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
Big Game (horse) Stakes before being retired to stud. Big Game's royal connections and racecourse success made him one of the most popular horses of his time. Big Game was a powerfully built dark bay horse standing 16.1 hands high, bred by the British National Stud and leased for his racing career to King George VI. He was sired by the unbeaten Triple Crown winner Bahram, out of Myrobella, an exceptionally fast filly who was rated the best British two-year-old of either sex in 1932. Myrobella was a member of the same thoroughbred family which produced the Epsom Derby winners Sansovino and Snow