Introduced by Lord Oaksey celebrating the bicentenary of the world's most famous horse race.
Two hundred years ago this week, the Derby was run for the first time at Epsom on the Surrey Downs. Since then It's become one of the great occasions of the British sporting year, followed by millions of people throughout the world. With the 1979 race only two days away, Lord Oaksey, a former jockey himself, reflects on the history. tradition and background of the race recalls some of the outstanding moments of the past ... and talks with many racing personalities, the most successful Derby jockey of all time, Lester Piggott ; Sir Gordon Richards ;
Harry Wragg , the only man this century to have ridden and then trained a Derby winner: Vincent O'Brien ; and Roger Mortimer , an expert on the history of the Derby. Producer
IAN ROBERTSON (Repeated:
Tues 8.0 pm) long wave only