Epsom Downs is a Grade 1
racecourse near
Epsom,
Surrey, England. The "Downs" referred to in the name are part of the
North Downs. The course, which has a crowd capacity of 120,000, is best known for hosting The Derby Stakes which has come to be widely referred to as the
Epsom Derby (however, 'Epsom' is not part of the title of the race), the United Kingdom's premier
thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old
colts and
fillies, over a mile and a half (2400m). It also hosts The Oaks Stakes (also widely referred to as the
Epsom Oaks) for three-year-old fillies, and the
Coronation Cup for horses aged four years and upwards. All three races are Group 1 races and run over the same course and distance.