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By Colin Harding on

Epsom Derby in our collection

The Epsom Derby is a magnet for photographers, drawn by the colour, spectacle, and social mix. Colin Harding gives you a glimpse of the Derby in pictures.

Were you photographed at Epsom Derby on Saturday?

For over two hundred years, the Derby, Britain’s most prestigious horse race, has been a magnet for people in search of a good time.

Huge crowds flock to Epsom, attracted not only by the racing but by all of the other entertainments on offer. In the past, even Parliament was adjourned so that MPs could attend.

The Epsom Derby is also a magnet for photographers, drawn by the colour, spectacle and broad social mix of the crowd.

Photo journalists, street photographers, commercial portrait photographers and humble snapshooters have all found the Derby to be a rich source of work and inspiration.

In our collection we have many images taken at the Derby. Here are just a few:

Derby Grandstand, c.1909, Horace W. Nicholls, The Royal Photographic Society Collection, National Media Museum
Derby Grandstand, c.1909, Horace W. Nicholls © The Royal Photographic Society Collection
Racegoers at the Derby, 5 June 1935, Edward George Malindine, Daily Herald Archive, National Media Museum
Racegoers at the Derby, 5 June 1935, Edward George Malindine, Daily Herald Archive, Science Museum Group collection
Prince Monolulu and policemen, 1 June 1938, Edward George Malindine, Daily Herald Archive, National Media Museum
Prince Monolulu and policemen, 1 June 1938, Edward George Malindine, Daily Herald Archive, Science Museum Group collection
A young boy poses for his photograph at Epsom Derby, 1947, William Jones, National Media Museum Collection
A young boy poses for his photograph at Epsom Derby, 1947, William Jones, Science Museum Group collection
Derby Day, Epsom, 1967, Tony Ray-Jones, National Media Museum Collection
Derby Day, Epsom, 1967, Tony Ray-Jones, Science Museum Group collection

You can see more Epsom Derby photographs from our archives on the Science and Society Picture Library website.

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