Epsom was originally prepared by boiling down mineral waters which sprung at Epsom. The town's market is built on the pond that existed in the Middle Ages. Within the centuries-old boundaries is Epsom Downs Racecourse which features two of the five English Classic horse races; "The Derby" and "The Oaks", which were first run in 1780 and 1779 respectively. On 4 June 1913, Emily Davison, a militant women's suffrage activist, stepped in front of King George V's horse running in the Derby, sustaining fatal injuries. The British Prime Minister and first chairman of the London County Council, Lord Rosebery, was sent
Epsom Derby people attending the fair dwindled in the face of competition for attention and changing tastes, its length was reduced from 10 days to three or four. Investec became the sponsor of the Derby in 2009, and the current sponsorship deal runs until 2022. The race was previously backed by Ever Ready (1984–94) and Vodafone (1995–2008). Epsom Derby is also referenced in the recent popular BBC television series "Peaky Blinders", set in the 20th century. Leading jockey (9 wins): Leading trainer (7 wins): Leading owner (7 wins): Dams of two winners: Winning distances are shown in lengths or shorter (dh =