Epsom Races
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Horse races instituted in the early 17th century and held on Epsom Downs for four days m May. The second day (Wednes- day) is "Derby day" (<?.v.), and on the fourth the "Oaks" (q.v.) is run.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Epsom Races” mean?
Horse races instituted in the early 17th century and held on Epsom Downs for four days m May. The second day (Wednes- day) is "Derby day" (<?.v.), and on the fourth the "Oaks" (q.v.) is run.
Is “Epsom Races” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.