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London's Big Day Out: Days At The Races I - The Epsom Derby
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items For centuries, Epsom Downs has been a stage for British racing, fashion, ceremony and spectacle. The Derby was first run here in 1780 and on race day, Londoner’s have traditionally come for one of the greatest occasions in the sporting calendar. I sp...
The stage is set. The racecourse turf is a lush green and has been produced by the ground staff to perfection. The grandstand lawn looks immaculate and everything about Epsom is gleaming from top to toe. To me, there are similarities between the open...
Panoramic view from the roof of The Queen Elisabeth II Stand
From almost the same camera angle, I was able to complete this ‘before and after’ sequence. These photographs were taken from the roof of the Queen Elisabeth II Stand. Great lengths were taken by Epsom’s management to clear my access to the roof with...
Capturing The Moment: the 2008 running of The Epsom Derby
It is always nice when I received compliments for my fashion or style portraits but at such a prestigious meeting, surrounded as I am by beautiful people, it is hard to fail.
Lady race goer with binoculars, The Queen Elisabeth II Stand
I captured this portrait inside the Grade 2 listed Princes Stand, a beautiful Victorian building dating from 1879. My subject is lit by natural light entering the building from the balcony. Looking at this photograph, it is as though time stood still...
Gentleman race goer in morning dress, The Princes Stand
One of my favorite’s of this collection, this photograph shows a group of stylishly dressed race goers on the balcony looking out over the racecourse. I was stood on the inside of the building and photographed them through a large glass panel. Fortun...
Race goers in silhouette, The Queen Elisabeth II Stand
Having the option to sometimes take photographs from higher vantage points occasionally resulted in more interesting results. I like the symmetrical aspect to this photograph which wouldn’t have been achievable from ground level.
Couple seated on Epsom Lawn
The purpose of the Epsom Marketing team hiring my services was in part to supply new creative imagery for the following years’ hospitality brochures. Sometimes it was a race against time upon my arrival at the course to execute my photography brief b...
Dining area, Epsom Hospitality Suite
These race goers were sat opposite the Racecourse Entrance, outside the old Epsom Stables - as good a place as any for an impromptu picnic.
Four race goers in morning dress picnicking outside Epsom Stables
Race day hats come in all shapes and sizes. The one was adorned with black and white feathers and with the lush green grass forming the background, made for a pleasing graphic image.
Woman wearing hat
My employers encouraged the stylish reportage feel to my photography, in preference to the flash lit newspaper genre. This required discretion on my part and as well as patience, but sometimes the results paid off.
Lady and gentleman race goers wearing smart racecourse attire
I like the minimalism of this photograph. Epsom Racecourse is a flagship Jockey Club Racecourse and here their branding forms the centrepiece of the picture, welcoming the viewer inside. The top right of the frame depicts a couple hurrying into the Q...
Lady and gentleman race goers entering the Queen Elisabeth II Stand foyer
An amusingly contradictory picture. An impeccably well dressed man casually pours himself a glass of champagne on the steps of the Queen Elisabeth Grandstand.
Gentleman seated on racecourse steps pouring champagne
The definition of elegance, doubled in reflection. An image dominated by primary colours: navy blue, red, black and white, with a splash of champagne and a dash auburn.
Elegant lady race goer holding a glass of champagne
Morning dress with a Scottish twist. One doesn’t always require to see full body shots to imply smartness.
Lower body shots, The Queen Elisabeth II Stand
I took this photograph from an adjoining hospitality box balcony. With experience I learnt that the final stage of a race was the best time to capture a packed balcony. It meant guests were at their least self conscious and the use of a wide angle le...
Hospitality box balcony view
An almost duplicate mirror image that emanates style, decorum and class.
Men wearing morning dress holding race cards
The Epsom Derby meeting is about, among things, fashion, glamour and hats. The photograph shown has a narrow depth of field, sharpened only on the pink feathers to add a visual interest.
Hat detail
The Derby is raced over a distance of one English mile and four furlongs (around 2,400 metres). The starting gates are positioned over on the far side of the racecourse, a picturesque scene at the foot of the Downs surrounded by trees. Race goers are...
The Derby start
Entrance to the inner enclosure at Epsom (referred to as The Hill) is free of charge and offers excellent viewing. This photographs shows the tightly packed field make their way around the turn into the home straight around Tattenham Corner.
Tattenham Corner
As the runners enter the final furlong. Vintage double decker London buses align the inside of the home straight on The Hill, offering excellent viewing from which to cheer on your runner as the horses charge into the final stage of the race.
Epsom Hill home straight
My favourite Epsom portrait. Sir Michael Stoute was in Barbados in 1945 and moved to England aged 19 to take up the position of assistant trainer to Pat Rohan. He began training in his own right in 1964 and during an illustrious career, trained no le...
Portrait : Newmarket trainer Sir Michael Stoute
A wide shot of part of Epsom Hill, complete with bookmakers (individual pitches indicated by umbrella stands), double decker buses, a fairground and plenty of places to eat and drink.
Epsom Hill detail
Race goer enjoying the ambience of race day as The Derby approaches.
Elegant lady, Queen Elisabeth II Stand
A row of cameras fitted with wide angle lenses align the home straight, set to fire automatically as the winner crosses the line. For safety reasons,, photographers (official or otherwise) are not allowed to stand on the inside of the racecourse unle...
Press photographer cameras
Racehorses are viewed by a team of veterinary staff before, during and after the race. Ambulances are required on course at all meetings too. A panel of racecourse stewards, under the jurisdiction of the Jockey Club of Great Britain, are present at a...
Racecourse official watching horses going down to the start
Blink and you’ll miss it. That’s what they usually say about the race that precedes The Derby, which is a sprint. Run over 5 furlongs (1,006 metres) it is over in less that a minute. A successful horse needs to quick from the gate and be able to hand...
Blink and you’ll miss it: The Epsom 5 Furlong ‘Dash’
A set of binoculars aren’t essential to enjoy a day at the races, though their is no disputing that they heighten the quality of the spectator experience.
Race goer with binoculars
Arguably the best eye level view at Epsom Racecourse. The Queen Elisabeth II Stand offers a clear vantage point from which to witness the final strides of a race.
View of the racecourse from The Queen Elisabeth II Stand
Some races play out along the grandstand side of the course, others on the racecourse side or down the middle. It depends upon various factors such as where the best ground is, where the pace in a race is and in which stalls the best horses are drawn...
Race finish
The aim of every jockey with a ride in The Derby at Epsom is of course to end up in the winners circle. To the ride the winner of any Group 1 race is a major achievement, but - to this day - the highest accolade a jockey can receive is for their name...
The winners circle