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The Derby will make history in 2025 by becoming the first Group One race in Britain to introduce 72-hour declarations, moving away from the traditional 48-hour declaration period for the world's most famous Flat race.
The 245-year-old Classic, first staged in 1780, will now have its final field confirmed by 10am on the Wednesday before the race, with jockey bookings finalised by 1pm that same day. This historic change means that for the 2025 running, the final field will be known on Wednesday 4th June, three days before the premier Classic takes place at Epsom Downs.
The move is designed to build greater anticipation and excitement around the US$1.9 million contest, which was broadcast by a record 36 broadcasters across 160 territories worldwide in 2024.
Coinciding with the declaration change, Epsom officials have announced a significantly enhanced draw ceremony for The Derby next year. The racecourse will use equipment deployed for football's FA Cup draws, with the ceremony taking place at Epsom's Picturehouse cinema at around 11am on Wednesday.
Jim Allen, General Manager of Epsom Downs Racecourse, said: "This racecourse has been at the forefront of positive change and new initiatives in British horseracing for generations, with The Derby becoming the first race to be filmed back in 1896 and then the first sporting event to be broadcast in 1931.
"We're delighted to be able to introduce 72 hour declarations for this year's Derby, demonstrating that we are always looking for new ways to innovate and ensure that our sport's most iconic Flat race continues to stand out from the rest.
"Having consulted with a range of stakeholders on this issue we are confident that this change will not only help build anticipation for the world's most famous Flat race earlier in the week but also provide more certainty around the runners and riders on the day, driving more interest and engagement in advance of the start of the Derby Festival."
The change continues Epsom's long tradition of pioneering innovations in racing, which include staging the first recorded horse race in the UK on March 7th, 1661, in the presence of King Charles II, the first filming of a horse race in 1896, and the first televised horse race in 1931. The Grand Metropolitan at Epsom Downs was also the first horse race to use a Photo-Finish, on April 22nd, 1947.
Allen added: "Changing the stalls draw for The Derby from the randomly generated process used for nearly every other Flat race in the UK to a ceremony with balls picked out live on Racing TV has definitely helped increase the sense of excitement and anticipation in recent years.
"As part of the review into all aspects of last year's Derby Festival, we felt that it was important that the draw is staged in the local community again and have been looking at ways to make the ceremony itself more sophisticated and give it a sense of occasion.
"Epsom's Picturehouse is the perfect venue and we're grateful to the FA for allowing us to use their iconic draw equipment."
The 246th running of The Derby is scheduled for Saturday 7th June 2025. The new declaration timeline will only apply to The Derby itself, with the other seven races on Derby Day and all races on Ladies Day retaining their 48-hour declaration deadline.
Entries opened on Tuesday 25th February, with the second entry stage on Tuesday 23rd April. The first scratchings stage takes place on Tuesday 6th May, followed by the second scratchings stage on Tuesday 20th May. The five-day confirmation and supplementary entry stage falls on Monday 2nd June, with the final 72-hour declaration stage at 10am on Wednesday 4th June.