Grandstands at Epsom.
The Epsom Derby is the most famous horse race in the world and is run on Epsom Downs just outside the town of Epsom. It was founded in1779 by the 12th Earl of Derby who gave his name to the race. It is Britains richest horse race and is a mile and a half.
I went up onto Epsom Downs today to take my daughter, Emily for a job interview at the race course. She is doing a degree in International Events Management at Cardiff University. Working at the Derby, this Summer will give her valuable work experience and enable her to earn some money and not have to ask me for any. Ahem!
While she was in the interview I took the opportunity to take some pictures of the race course.
A grandstand at Epsom.
The Epsom Derby has inspired horse races around the world including the Irish Derby, The Australian Derby, The New Zealand Derby, the Tokyo Yushi, The French Derby and The Kentucky Derby.
The famous Tattenham Corner where Emily Davidson died.
The Queen and the Royal Family attend Epsom Derby every year.
Epsom Grandstand has a corner in the history of cooking, Some might say rather an important corner of cooking history.
Isabella Mary Beeton, was born on the 12th march 1836 and she has become known world wide as Mrs Beeton. Her father was Henry Dorling, clerk of Epsom Racecourse. He was a widower with four children and they lived in the grandstand at Epsom.
Isabella Beeton
Isabella married Samuel Beeton and they were married in St Marys Parish Church Epsom. Her husband was a publisher. Mrs Beeton wrote and published The Book of Household Management.It was a book about housekeeping but also about cooking.The book comprised 1,112 pages and 900 of the pages contained recipes. The book was intended as a source of information for the aspiring middle classes.
Book of Household Management.
Mrs Beeton died early of puerperal fever at the age of 28. There is evidence that both her husband and herself contracted syphilis.
Some historic pictures of the Derby over the years.
This painting was painted by William Powell Frith in 1858.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Clik here to view.
Emily Davidson, the suffragette threw herself under the Kings horse in 1913 at Tattenham Corner.
The finish to the Derby in 1822.