Derby to Switch to 72-Hour Declarations

[Wandering Eyes]

The Betfred Derby will become the first race in Britain to have declarations made at the 72-hour stage instead of 48 hours before the race, which is standard across the UK. 

An announcement from Jockey Club Racecourses on Monday stated that bringing forward the deadline by 24 hours would “prove beneficial in building a sense of anticipation and excitement, both domestically and globally, for the prestigious £1.5 million contest”.

In 1896, the Derby, which was first run in 1780, became the first horse race to be filmed and shown in cinemas after the event. By 1931, the Epsom Classic notched another important milestone when becoming the first televised horse race and first remote outside television broadcast in the world.

Jim Allen, general manager of Epsom Downs Racecourse, said, “This racecourse has been at the forefront of positive change and new initiatives in British horseracing for generations.

“We're delighted to be able to introduce 72-hour declarations for this year's Betfred Derby, demonstrating that we are always looking for new ways to innovate and ensure that our sport's most iconic Flat race continues to stand out from the rest.

“Having consulted with a range of stakeholders on this issue we are confident that this change will not only help build anticipation for the world's most famous Flat race earlier in the week but also provide more certainty around the runners and riders on the day, driving more interest and engagement in advance of the start of the Betfred Derby Festival.”

An “enhanced” draw ceremony for the Betfred Derby will take place around 11am on Wednesday, June 4 at Epsom's Picturehouse, using equipment deployed for football's FA Cup draws.

The first scratchings stage for the Derby is tomorrow, Tuesday, May 6, with a second stage on Tuesday, May 20. Five-day confirmations and the supplementary entry stage is Monday, June 2, with the final declarations to be made by 10am on Wednesday, June 4.

 

The post Derby to Switch to 72-Hour Declarations appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article