The first thing that hits you about this year’s Epsom Derby is the number — just over 22,000 punters in the grandstands. A 17% drop from 2024’s numbers.
Let that sink in.
The fabled race that once filled the Downs with tens of thousands more voices barely managed to pull in a crowd you’d expect at your local funfair on a weekday. Something has gone seriously askew.
Back in 2001, the Derby pulled in over 100,000 people. That’s a 60% drop in two decades. So this isn’t a one-off blip — this is a proper, sustained nosedive. For punters like me, who’ve spent years lacing up the walking boots, grabbing the form and packing a flask, watching this decline is more than alarming—it’s a kick in the teeth.
So, what’s going on?
(Main image credit: rogersg Flickr)
You Can Watch It All from Home
Let’s start with the obvious. These days you don’t need to be there in person to soak up the action. The coverage is slicker than ever. Sky Sports Racing, ITV, and punting platforms are pumping every second of the race straight to your telly or phone. Not only that, but streaming services overlay odds, replays, and commentary seamlessly. Why bother paying for a ticket and standing in a muddy queue when you can enjoy it from your couch with a decent pint and no rush for the loo at half-time?
That ease of access has changed how we choose to spend our hard-earned cash. For the price of a day ticket—plus travel, food, parking—you can stay home, watch the whole meeting, and still slap a few quid down on the Derby or the supporting card. The sense of occasion has been diluted by convenience. Yes, there’s something special about the place and the ceremony, but for many, it’s not going to outweigh the hassle and cost.
Racing’s Missing Generation – Where are the Young People?
Another big part of the problem is the lack of new blood coming in. You walk through the stands and it’s mostly the same faces — older blokes, long-time racegoers, people who’ve been coming for years out of habit. That’s not a dig — I’m one of them — but it’s not sustainable.
The younger generation isn’t turning up. Whether it’s the cost, the lack of atmosphere, or just that racing doesn’t seem to speak to them anymore, they’re not being pulled in. And if you don’t bring in new punters in their twenties and thirties, you end up with a shrinking crowd year on year — just like we’re seeing now. It’s not a mystery, it’s maths.
Events like Cheltenham and Royal Ascot still do decent numbers because they’ve become occasions — part racing, part social scene. But Epsom hasn’t kept up. The food’s average, the bars are overcrowded, and the entertainment off the track is practically non-existent. You’re asking people to travel, pay a premium and dress up — and in return they get what, exactly?
The Price Tag is Still Ridiculous
Another thing: have you checked the ticket prices lately? They’ve crept up to a point where it barely feels worth it. Kids and pensioners may get a discount, but the family outlay for food, programs, and “must-have” souvenirs soon spirals out of control. Factor in travel costs—especially if you’re remote from Surrey—and you’re looking at a three-figure day for a family of four, with nothing more to show for it than muddy trainers and a damp tent.
Compare that with spending a tenner on the telly, getting drinks in from the supermarket, and still nabbing a few bets without the surroundings feeling like a chore.
Excuses Are Thin When the Money Isn’t Right
Once upon a time, people made a big weekend of it—train, station crowds, even dressing up. But those days feel gone. Horse racing used to be “our sport”, shared by generations. Now it’s snatching at the coattails of glossier events and coming up short. Even worse, the insiders are still charging the same as if the race filled the stands.
And here’s something that galls me as a punter: they’re banking on international visitors and hospitality packages to plug the numbers. Fine, let them pay top dollar for a Pimm’s and canapé package, but homegrown punters—the ones who’ve been coming for decades—get left out. Feels like they’ve been priced out in favour of corporate lunch deals, which, frankly, is rubbish.
If Epsom Wants to Survive, It’ll Need to Shake Things Up
So what needs to change? Well, for starters, make it worth turning up. That means better facilities—clean loos, better catering. Outdoor bars with music. Affordable family zones that don’t feel like a kids club. If they want to court younger demographics, show them something memorable, not stale tradition.
Bring in some live screens of other sports to fill gaps between races. Add festival-style entertainment. And yes, adjust the pricing. Give us a decent ticket without breaking the bank, and include some proper viewing zones—think big screens, terracing so you can see the action without paying a fortune.
Of course they’ve got pours of corporate money, but the heart of racing needs to beat in the stands, not just in the boardroom. If that feels too hippie-dippy or not “posh” enough, then fine—but don’t be surprised when more spaces are empty each year.
The Bottom Line
I’ve been a Derby day man long enough to dream about the buzz. But this year, as I trudged back to the car with my boots full of mud and my wallet lighter than my spirits, it just didn’t feel worth it. I can watch the races as well from home, with comfort, good odds and no standing in queues.
That’s the shame of it. Epsom used to be a pilgrimage. Now, for too many, it’s just another day out—and days out are a dime a dozen these days. The sport needs to wake up quick if it wants to recapture the spirit of the Derby.
