Epsom Derby Festival 2026: Runners, Racecard & Betting Odds

The Epsom Derby Festival doesn’t need a special introduction. If you are at least somewhat interested in horse racing, you know about one of the biggest summer meetings that features two of the five British Classics. This year, it will take place on Friday, 5 June and Saturday, 6 June at the Epsom Downs Racecourse.

The first record of a race taking place on the North Downs goes as far back as 1661, though some sources hint that it might have been established in the area even earlier. It is a Grade 1 racecourse that hosts both the Oaks and the Derby, the two of the British Classics that take place in the summer.

This year, the Epsom Derby Festival will open with the 3yo “Dash” Handicap Stakes as its first race, while The JRA Tokyo Trophy Handicap Stakes will close the entire event.

The Epsom Oaks will take place on the first day and the Epsom Derby will take place on the second day of the Festival.

Epsom Derby Festival 2026 Racecard

The Epsom Derby Festival 2026 will be conducted in the first week of June and last for two days. This horse racing fixture will include 16 races.

Day One: Ladies Day (5 June)

When: Friday, 5 June 2026
Gate opening: 11:00 am
First race: 1:30 pm
Headline race: 4:00 pm
Last race: 5:50 pm

The daily race card for the Epsom Derby Festival Ladies Day 2026 is as follows:

Going: good (good to firm in places)

Time	Race	Distance	Conditions
1:30 pm	THE 3YO “DASH” HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 2) (CL 2)	5f	3YO £75,000.00 Rating 0-100
2:05 pm	THE ODDSCHECKER BRITISH EBF WOODCOTE STAKES (CONDITIONS RACE) (CLASS 2) (GBB RACE) (CL 2)	6f 3y	2YO £75,000.00
2:40 pm	THE BETFRED DIOMED STAKES (CLASS 1) (Group 3) (CL 1)	1m 113y	3YO+ £125,000.00
3:15 pm	THE BETFRED ‘NIFTY 50’ HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 2) (GBBPLUS RACE) (CL 2)	1m 2f 17y	4YO+ £120,000.00
4:00 pm	THE BETFRED OAKS (CLASS 1) (Group 1) (CL 1)	1m 4f 6y	3YO £625,000.00
4:40 pm	THE HKJC WORLD POOL HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 2) (CL 2)	1m 113y	4YO+ £75,000.00 Rating 0-100
5:15 pm	THE CYGAMES SURREY STAKES (CLASS 1) (Listed Race) (CL 1)	7f 3y	3YO £85,000.00
5:50 pm	THE DEBENHAMS HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 2) (CL 2)	7f 3y	3YO+ £75,000.00 Rating 0-100

Day Two: Derby Day (6 June)

When: Saturday, 6 June 2026
Gate opening: 11:00 am
First race: 1:30 pm
Headline race: 4:00 pm
Last race: 5:55 pm

The daily race card for the Epsom Derby Festival Derby Day 2026 is as follows:

Going: good (good to firm in places)

Time	Race	Distance	Conditions
1:30 pm	THE BETFRED TATTENHAM CORNER STAKES (CLASS 1) (Group 3) (Formerly The John Of Gaunt Stakes) (CL 1)	7f 3y	4YO+ £125,000.00
2:05 pm	THE PRINCESS ELIZABETH STAKES (CLASS 1) (Group 3) (CL 1)	1m 113y	3YO+ £125,000.00
2:40 pm	THE COOLMORE CORONATION CUP (CLASS 1) (Group 1) (CL 1)	1m 4f 6y	4YO+ £1,000,000.00
3:15 pm	THE BETFRED “DASH” HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 2) (Heritage Handicap) (CL 2)	5f	4YO+ £120,000.00
4:00 pm	THE BETFRED DERBY (CLASS 1) (Group 1) (CL 1)	1m 4f 6y	3YO £2,000,000.00
4:40 pm	THE LESTER PIGGOTT HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 2) (GBBPLUS RACE) (CL 2)	1m 2f 17y	3YO £75,000.00 Rating 0-100
5:20 pm	THE HKJC WORLD POOL NORTHERN DANCER HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 2) (GBBPLUS RACE) (CL 2)	1m 4f 6y	4YO+ £75,000.00 Rating 86-105
5:55 pm	THE JRA TOKYO TROPHY HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 2) (CL 2)	6f 3y	4YO+ £75,000.00 Rating 86-105

Headline Races at the Epsom Derby Festival 2026

The Epsom Derby Festival 2026 meeting includes 16 races evenly distributed over two days of the event. With two British Classics and a number of other notable races that offer a great variety of excellent runners, race conditions and requirements, this year the Epsom Downs Racecourse will give its visitors yet another unforgettable experience of a day at the races.

The Epsom Oaks (Friday, 5 June)

The Oaks Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race that accepts fillies aged three years. It is run over the distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 6 yards (2,420 metres).

The third of the five British Classics on the flat season calendar, it was established in 1779 and named after an estate leased to Edward Smith-Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby. The latter was also the mastermind behind this race. The race has inspired several variations across Europe, as well as Australia, New Zealand, and Japan.

Understandably, there are no horses who hold multiple winner titles in this race due to age limitation requirements. However, any jockey or trainer is free to enter the race as many times as they deem reasonable.

The most successful jockey of the Oaks Stakes is Frank Buckle with 9 wins (Nike 1797, Bellissima 1798, Bellina 1799, Scotia 1802, Theophania 1803, Meteora 1805, Neva 1817, Corinne 1818, Zinc 1823). Robert Robson takes the crown among trainers with 13 wins (Scotia 1802, Pelisse 1804, Meteora 1805, Briseis 1807, Morel 1808, Maid of Orleans 1809, Music 1813, Minuet 1815, Landscape 1816, Corinne 1818, Pastille 1822, Zinc 1823, Wings 1825).

The latest winner in 2025 was a bay filly Minnie Hauk, who turned 3 in April of the same year. Out of the five races she participated in that season, she came out as the winner in four, and finished second in one race (Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe). In debut season of 2024 she won one race and was the first runner up in one, while the 2026 season has already brought her her first win (Clem Murphy Memorial Irish European Breeders Fund Mooresbridge Stakes). Minnie Hauk was trained by Aidan O’Brien and led on the track by jockey Ryan Moore.

Currently, there are 12 runners announced to compete in this year’s race, but this number may change before the day of the race. Some of the jockeys for the race have already been announced, others are still awaiting confirmation.

The current full list of contenders, their jockeys and trainers runs as follows:

A La Prochaine (age 3, jockey James Doyle, trainer Ralph Beckett)
Amelia Earhart (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
Beautify (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
Cameo (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
K Sarra (age 3, jockey Rossa Ryan, trainer Ralph Beckett)
Legacy Link (age 3, jockey Colin Keane, trainer Josh & Thady Gosden)
On Message (age 3, jockey Hector Crouch, trainer Ralph Beckett)
Precise (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
Prizeland (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Andrew Balding)
Sugar Island (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
Thundering On (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Joseph O’Brien)
Venetian Lace (age 3, jockey William Buick, trainer Charlie Johnston)

The Epsom Derby (Saturday, 6 June)

The Derby Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race that accepts both colts and fillies aged three years. It is run over the distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 10 yards (2,423 metres).

The idea of this race was born after the first run of the Oaks Stakes. It was decided to name the race after the host of the party, 12th Earl of Derby, who brought the Oaks into existence. The inaugural run of the Derby Stakes took place in 1780. Today it is the most prestigious race among the Classics. It is also the middle leg of the Triple Crown, chronologically coming after the 2000 Guineas and before the St Leger in the season calendar.

Similarly to the Oaks, the rules of the Derby don’t allow for repeat participation of horses. However, the records hold the names of the jockeys and the trainers with the highest number of wins to their name.

Lester Piggott is considered the most successful jockey of the Derby Stakes with 9 wins (Never Say Die 1954, Crepello 1957, St. Paddy 1960, Sir Ivor 1968, Nijinsky 1970, Roberto 1972, Empery 1976, The Minstrel 1977, Teenoso 1983). The trainer who trained the most winners is Aidan O’Brien with 11 wins (Galileo 2001, High Chaparral 2002, Camelot 2012, Ruler of the World 2013, Australia 2014, Wings of Eagles 2017, Anthony Van Dyck 2019, Serpentine 2020, Auguste Rodin 2023, City Of Troy 2024, Lambourn 2025).

The latest winner in 2025 was a bay colt Lambourn, who turned 3 a couple of weeks before the race. He had two more wins the same season (Boodles Chester Vase Stakes in May and Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby in June). In his debut season of 2024 he won two out of three races he participated in. Lambourn was trained by Aidan O’Brien and led on the track by jockey Wayne Lordan.

Currently, there are 22 runners announced to compete in this year’s race, but this number may change before the day of the race. Some of the jockeys for the race have already been announced, others are still awaiting confirmation.

The current full list of contenders, their jockeys and trainers runs as follows:

Action (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
Alderman (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Richard Hannon)
Amadeus Mozart (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
Ancient Egypt (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Charlie Johnston)
A Taste of Glory (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Andrew Balding)
Balzac (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam)
Bay Of Brilliance (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Ralph Beckett)
Benvenuto Cellini (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
Causeway (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
Christmas Day (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
Constitution River (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
Endorsement (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
Hawk Mountain (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
Item (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Andrew Balding)
James J Braddock (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Joseph O’Brien)
Maltese Cross (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer William Haggas)
Pierre Bonnard (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
Poker (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Karl Burke)
Proposition (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
Rebel Rocker (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Faye Bramley)
Saxon Street (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Josh & Thady Gosden)
Shosholoza (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Joseph O’Brien)

Other Notable Races at Epsom Derby Festival 2026

Other than the two headline races, there are a number of notable races taking place at the Epsom Downs Racecourse between the 5 and 6 June. The following two are amongst the largest ones.

The Cygames Surrey Stakes (Friday, 5 June)

The Surrey Stakes is a Listed flat horse race that accepts both male and female horses aged three years. It is run over the distance of 7 furlongs and 3 yards (1,411 metres).

It is a modern race that was inaugurated in 1995, subsequently getting its current name and status in 1998.

The age restriction imposed on horses for this race only gives runners one chance to win it in their career. That’s why there are no records of repeat wins among runners. However, the race already has an impressive list of jockeys and trainers with multiple wins.

There are as many as eight jockeys who came to the finish line first in the Surrey Stakes more than once: Pat Eddery (Volontiers 1998, Jentzen 2001), Kieren Fallon (Nicobar 2000, Rimrod 2003), Frankie Dettori (Iguazu Falls 2008, Shakespearean 2010), Richard Hughes (Cybinka 1999, Producer 2012), Ryan Moore (Galeota 2005, Well Acquainted 2013), Jimmy Fortune (Racer Forever 2006, Smuggler’s Moon 2016), Silvestre de Sousa (Solomon’s Bay 2017, Lake Volta 2018), and Oisin Murphy (Evade 2024, Formal 2025), each with 2 wins.

Richard Hannon Sr. stands out among other trainers with 4 wins (Cybinka 1999, Jentzen 2001, Galeota 2005, Producer 2012).

The latest winner in 2025 was a bay filly Formal, who turned 3 in February of the same year. While this was her only win in 4 races she participated in in 2025, her debut season of 2024 brought her 2 victories out of 3 races (Pump Technology EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes and British EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes). Formal was trained by Andrew Balding and led on the track by jockey Oisin Murphy.

The current full list of contenders, their jockeys and trainers runs as follows:

Andab (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Joseph O’Brien)
Ardisia (age 3, jockey David Probert, trainer Hugo Palmer)
Greek Mythology (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Joseph O’Brien)
Northern Champion (age 3, jockey Kieran Shoemark, trainer Ed Walker)
Postmodern (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Hamad Al Jehani)
Stellar Sunrise (age 3, jockey Oisin Murphy, trainer Andrew Balding)
Ten Carat Harry (age 3, jockey Saffie Osborne, trainer Jamie Osborne)
Assaranca (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Richard Hannon)
Awaken (age 3, jockey Billy Loughnane, trainer George Boughey)
Ellusive Butterfly (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Karl Burke)
Green Sense (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Joseph O’Brien)
Serenetta (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Ralph Beckett)

The Coolmore Coronation Cup (Saturday, 6 June)

The Coronation Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race that accepts both male and female horses aged four years or older. It is run over the distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 6 yards (2,420 metres).

When the race was established in 1902, it got its name in honour of the coronation of King Edward VII who was crowned on 9 August 1902.

Only one horse has managed to win the Coronation Cup more times than any other winner since the inauguration of the race. That is St Nicholas Abbey with 3 wins (2011, 2012, 2013). Lester Piggott is the most successful jockey of the race with 9 wins (Zucchero 1953, Nagami 1959, Petite Etoile 1960, 1961, Park Top 1969, Roberto 1973, Quiet Fling 1976, Sea Chimes 1980, Be My Native 1983). The title of the most prolific trainer with the largest number of winning charges belongs to Aidan O’Brien with 10 wins (Yeats 2005, Scorpion 2007, Soldier of Fortune 2008, Fame and Glory 2010, St Nicholas Abbey 2011, 2012, 2013, Highland Reel 2017, Luxembourg 2024, Jan Brueghel 2025).

The latest winner in 2025 was a bay horse Jan Brueghel who was four at the time. This was his only win of the season where he participated in three races. His debut season of 2024, however, brought some stellar outcomes, with him winning all four races he ran in. Jan Brueghel was trained by Aidan O’Brien and led on the track by jockey Ryan Moore. He has already been announced to participate in this season’s race.

Currently, there are 18 runners announced to compete in this year’s race, but this number may change before the day of the race. Some of the jockeys for the race have already been announced, others are still awaiting confirmation.

The current full list of contenders, their jockeys and trainers runs as follows:

Amiloc (age 4, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Ralph Beckett)
Arabian Force (age 4, jockey unconfirmed, trainer William J Haggas)
Bay City Roller (age 4, jockey unconfirmed, trainer George Scott)
Calandagan (age 5, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Francis Henri Graffard)
Convergent (age 4, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Karl Burke)
Daryz (age 4, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Francis Henri Graffard)
Eydon (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Andrew Balding)
Goliath (age 6, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Francis Henri Graffard)
Illinois (age 5, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
Jan Brueghel (age 5, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
Lambourn (age 4, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
Lazy Griff (age 4, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Charlie Johnston)
Map Of Stars (age 5, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Francis Henri Graffard)
Pride Of Arras (age 4, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Ralph Beckett)
Sunway (age 5, jockey unconfirmed, trainer David Menuisier)
Minnie Hauk (age 4, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
See The Fire (age 5, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Andrew Balding)

Betting at Epsom Derby Festival 2026

The Epsom Derby Festival appears on the radar of both horse racing bettors and bookmakers way before it is due to take place. Every major bookmaking platform that includes horse racing betting offers odds on all the races of the event.

As most British racecourses, the Epsom Downs sets up specialised betting facilities on its grounds for the fixture so that the visitors could place a wager on their favourite horse right at the venue. Those who will follow the outcomes from home will have an opportunity to bet on one of the online booking platforms.

Whether you bet online or at the tracks, always remember to gamble responsibly. This includes not making random bets. While there are no foolproof guarantees in horse racing, an informed decision gives you a better chance and structures your game. For this, analyse the declared runners, evaluate their physical form and recent performance, find out which jockeys they will be running with, what trends are dominating the market, and which bookmaking platform offers the best odds on the betting market you are interested in.

At 7bet, we offer a wide range of horse race betting markets both for domestic and international events.

Please note that odds for the Epsom Derby Festival 2026 will be available closer to the event date.

Betting at the Epsom Derby Festival 2026 includes various horse betting markets, with some of the most popular ones being:

Win: If you have ever placed a bet on any straight win market, you know how this betting market works. But even if you are new to sports betting, the simple mechanism of this bet won’t take a lot of time or effort to understand. In fact, this bet is often recommended to newbies while they are getting used to the ways odds and horse racing in general work. Here your task as a punter is to predict the correct outcome of the race. For this, you place a wager on a horse that you see as the most likely to win the race. If your prediction is correct, your wager will be eligible for a payout proportional to the offered odds and your stake size.
Place: This betting market follows a similar mechanism but has a different objective. When you place a wager on a horse under this bet, you are claiming that it will finish the race within the winning top, but not necessarily in first place. The winning top typically ranges between two and four places, depending on how many runners participate in the race and the type of the race. This information is always announced in advance. This betting market offers lower risks because not only the horse gets more chances to be placed than to win the race, but also you don’t need to predict the exact place it will take in the winning top. To balance that factor out, bookmakers offer lower odds on this bet, however it can be a good opportunity if you prefer to have more control over your risks or if there are several equally strong contenders running in the race.
First Two (or First Three): Unlike the two previous markets, this one takes a different approach. Instead of betting on one horse, your stake covers two (or three) horses. At this, you bet that one of them will come to the finish line first and win the race, the other will take second place, and if you included a third horse in your bet, it will finish the race third. Now for your wager to be eligible for a payout, all the horses from your bet have to come to the finish line in the exact order you specified for them. If they finish the race in a different order or one of them takes a lower position, your wager will be lost. Since now your wager depends on the performance of more than one horse, your risks also increase.
Two From Three: This betting market follows a similar concept but offers slightly lower risks. When you place a wager on two horses for this market, you bet that they both will finish the race within the top three. That said, you don’t need to predict their exact placement, as any place for both of them will work in your favour as long as they make it into the winning three. However, you will lose your wager if one of them falls behind and misses the top three completely.

Always remember to gamble responsibly and treat betting as a form of entertainment and not means for financial gain.

Betting is only available to participants above 18 years. Please bet responsibly. BeGambleAware.org