance charges.