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Derby Day

Derby Day can be traced all the way back to 1661 and the town of Epsom. The town had acquired a certain amount of renown for its mineral water earlier that century, and a large portion of Londoners flocked here to rest and relax. The first race known to history was in 1661, setting a tradition that would be maintained until 1779, when it was officially established as an event. That year, the Earl of Derby organized a race for his friends, and the group watched their award-winning horses compete. The length of the racetrack was one-and-a-half miles. The event enjoyed a tremendous amount of success, and was entitled 'Derby' after the earl, but he had decided on this name only after flipping a coin with a friend. The course was reduced to one mile thereafter, but was later restored to its original length, and Tattenham Corner was added to the track in the late 18th Century.

Today, Derby Day is a popular international event. The tempo and amount of the bids rival that at any Vegas casino. If you're thinking about attending, you might be able to use some helpful information about the ways and means of betting.

A bit of general information first: there is a dress code, and different ones apply in different areas of Epsom Downs. You need to select the section of your choice. Then it's time to buy tickets, which, if you have failed to order ahead of time, must be purchased from authorized dealers on location. The official tickets come with helpful information about the best places to eat and drink, how to bet, information about entertainment venues and events on the Derby, and even maps of the terrain. Lists of the racehorses and jockeys are also provided.

The horses are paraded before the spectators before the race begins, giving you a chance to note down some important factors, crucial for successful wagering. Of course, you must also acquaint yourself with some other details in advance. These include, but are not limited to the trainer, rider, class, course, speed, pace and pedigree, and ancestry of each horse.

The owner and the trainer are rarely the same person. Owners have a financial interest, and that is all. The trainers are the individuals with the most influence - they take responsibility for developing the horse and preparing it for the race. Riders of slight build are the most appropriate for a successful race. Class means the quality of the race, and classes range from Grade 1 to 3, with 1 being the highest. Most famous races are graded, and a horse that usually runs in a graded race and is suddenly entered into a non-graded one is sure to perform well. Pace is an individual matter for each horse; some prefer a steady pace, others give a poor start and a strong finish, and still others make a great effort in the beginning, only to start lagging behind towards the middle of the race.

There are four types of bets - win, place, show, and across the board. Win is self-explanatory: you win when your horse comes in first. Place means that you can win even if it comes in second, and if you bet it to show, it can come in third and you'll still win something. Finally, across the board is the most complicated one, combining all three possibilities. If the horse comes in first, the player makes a triple profit; double for second place and a one-way win for third place, respectively. There's no better way to test your newly acquired skills than by going to Derby Day!