Epsom chief vows to solve crowd crisis as he insists Derby is not a lost cause despite huge drop in attendance

Daily Mail​

09-06-2025

The boss of Epsom racecourse has vowed to bring back the crowds, as he insisted the Derby is not a lost cause.
A crowd of 22,312 watched Aidan O'Brien-trained Lambourn runaway with the Betfred Derby on Saturday, a 17 per cent drop from 26,838 in 2024.
The attendance for Friday's Oaks was down year-on-year, too, with 15,133 turning up to see Minnie Hauk compared to 18,036 12 months ago.
Compare that to Royal Ascot, which starts next Tuesday: last year, the course had an aggregate attendance in excess of 270,000 but Mail Sport understands the total expected this year is close to 300,000 — sales are up in every enclosure for all five days.
But Epsom's general manager Jim Allen is determined to make changes.
At the top of his list is ensuring children under 16 receive free entry — last weekend, the cheapest ticket enabling those aged between five and 17 to see the paddock was £50.
'Epsom is free for all fixtures for under 18s outside the Derby but that is something I will look at for next year,' Allen said.
'But this event isn't a lost cause. It felt like a fantastic occasion and we had a fantastic race with a great Derby winner but I understand why there is a focus on the crowd figure. We are examining all aspects and will learn from it. We want to bring people back.'
Peter Easterby, one of the all-time great trainers, has died aged 95. He trained 2,513 winners in a 46-year career, including five Champion Hurdles — with two apiece for Night Nurse and Sea Pigeon — and two Cheltenham Gold Cups.
He is the only man to train 1,000 winners on the Flat and over jumps.