Record Derby prize & kids go free in Epsom changes

Prize money for the Derby at Epsom will rise to £2m in 2026 making it the joint-richest race in the UK as part of a series of changes.

The Jockey Club is increasing its prize pot by £500,000, with £1m going to the winner.

Other changes for next year’s Derby, which will be run on 6 June, include under-18s being given free entry to the two-day meeting in an effort to encourage a new generation of fans.

The Coronation Cup has been switched from the Friday to the Saturday and its prize money has more than doubled from £450,000 to £1m through new sponsorship from racehorse breeders Coolmore.

The increased prize money will match that on offer for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

Lambourn won the 2025 Derby, giving Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien a record-extending 11th win in the Classic.

The changes, following a six-month review by Epsom Downs Racecourse and the Jockey Club after the Derby crowd dropped by more than 4,500 to 22,312 compared to last year, also include: