Derby prize-money boosted to £2 million and Coronation Cup returns to Saturday slot in bid to reinvigorate Epsom’s big day

Next year’s Derby will be worth £2 million as part of a £6m investment by the Jockey Club to reinvigorate Epsom and Britain’s premier Classic, with the aim of attracting a crowd of 100,000 for the festival by 2030.

As well as boosting prize-money for the Betfred-backed Derby by £500,000 and extending pay-outs down to tenth place, Epsom has also moved the Coronation Cup back to the Saturday of the fixture, when it will be worth £1m (up from £450,000) and sponsored by Coolmore.

• The Derby's declining attendances: just how far have crowds dropped at Epsom this century?  

There will also be free entry for under 18s, free parking, temporary stands on the inside of the track and the creation of a new area on the Hill to be called DerbyFest.

This year’s Derby drew a crowd of just 22,312, down 4,000 from last year, with attendances across the two-day meeting 7,500 lower than in 2024. The race programme on Derby day, containing two Group 3s and five handicaps alongside the Classic, also drew criticism.

Jim Allen, Epsom’s general manager, responded by vowing changes would be made for future Derbys and that the racecourse had to “make ourselves more appealing”.

The multi-million pound investment by the Jockey Club is being used not only to increase prize-money purses but to provide a wider range of facilities and enclosures for racegoers and to deliver a more 'premium' atmosphere for what is one of British racing’s most significant fixtures.

Unveiling the changes, Allen said: “My own passion for the Derby and Epsom goes back many years to my own childhood, and while I was extraordinarily proud to have overseen my first Derby as general manager earlier this year, I couldn’t wait to address some of the things that the team and I knew could be improved.

Jan Brueghel beats Calandagan in the Coronation Cup, now switched back to Derby dayCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

“The changes we are making, both on and off the track, would not have been possible without crucial input from racegoers, annual members, the local community, a number of stakeholders from right across the sport and our sponsors Betfred and other partners, all of which have helped shape this painstaking review process.

“It is so important for us to be continually evolving and improving to give everyone the best possible experience across the two days. Ultimately, we want to deliver something that Epsom and the surrounding area, along with everyone connected with British racing, can feel truly proud of, and one which is befitting of the Betfred Derby festival’s status as a world-class and prestigious event.”

Key changes for the 2026 Derby festival

• Betfred Derby purse increased to £2 million (from £1.5m) with prize-money extended to the first ten horses home (from the first six)
• Coronation Cup prize-money boosted to £1 million (from £450,000), moved to Saturday and sponsored for the first time by Coolmore
• 72-hour declarations for the Derby made permanent
• Introduction of a new 7f Group 3 on Saturday with 3YO Dash moved to Friday
• Free general admission entry for all under 18s and free parking across the site
• Creation of three new areas for racegoers, one of which will feature bleacher-style seating on the inside of the course in the final furlong
• Creation of DerbyFest fan zone on the Hill featuring music and live entertainment

Enhanced marketing for the Derby, in Epsom and London, is expected as part of the plans for next year’s meeting, with an initial target to draw a crowd of 20,000 on the Friday, when the Oaks is run, and 40,000 on the Saturday.

Derby day will feature the Coronation Cup, Dash and Derby run back-to-back, while the 3YO Dash has been moved to the first race on the opening day. In addition, the Group 3 seven-furlong John Of Gaunt Stakes has been moved to Epsom from Haydock and will be run on Derby day, renamed as the Tattenham Corner Stakes.

Three new areas are being created for racegoers, one of which will feature bleacher-style seating on the inside of the course between the furlong marker and the line, which Epsom hopes will provide an elevated view of the closing stages of the race.

The seating will not impact the iconic double decker-buses that line the inner rail, with these set to be placed between Tattenham Corner and where the seating starts at the furlong pole.

Racegoers make their way onto the Hill at Epsom Credit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Efforts are also being made to reverse the declining attendance on the Hill, an area in the centre of the racecourse that is free to attend, a message the racecourse intends to promote more forcibly.

The enclosure will have a new feature dubbed DerbyFest, which is being created in partnership with boxing promoter Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions, with the aim of putting on “the best fan zone the sport has ever seen”, according to Allen, with live music and entertainment.

Allen said: “This project started the morning after Derby day for many of us and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has worked tirelessly on it.

“Our aim for Derby day in 2026 is to have somewhere in the region of 40,000 people across our paid enclosures and on the Hill. We know that historically it was said that 100,000 people would be at Epsom on Derby day, but while we want to aim high over the next five years a realistic yet ambitious target would be to achieve that number over the course of the two-day festival by 2030.”

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