2023 Epsom Derby: Race rescheduled

The 2023 Epsom Derby has been moved to earlier in the day after the kick off for the FA Cup Final was rescheduled

The 2023 renewal of the Epsom Derby has had to be rescheduled as a result of the FA Cup Final, which is now set to kick off at the earlier and more traditional time of 3pm. As a result of this, the start of this year’s Epsom Derby race will now be 13:30, in order to give the opportunity to take in both for fans of both football and horse racing.

Saturday 3^rd June will remain the date that the Epsom Derby will take place. The race was originally going to get underway at 16:30, but it will now take place 3 hours earlier to avoid clashing with the first ever Manchester Derby FA Cup Final at Wembley that same day.

On the race being rescheduled, James Crespi, the General Manager of Epsom Downs Racecourse said (via Sky Sports):

“This year, the first Saturday in June will play host to two derbies and two of Britain’s great sporting events. In order to give fans of both horse racing and football the opportunity to enjoy the Betfred Derby and the FA Cup final and to maximise the publicity and exposure of these two iconic sporting occasions.”

The Epsom Downs Racecourse will play host to the Epsom Derby race once more in 2023. The race itself as been run every year since it was inaugurated in 1780 – the only exceptions was between 1915 and 1918 for World War One and 1942 to 1945 for World War Two.

Diomed, owned by Sir Charles Bunbury, was the first ever winner of the Epsom Derby over 240 years ago.

Many jockeys have become legends over the years, with many of them winning the prestigious Derby. The legendary Lester Pigott is the most successful jockey in the race’s history with 9 wins to his name, with his first victory coming with Never Say Die in 1954. His further 8 victories in the Derby came with Crepello (1957), St. Paddy (1960), Sir Ivor (1968), Nijinsky (1970), Roberto (1972), Empery (1976), The Minstrel (1977) and Teenoso in 1983.

Aidan O’Brien has the honour of holding the record as the most successful trainer in this event, with his horses winning a total of 8 times overall. His first win came with Galileo in 2001, before his further 7 victories came with High Chaparral (2002), Pour Moi (2011), Camelot (2012), Ruler Of The World (2013), Australia (2014), Wings Of Eagles (2017), Anthony Van Dyck (2019) and Serpentine (2020).

Favourites to win the Epsom Derby have been emerging over recent days and weeks, and one of O’Brien’s horses is the favourite. The horse in question is Auguste Rodin, and for good reason too. Victory came in the Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes at Doncaster Racecourse back in October 2022 ahead of Epictetus and Holloway Boy in 2^nd and 3^rd respectively.

This was came after a win in the KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes in September of that year, winning ahead of the likes of Caroline Street and Alder.

The 2023 Epsom Derby is rapidly approaching, and anticipation will only grow in the coming weeks with this year’s winner set to be decided.

Be sure to revisit our website for updates ahead of the Derby at Epsom, we will keep you up to date with news of the runners and riders as we approach the big day. If you are looking to attend the Derby, there is no better way to enjoy all of the action at the 2023 Epsom Derby in some style with one of our VIP Hospitality Packages. Make your experience even more memorable with Eventmasters.