Epsom pleads with public to steer clear of racecourse area on Derby day

Epsom has issued a plea for the public to stay away from the area surrounding the racecourse on Investec Derby day.

A 24-hour exclusion zone – from midnight on Friday night to midnight on Saturday night – will be in force around part of Epsom Downs to keep members of the public away from the track as a result of restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Since the restart of professional football last month, clubs have repeatedly appealed for fans to stay away on match days, and Epsom clerk of the course Andrew Cooper is urging racing fans to do the same.

Cooper said: "It will be most unhelpful to us if people turn up on the day. They won’t be able to gain any sensible vantage point if they gather, and we’d ask people to stay away.

"The Derby is being covered extensively. It’s being broadcast live on terrestrial television and radio, and people will see much more if they watch it on television than turn up here.

"There will be a 24-hour exclusion zone in force, and we’ll have a stewarding presence around the perimeter. We’d ask everyone to do us a huge favour and stay away this year."

Good ground is likely for the Derby and Oaks card at Epsom if the weather forecast proves accurate.

The surface is currently good, good to soft in places. The Surrey track soaked up 4.5 millimetres of rain in a series of showers on Wednesday between 4pm and 7pm and two heavy showers – equating to 11mm – on Thursday triggered a going change from good.

"The greatest likelihood is that we’ll be at or near good on Saturday," Cooper said on Thursday lunchtime. "We'd need really heavy showers to soften it beyond the slow side of good.

"We’ve had a couple of light, passing showers this morning, and the forecast is for the possibility of further showers for the rest of the day," Cooper revealed.

"Friday looks basically dry, and on Saturday morning there is the chance of light, patchy rain as a frontal system moves down from the north west."

Place a bet of £1 or more on any UK or Irish race on racingpost.com to watch it live. Click the 'Watch Live' icon at the top of the racecard when it's due to start to watch the full race