Here’s what we’ve got for you this week:

The Epsom Downs have been echoing with the sound of thundering hooves for centuries.

The first recorded race here was way back in 1661, and by the 1730s, annual meets were already a fixture.

But the real turning point came in 1778, when a few well-to-do gents - including Sir Charles Bunbury and Edward Stanley, the 12th Earl of Derby - gathered at a local social do. Over food, wine, and probably a bit of banter, they dreamed up a new race for three-year-old fillies.

They named it “The Oaks,” after Derby’s nearby estate.

Derby’s horse Bridget won the very first Oaks in 1779, and the celebrations that followed clearly went to their heads. Bunbury and Derby proposed another race, this time open to both colts and fillies.

A coin was tossed to decide who’d get naming rights… and Derby won.

So on 4 May 1780, Bunbury’s horse Diomed lined up and won the first-ever Derby.

Both races caught the public’s imagination and became part of the “Classics”, solidifying Epsom’s reputation as a centre of horse racing.

The Derby also went on to inspire copycats across the world, from the Kentucky Derby to countless others. In fact, he term “derby” came to mean a major race or sporting contest in general.

All from a coin toss on the Downs.

This week I accidentally fell down a bit of a rabbit hole… into Epsom’s past.

It started when I discovered that Epsom & Ewell Borough Council has launched two free virtual tours - half-hour strolls through Epsom and Ewell designed to shine a light on the area’s history and cultural heritage. You can even peek inside the old Watch House on Ewell High Street and hear ghost stories from locals.

That led me to a few more gems online, like a quiet, hypnotic video that glides through 100 years of images of Epsom High Street, and a wonderfully nostalgic vintage film of Epsom from 1975, back when the town was full of brown suits, Ford Cortinas and market-day bustle. I even found a handful of more recent walking tours - here’s one from 2023, and another filmed on a sunny day in 2022.

They all helped me see Epsom from fresh angles.

It’s funny. I’ve travelled a lot around the world and across the UK, and while Epsom might not be the most thrilling place on the map, looking at it through this lens helped me see it in perspective. It’s got a quiet charm. And honestly… it could be a whole lot worse.

Outside of my time-travel adventures, it’s been a good month here. I had a lovely duck donburi from Wagamama that was perfectly tasting, filling and comforting. I’ve got lots of work done in the beautiful new Epsom Library with its blissfully quiet dedicated workspaces. And I’ve had one too many coffees at Gail’s, which has become my go-to for its friendly staff, consistently good coffee, and that lively, buzzing morning energy.

Sometimes it’s nice to pause and appreciate the good things on our own doorstep - especially the small ones.

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Till next time,