Anyone with a modicum of interest in the Derby should visit the Downs early on Oaks day morning, the feeling of anticipation is astonishing. Take a walk passed the gypsy site and down to the Derby start, walk alongside (please not on) the course to experience the climb in the first three furlongs. If you can’t manage the whole course (highly recommended) stop at the six furlong marker and have hot drink and a chat with the guys setting up shop, market stalls selling all kinds of paraphernalia from curtains to clocks, from pictures to peanuts are abound. The Derby is as much about them as anything else and they’ll love talking about Derbies past as will the purveyors of fine hot food found throughout the Hill and surrounding areas. After refreshment walk the final 4 furlongs, just to get a handle on the down slope and the camber (take a look how far uphill the stands rail is) and uphill for the final 100 yards to the winning post described by Frederico Tesio, Breeder of the greats Ribot and Nearco as follows, ‘the thoroughbred exists because its selection has depended not on experts, technicians or zoologists, but one piece of wood; the winning post of the Epsom Derby.Alternatively I implore you to take a walk along Chalk lane, home of the
Durdans (once home to Prime Minister Lord Rosebury and burial place of Derby winners Ladas 1894, Sir Visto 1895 and Cicero 1905), The Amato public house, named after the Derby winner in 1838, which serves a delicious Derby Day breakfast, where the gypsies are still believed to write the name of the Derby winner on the well outside the pub, on the morning of the race (or a few days before) and the delightful Chalk Lane Hotel, home to sumptuous food and a warm Derby festival welcome. Whilst ambling along, take the time to drink in the atmosphere, where for hundreds of years thoroughbred horses were bred, born, reared and trained. See the rich pastures where Derby winners grazed, replaced now by Shetlands, ponies and horses basking in the former glories of their predecessors. At the top of the road, look to the right and you see the racecourse stables, look to the left and see the sight that year after year takes your breath away. The great stunning leviathan of a cruise liner that is the Queens stand, nestling on the lush rolling downs now accompanied by its sparkling younger sister, the Duchess stand. This place screams history, Derby history, The greatest sporting event in the world (in my humble opinion. Oh, and Tesio’s) there’s absolutely nothing like it.
