The Epsom Derby is one of the biggest horse races worldwide, let alone just in the UK. It’s one of the oldest flat races to be in existence, having first been run in 1780.
It’s an annual event that attracts a global audience. The short race features the biggest and best eligible horses.
2024 Epsom Derby: All You Need To Know
The Epsom Derby is held at the Epsom Downs Racecourse, which is located in Surrey. The race course is left-handed and consists of a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs, and 6 yards (2,419m). It is traditionally held on the first Saturday of June, and will once again be held on that occasion, with the meet scheduled to take place on June 1. The race itself will take place at 16:30 GMT.
It’s a flat race that will see three-year-old colts and fillies compete in a Grade 1 meet. As a result, it’s perhaps no surprise that it is the richest flat race in Britain and is considered the biggest of the Classics that take place. The prize pot for the 2022 meeting was over £1.6 million, with 1st place taking more than £900,000 of that share.
A winning time has been around the 2-and-a-half minute mark, thus making it a quick race. Indeed, there are a few horses invovled in the 2024 meet that look set to give that time a real go, with one of them leading the pack as the early betting favorite.
City of Troy the big favorite
A quick look at the history of the Epsom Derby will perhaps help bettors to understand why City of Troy is the big favorite heading into this year’s race. Trained by Aiden O’Brien, he is the trainer with the most victories at nine. The odds suggest he will be in line to obtain a 10th with this horse.
With betting on horses a huge pastime for people watching horse racing events as big as the Epsom Derby, the price of 5/4 will be very attractive to those that like to back the favorite in a contest like this. Of course, with a wealth of horses to compete, there is some value in others. Arabian Crown is 6/1, whereas Henry Longfellow is 7/1. Ancient Wisdom is 10/1, with every other horse at longer odds.
In addition to being trained by Aiden O’Brien, City of Troy is also owned by the individuals who have the most winners in Epsom Derby history. Sue Magnierand Michael Tabor have 10 victories, with Auguste Rodin being the 2023 winner of the race.
City of Troy’s form heading into the 2024 Epsom Derby
Bettors and enthusiasts will be looking at their form cards when trying to find a horse to back for the 2024 Epsom Derby, and this is a reason why City of Troy is ranking as the big pre-race favorite.
The three-year-old American horse is in good form, despite having only raced in a handful of races in his short career. He has only been involved in three races thus far, but he has won each of them convincingly.
● 1 July 2023 – Curragh – finished 1st out of 13 by 2.5 lengths over 7 furlongs
● 15 July 2023 – Newmarket – finished 1st of 9 by 6.5 lengths over the same distance
● 14 October 2023 – Newmarket – finished 1st of 8 by 3.5 lengths over 7 furlongs.
His inclusion at the 2024 Epsom Derby will be the first race he has had for over six months. It will also be the first time he has raced in a meet that is over 1 mile long. This could be something that can provide people with caution, but it seems City of Troy is ready for the step up in distance.
He will be ridden by jockey Ryan Moore, who was on board Auguste Rodin last year. Moore has won the race on two other occasions in his career, having won it first in 2010 on Workforce for Sir Michael Stoute and in 2013 on Ruler of the World for Aidan O’Brien and owners Sue Magnier and Michael Tabor.
Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.