OpinionJoel Rees
premium
My first ever Derby day - when not even Epsom's big-screen problem could hide the bigger picture
Joel Rees reflects on a maiden visit to last weekend's big meeting

Epsom was a washout last Saturday, and the viewing experience wasn't helped by the placements of the big screens
Last weekend, despite having followed the sport for more than a decade, I attended my first Derby.
At 27, I probably fall into the demographic racing is desperate to attract, so I'm particularly pleased to be able to report that, for all the wind and rain, it ended up being one of my favourite days on a racecourse.
There was a real buzz around Tattenham Corner when I arrived. The Ocean Beach tent added something different, food and drink were easy enough to get and it felt like an event rather than just a race meeting.
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
Published on inJoel Rees
Last updated
