Epsom Racecourse Guide

Epsom is one of the most popular racecourses in the UK and is host to The Derby each June. It has hosted races for over 350 years and has always had a connection with the royal family. To help you out ahead of a visit to Epsom, Bet UK have put together a complete Epsom Racecourse Guide. For Epsom betting, you can get the latest horse racing betting odds for all races at Bet UK’s online betting.

Where is Epsom Racecourse?

Epsom racecourse is about an hours drive south of London city centre and is relatively easy to get to from around the country. Epsom is actually set in a public area, meaning people can watch the Derby and other big races for free. It’s estimated that between actual racegoers and those watching from Epsom downs, 130,000 people can watch The Derby.

How To Get To Epsom Racecourse?

Driving To Epsom Racecourse

For those of you living in London, Epsom racecourse is relatively easy to get to. Simply head south from London City Centre on the A3. Exit the A3 at Tolworth Rise South, taking the 2nd exit at the roundabout onto the A240. After a short distance, turn left on Ruxley Lane and then right onto the B284. Follow that road until you reach Epsom, where you will see signposts directing you to the racecourse.

If you’re travelling from outside of London, make your way onto the M25 heading towards the South East. From the M25, turn off at junction 9 and take the second exit onto the A243. After 2 miles, turn right onto Rushett Lane, which will take you into the heart of Epsom. Again, as you approach the racecourse, there will be signposts directing you to the correct car parking area.

Car Parking At Epsom Racecourse

Car parking is freely available at Epsom racecourse on all race days. If you do want to park at the racecourse, then it’s advised to arrive sooner rather than later to ensure you get a space. If you manage to get there in time, it will cost you £5 for the days parking.

If you don’t manage to get parked at Epsom racecourse, then there are other alternatives around the town. Several car parks in the town center offer full day parking for similar prices to the racecourse. From there, there are plenty of buses and taxis available to take you to the races.

Getting The Train To Epsom Racecourse

There is a train station in Epsom town center, although it’s not easily accessible from across the country. If your local station services South Western Rail or Southern rail, then you can travel direct to Epsom, but otherwise, you’ll need to head to a London station first. Once you get to the train station, it’s about a 30 minute walk to the racecourse. However, there is also a taxi rank at the station and expect plenty of taxis on busy race days. There are also a couple of buses, the 460 and 480, that go direct from the station to the racecourse.

What is the course like at Epsom?

Epsom is one of the shorter courses in the country with a max length of just over 1m 4f. At any length longer than 5f, it’s a sharp left hand U turn before the horses reach the final straight. When the horses do reach the final straight, the race picks up as the ground suddenly goes downhill. With the downhill course, the 5f becomes one of the fastest in racing and can often be decided right at the start. Unlike a lot of racecourses, the ground is often better on the home straight on the near side rail. So if you are heading down to Epsom, get yourself down to the final post and you could be right in the action.

Racing Meetings at Epsom Racecourse

The Derby meeting is the highlight of the season at Epsom. In recent years, the meeting has been reduced to just 2 days, but there are still plenty of Group 1 races. Alongside The Derby, the Coronation Cup, Diomed Stakes, Woodcote Stakes and the ‘Dash’ are all races to keep an eye on. Other popular meetings include a late April meeting with a couple of handicaps, and an August bank holiday meeting that is always packed.

If you are betting on horse-racing, please gamble responsibly and remember that when the fun stops, stop. All players must be 18+.