Social Victorians/Derby Day at Epsom Downs
Derby Day at Epsom Downs
editLogistics
editThe Epsom Derby has been run regularly since 1780:
Initially, the Derby was run on a Thursday in late May or early June, depending on when Easter occurred. In 1838 the race was moved to a Wednesday to fit in with the railways' timetables, but still followed the moveable feast of Easter.[1]
It was run generally on Wednesdays throughout much of the 19th and 20th centuries, being changed to Saturday in 1994.[1]
The racecourse is near the town Derby and the races were originally sponsored by the Earl of Derby.[1]
Derby Day was the one of several days of horse racing, the one most carnival-like socially speaking, and one of the most prestigious races in the UK. The racing at Epsom Downs was actually a number of races, with Derby Day being the most important. In the late 19th century, the racing began on Tuesday and lasted through Friday. Also, by the end of the century, races occurred on other days of the year and attracted "the fashionable people."[2]
Oak Day was the day after Derby Day at Epsom Downs.
Dates of Derby Day
edit- Wednesday, 24 May 1871, Baron Rothschild's Favonius won. The Prince of Wales attended.
- Wednesday, 29 May 1872
- Wednesday, 28 May 1873
- Wednesday, 3 June 1874
- Wednesday, 26 May 1875
- Wednesday, 31 May 1876
- Wednesday, 30 May 1877
- Wednesday, 5 June 1878
- Wednesday, 28 May 1879
- Wednesday, 26 May 1880
- Wednesday, 1 June 1881
- Wednesday, 24 May 1882
- Wednesday, 23 May 1883
- Wednesday, 28 May 1884
- Wednesday, 3 June 1885
- Wednesday, 26 May 1886
- Wednesday, 25 May 1887
- Wednesday, 30 May 1888
- Wednesday, 5 June 1889
- Wednesday, 4 June 1890
- Wednesday, 27 May 1891
- Wednesday, 31 May 1893
- Wednesday, 6 June 1894
- Wednesday, 29 May 1895
- Wednesday, 3 June 1896
- Wednesday, 2 June 1897
- Wednesday, 25 May 1898
- Wednesday, 31 May 1899
- Wednesday, 30 May 1900
Related Events
edit- The night after the running of the Derby at Epsom Downs (although not the one on this list?), Luisa Friederike Auguste Montagu Cavendish, Duchess of Manchester and, after 16 August 1892, Duchess of Devonshire, hosted her famous 1897 fancy-dress ball.
Who Was Present
edit- The Prince of Wales often attended the Epsom Down races accompanied by a large retinue of friends.
Questions and Notes
editBibliography
edit- Murphy, Sophia. The Duchess of Devonshire's Ball. London: Sidgwick & Kackson, 1984.
References
edit- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Epsom Derby". Wikipedia. 2024-08-30. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epsom_Derby. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epsom_Derby.
- ↑ "Hints for Ladies. Fashion at Derby Races." Derby Mercury 24 November 1897, Wednesday: 6 [of 8], Col. 5a [of 7]. British Newspaper Archive https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000052/18971124/050/0006.