The course has a crowd capacity of 130,000 including people watching from the Epsom Downs, an area freely open to the public.

[6] Henry Dorling, step-father to cookery writer Mrs Beeton, was a Clerk of the Course at Epsom, appointed in 1840.

[7] In 1913 the suffragette Emily Davison threw herself in front of King George V's horse Anmer, bringing him down.

It presents a stern challenge for inexperienced horses and a true test of stamina for those that might previously have contested the 2,000 Guineas Stakes over a mile (1600 m).

Unusually, the racecourse is not a circuit but is roughly U-shaped with chutes for the start of sprint races over five, six and seven furlongs.

The Derby course features an ascent to the top of the hill followed by a wide, sweeping left turn (Tattenham Corner) as the horses descend towards the straight.

[14] Racehorse trainers based in the local area include Simon Dow and Laura Mongan.