A YEAR ago, then General Manager of Epsom Racecourse, Tom Sammes said of the course that hosts the Derby: “Epsom is not where the Jockey Club, and me personally, would like it to be, for a host of reasons. There are a lot of things to do and there’s a long way to go to get to where we want to be. We’re on a journey.”

One year on, the same questions are being asked of Epsom as were being asked then, and the crowd for the Derby fell to an official 22,312, down from 26,838 in 2024, and notably down on the figure of 37,274 of 2022 - Platinum Jubilee year. Sammes talked of being on a journey with Epsom, and garnered praise for his vision for the racecourse, but his own journey has seen him leave racing altogether since overseeing the 2024 Derby Festival and he now works for City Football Group, owners of Manchester City and other football clubs.