Epsom Derby 2000 Review

It is estimated over 100,000 people made their way to Epsom to experience the fun of Derby day and watch the racing live. The weather was fantastic, a beautiful June summers day and track conditions were excellent with a going of good to soft. 

There were fifteen runners in this, the 221st Epsom Derby, each battling for a place to take winnings from the £1 Million prize fund.   Johnny Murtagh riding Sinndar eventually scooped the £609,000 winning prize with Richard Hills on Sakhee and Richard Quinn on Beat Hollow taking second and third places respectively. John Oxx the winning trainer, joked about retiring as he said "You can't do much better than win the Vodafone Derby with your first runner in the race!".   H H Aga Khan owner and breeder of Sinndar was equally ecstatic with the result. This is the ninth Derby win for his family as his grandfather had previously run five Derby winners.

Richard Quinn riding Love Divine took the Vodafone Oaks while Kieren Fallon made a historic Oaks/ Derby day double by winning five races: Vodafone Coronation Cup; Vodafone Surrey Stakes; Vodafone Dash; Vodafone Diomed Stakes; plus the EDS Handicap Stakes.

Over 15,000 spectators participated in the Derby Day Picnic which featured a fantastic line-up of pop stars including Ultra Nate, Billie, Gabrielle and The Honeyz (to name but a few). The music pumped from the sound stage in the centre of The Hill and was broadcast on the web and the radio by Heart 106.2FM.

To see pictures of the racing, the Heart 106.2 Picnic, the Queen and the Queen Mother (now in her 100th year), the Red Arrows parachute display, fun fair rides, bus and coach party barbecues, streakers and much more, visit the Picture Gallery.