Epsom Derby set for mega crowd as fans flock to The Hill Sport Business The attendance at this weekend’s Epsom Derby will be nearly double last year’s haul as brighter weather and entertainment evolution draws back crowds. Attendances at the staple flat race have not been above 30,000 since 2022 and haven’t topped 40,000 since 2017 but the Jockey Club is expecting to surpass that number this weekend as [...]
Report calls for overhaul of horse racing betting industry Sport Business A new report has called for an overhaul of the horse racing betting industry as the sport looks to capture a new audience. The Spotlight Sports Group report, The Horse Racing Audience Opportunity, says that “the sport should concentrate on intuitive betting formats that are easy to understand and move away from offering solely those [...]
Episode 89: Epsom Derby Festival preview with George Waud on Maltese Cross Sport Tom Marriott and Bill Esdaile are back to preview the Epsom Derby Festival, featuring the Oaks and the Derby, with selections and analysis across the two days of action. Tom caught up with George Waud, owner of Maltese Cross, who looks forward to his run in the Derby and Wally Pyrah returns to preview Wednesday’s [...]
Bonnard to finish with a flourish in the Derby June 2, 2026 AIDAN O’Brien’s grip on the world’s most famous Flat race, the Betfred Derby (4.00pm), shows no signs of loosening. The Master of Ballydoyle has won the last three renewals of the Classic with Auguste Rodin, City Of Troy and Lambourn and has 11 Derby wins in total, more than any other trainer. This year, O’Brien [...]
Sweet on Sugar to cause huge 50/1 upset in the Oaks June 2, 2026 CONDITIONS will play a major role on Oaks Day, and with a significant amount of rain forecast it looks the time to back those who will act on softer going. I’m taking a massive swing in the Betfred Oaks (4.00pm) given the likelihood of testing conditions, and that’s with SUGAR ISLAND for the Ballydoyle and [...]
Silvery can Breeze to success at the Valley June 2, 2026 RACING in Hong Kong returns to Happy Valley on Wednesday, with a nine-race programme featuring the valuable nine-furlong Class Two Tai Tam Gap Handicap (3.15pm). A field of 11 line up that have already won 26 races between them at the track. With that including 11 over this distance, there’s sure to be plenty of [...]
Good Vibes for Newnham’s bid for a first Championship June 2, 2026 WITH only six weeks of the season remaining, the race for the trainers’ championship title is starting to hot up after the results at Sha Tin last Sunday. A double for the Caspar Fownes yard has given the former four-time champion trainer a two-win buffer over his rivals, and with the stable continuing to churn [...]
Training Maestro Size set for profitable Sunday at Sha Tin May 29, 2026 13-TIME champion trainer John Size could be the man to follow when racing gets underway with an 11-race programme, including a couple of Group Three contests at Sha Tin in Hong Kong on Sunday. Size seems to have dropped off the radar with regards winning the trainers’ title race and currently lies 10 winners behind [...]
Trust in Patch to deliver the goods at Sha Tin May 29, 2026 WITH the form book suggesting there is little to choose between the majority of the 10 contenders lining-up for the six-furlong Group Three Sha Tin Vase Handicap (10.10am), racing fans can expect a nail-biting finish. Top-weight Raging Blizzard has raced with distinction on the last six occasions behind the fastest horse on the planet Ka [...]
Episode 88: Brigadier Gerard Evening, Charlie Johnston interview and a look at the Epsom Classics May 27, 2026 Tom Marriott and Bill Esdaile are back to preview the Star Sports Brigadier Gerard Evening at Sandown on Thursday with analysis and selections across the card, Tom catches up with Charlie Johnston about potential runner Lazy Griff, his classic contenders Venetian Lace and Ancient Egypt and his intended weekend runners before Bill and Tom take [...]