Monday 5th May
The Betfred Derby will become a 72-hour declaration race in 2025 for the first time in its 245-year history, The Jockey Club has announced today.
In an historic move, the world’s most famous Flat race - which was first staged in 1780 and is one of the five Betfred British Classics - is the first Group One race staged in Britain to introduce 72-hour declarations.
It is hoped that bringing forward the deadline to confirm horses and jockeys by an extra 24 hours will prove beneficial in building a sense of anticipation and excitement both domestically and globally for the prestigious £1.5 million contest, which is staged at Epsom Downs and was broadcast by a record 36 broadcasters across 160 territories worldwide in 2024.
The change is the latest in a long line of firsts at Epsom Downs Racecourse, including:
- Staging the first recorded horse race in the UK on March 7th 1661 in the presence of King Charles II.
- The Derby became the first horse race to be filmed in 1896 and was shown in cinemas after the event.
- Then in 1931, the Derby became the first televised horse race and first remote outside television broadcast in the world.
- The Grand Metropolitan at Epsom Downs was the first horse race to use a Photo-Finish, on April 22nd
The 246th running of the Betfred Derby is due to take place this year on Saturday 7th June. With 72-hour declarations now in place, this means the final field for the Betfred Derby in 2025 will be known shortly after 10am on Wednesday 4th June, with all decisions on jockey bookings confirmed by 1pm on the same date.
Jim Allen, General Manager of Epsom Downs Racecourse, said: “This racecourse has been at the forefront of positive change and new initiatives in British horseracing for generations, with The Derby becoming the first race to be filmed back in 1896 and then the first sporting event to be broadcast in 1931.
“We’re delighted to be able to introduce 72 hour declarations for this year’s Betfred Derby, demonstrating that we are always looking for new ways to innovate and ensure that our sport’s most iconic Flat race continues to stand out from the rest.
“Having consulted with a range of stakeholders on this issue we are confident that this change will not only help build anticipation for the world’s most famous Flat race earlier in the week but also provide more certainty around the runners and riders on the day, driving more interest and engagement in advance of the start of the Betfred Derby Festival.
“We are hugely grateful to the British Horseracing Authority for their co-operation and help in order to make this change happen at relatively short notice, and to all those participants who have supported us in making this move.”
Coinciding with the introduction of 72-hour declarations, there will also be a significantly enhanced draw ceremony for the Betfred Derby this year, with Epsom Downs Racecourse and the British Horseracing Authority using the balls and other equipment deployed for football’s world famous FA Cup draws.
The ceremony will take place at around 11am on Wednesday 4th June at Epsom’s Picturehouse, a beautifully redeveloped cinema in the centre of the town, and with dignitaries from the horseracing industry and local community in attendance.
Allen continued: “Changing the stalls draw for the Betfred Derby from the randomly generated process used for nearly every other Flat race in the UK to a ceremony with balls picked out live on Racing TV has definitely helped increase the sense of excitement and anticipation in recent years.
“As part of the review into all aspects of last year’s Betfred Derby Festival, we felt that it was important that the draw is staged in the local community again and have been looking at ways to make the ceremony itself more sophisticated and give it a sense of occasion.
“Epsom’s Picturehouse is the perfect venue and we’re grateful to the FA for allowing us to use their iconic draw equipment.”
The other seven races staged on Betfred Derby Day and all those taking place on Ladies Day will retain their 48-hour declaration deadline.
The 2025 Betfred Derby – Entry Stages
Entries – Tuesday 25th February
Second Entry Stage – Tuesday 23rd April
First scratchings stage – Tuesday 6th May
Second scratchings stage – Tuesday 20th May
Five-day confirmation & supplementary entry stage – Monday 2nd June
