Spring Meeting

Epsom Downs Racecourse celebrated the start of a new era as Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cornwall, officially opened our new Stand at the Spring Meeting. The Stand was named ‘The Duchess’s Stand’ in her honour and a crowd of 5,500 racegoers (a 33% increase from the 2007 Spring Meeting) basked in the glorious sunshine, enjoying the first of 14 race fixtures at Epsom in 2009.

Upon arrival at the course The Duchess was introduced to Epsom chairman, Anthony Cane, met local dignitaries and was presented with a posy of flowers by five-year-old cancer sufferer Yasmin Kinsey, whose longstanding wish to meet a member of the Royal Family was granted by the children's charity Starlight, the official charity of the 2009 Derby Festival. After meeting local children and well-wishers, Her Royal Highness then joined over 300 invited guests for lunch and officially opened the stand at 1pm, before which she chatted with broadcaster Clare Balding, jockey Martin Dwyer and her own horserace trainer Ralph Beckett. Having unveiled a commemorative plaque to celebrate the opening of the new Duchess’s Stand she said: "I would like to wish this stand all the very best."

Picture Gallery

Guest of Honour Arthur Budgett and the Derby trophy