The Epsom Derby Festival remains one of the standout fixtures in the British sporting calendar, drawing racing fans, fashion lovers, and casual viewers alike to the iconic Epsom Downs Racecourse.
In 2026, the festival, sponsored by Betfred, takes place on Friday, 5 June to Saturday, 6 June, offering two days of elite flat racing and historic contests, as trainers go in search of their share of the nearly £5 million in prize money.
Whether you are following for betting insights, racing interest, or simply to keep track of the schedule, here is your complete guide to every race, every day, including key timings and broadcast details.
Friday 5 June 2026 – Ladies’ Day
Ladies’ Day once again opens the festival with a mix of elegance and racing, with eight races headlined by the Group 1 Betfred Oaks. The Coronation Cup has moved to Saturday for 2026.
Gates are expected to open at 11:00am, with the first race scheduled for 1:30pm.
Below is the full race schedule for Friday:
Friday Race Schedule
| Time | Race Name |
|---|---|
| 1:30pm | Win With Zyn 3yo “Dash” Handicap |
| 2:05pm | British EBF Woodcote Stakes |
| 2:40pm | Betfred Diomed Stakes |
| 3:15pm | Betfred Nifty 50 Handicap Stakes |
| 4:00pm | Betfred Oaks (Group 1) |
| 4:40pm | HKJC World Pool Handicap |
| 5:15pm | Cygames Surrey Stakes |
| 5:15pm | Debenhams Handicap |
13:30 – Win With Zyn 3yo “Dash” Handicap
The 3yo “Dash” gets the festival underway with a blast of pure speed down Epsom’s fast, downhill five furlongs.
Open to three-year-olds rated 0–100, it is a fiercely competitive sprint where draw, early pace, and handling the camber can make or break a campaign.
With 16 runners declared, expect a cavalry charge and plenty of hard-luck stories.
14:05 – British EBF Woodcote Stakes (Conditions Race) (GBB Race)
The Woodcote remains one of the earliest two-year-old showcases of the season, now run as a conditions race over six furlongs.
It is often the first real test for precocious juveniles stepping out of maiden or novice company into a more searching contest.
With a complement of 13 2yo runners, the race regularly throws up youngsters who go on to Royal Ascot and other major summer targets.
14:40 – Betfred Diomed Stakes (Group 3)
The Diomed, named after the first-ever Derby winner, now occupies a prime Friday slot as a Group 3 over about a mile and a half (1m½f).
It draws a blend of seasoned campaigners and progressive types from the top yards looking to secure a Group win.
Tactical nous is vital: Epsom’s turns and undulations reward those who settle early and finish strongly up the straight.
15:15 – Betfred “Nifty 50” Handicap (GBBPlus Race)
Always a puzzle for punters, the Nifty 50 is a deep 1m2f handicap for older horses (4yo+), attracting a big field and plenty of each-way interest.
The mix of proven handicappers and lightly raced improvers from major stables makes it a race where both form students and trend followers can find an angle.
16:00 – Betfred Oaks (Group 1) (Fillies)
The Oaks remains the emotional heart of Ladies’ Day, a Classic race confined to three-year-old fillies over 1m4f.
It is a searching test of stamina, class, balance, and temperament on Epsom’s famously demanding course.
With nine fillies set to line up, the 2026 renewal will again pit leading British and Irish yards against each other, and the winner will immediately become a prized broodmare prospect as well as a turf star.
16:40 – HKJC World Pool Handicap
This competitive Class 2 handicap over about a mile and a half brings global betting interest via the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s World Pool.
Open to 4yo+ horses rated 0–100, and with a field of 18, it is exactly the sort of wide-open contest where international pools thrive.
Expect strong market moves and a premium on riders with proven tactical skill around Epsom.
17:15 – Cygames Surrey Stakes (Listed Race)
Reimagined under new sponsorship, the Surrey Stakes is a Listed 7f race for three-year-olds and often serves as a stepping stone for colts and geldings with Group-class ambitions.
With nine runners due to go to post and the race shown on Racing TV, it is one for pedigree watchers and pattern-race aficionados looking for the next miler or seven-furlong specialist.
17:50 – Debenhams Handicap
The Debenhams Handicap closes the opening day with a big-field 7f Class 2 handicap for 3yo+ horses rated 0–100.
It is a classic Epsom handicap: a large field (16 declared), a turning track, and fine margins between success and failure.
For jockeys and punters alike, it offers one last chance to end Ladies’ Day on a high.
Saturday 6 June 2026 – Derby Day
Derby Day remains the centrepiece not just of the Epsom meeting but of the entire British Flat season.
In 2026, a reshaped card brings a new Group 3 opener and sees the Coronation Cup moved to Saturday, further strengthening the supporting programme around the Derby itself.
Gates typically open mid-morning (around 10:30am), with ITV coverage starting from the first race at 1:30pm and running through the Betfred Derby and its key supporting contests.
Saturday – Derby Day Race Schedule
| Time | Race Name |
|---|---|
| 1:30pm | Betfred Tattenham Corner Stakes |
| 2:05pm | Princess Elizabeth Stakes |
| 2:40pm | Coolmore Coronation Cup (Group 1) |
| 3:15pm | Betfred “Dash” Handicap (Heritage Handicap) |
| 4:00pm | Betfred Derby (Group 1) |
| 4:40pm | Lester Piggott Handicap |
| 5:20pm | HKJC World Pool Northern Dancer Handicap |
| 5:55pm | JRA Tokyo Trophy Handicap |
13:30 – Betfred Tattenham Corner Stakes (Group 3)
New to the Derby Day card in this guise, the Betfred Tattenham Corner Stakes is a 7f Group 3 for older horses (4yo+), formerly known as the John of Gaunt Stakes.
It provides an ideal stage for top-class seven-furlong specialists and milers dropping back in trip. As the day’s opener on ITV, it sets the tone for a high-quality afternoon.
14:05 – Princess Elizabeth Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies & Mares)
The Princess Elizabeth Stakes is a Group 3 event for fillies and mares over around a mile and half a furlong.
Often used as a stepping stone to Royal Ascot and other summer Group races, it tends to attract a blend of proven older mares and improving three-year-olds.
With nine runners engaged, it should again be a tactical affair where positioning turning for home is critical.
14:40 – Coolmore Coronation Cup (Group 1)
Now firmly established on Derby Day, the Coronation Cup is a Group 1 over the Derby trip of 1m4f for older horses.
Sponsored by Coolmore, it regularly brings together past Classic winners and elite middle-distance performers aiming to cement their status or rebound from earlier-season runs.
With six top-class runners lining up, it provides a mouth-watering prelude to the big race to come.
15:15 – Betfred “Dash” Handicap (Heritage Handicap)
The Betfred Dash is widely billed as the fastest five furlongs in the world, thanks to Epsom’s downhill profile and the sheer depth of the fields.
As a Heritage Handicap for 4yo+ sprinters, it attracts a maximum field with a razor-thin margin between victory and defeat.
A low draw, a lightning break, and a clear run are often the keys to success in one of the festival’s most thrilling spectacles.
16:00 – Betfred Derby (Group 1) (No Geldings)
The Derby remains Britain’s most prestigious Flat race, a Group 1 test over 1m4f restricted to three-year-olds, with geldings excluded.
It is the race that defines generations, shapes stallion careers, and secures a permanent place in racing history for the winner.
With 14 runners in 2026 representing the most powerful operations from Britain, Ireland and beyond, the Derby once again provides the defining moment of the meeting – and often of the season.
16:40 – Cherryfield (Croydon) Lester Piggott Handicap (GBBPlus Race)
Named in honour of the legendary jockey Lester Piggott, this Class 2 1m2f handicap for three-year-olds rated 0–100 offers a valuable prize and a prominent slot on ITV.
It frequently acts as a stepping stone for progressive middle-distance horses on the way to higher-level handicaps or even pattern company. With 11 runners declared, tactical speed and a strong finish up the hill are both at a premium.
17:20 – HKJC World Pool Northern Dancer Handicap (GBBPlus Race)
The Northern Dancer Handicap, sponsored by the Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool, is a staying 1m4f Class 2 event for older horses rated 0–105.
It mirrors Friday’s World Pool handicap in drawing strong betting turnover from around the globe.
With 17 runners, stamina, positioning, and a cool ride in the early stages are crucial in a race that often rewards consistency and course experience.
17:55 – JRA Tokyo Trophy Handicap
The JRA Tokyo Trophy brings the curtain down on the 2026 Derby Festival with a competitive 6f Class 2 handicap for 4yo+ horses rated 0–105.
Sponsored by the Japan Racing Association, it underlines Epsom’s international reach and connections.
For those still in action at the end of a long afternoon, it is the final opportunity for punters, trainers, and jockeys to land a late winner on one of racing’s biggest days.
How to Watch the Epsom Derby Festival 2026
Coverage of the Epsom Derby Festival remains extensive across television and streaming platforms.
ITV1 will broadcast live racing on both days, typically from early afternoon through to late afternoon. ITV Racing’s Opening Show will air on ITV4 and kick things off on Saturday morning, featuring previews and expert insight.
Racing TV will show every race live, including those outside ITV’s broadcast window. Live streaming is available via ITVX and Racing TV apps and websites, and BBC Radio 5 Live provides live commentary and updates.
International coverage is widely available through major broadcasters and betting partners, including World Pool distribution as the festival continues to reach a global audience, with coverage spanning Europe, North America, Asia, and beyond.
Top-Class Racing Returns to Epsom
The 2026 Epsom Derby Festival delivers two days of world-class racing, 16 races, prestige, and nearly £5 million in prize money.
From the raw speed of the Dash handicaps to the Classic drama of the Oaks and Derby, and from international World Pool handicaps to pattern races like the Diomed and Princess Elizabeth Stakes, every race has its own story to tell.
Whether you are in the stands at Epsom, watching on TV, or following online, 5–6 June 2026 promises two unforgettable days where the schedule is stacked with meaningful, high-class racing from start to finish.
BETFRED
