The Derby has been left at the starting gates in the race for sporting prestige.
It is to be dropped from the list of special events which must be screened on terrestrial TV free to viewers.
Sport's 'Crown Jewels' - events with 'a special national resonance' such as the FA Cup final, the Grand National, and, as of last week Ashes Test matches played in England - are on the list of events that must be available live on free terrestrial TV.
But following recommendations of an independent panel set up by the Department of Culture Media and Sport, the Derby is now set to be dropped from the list. That means it is guaranteed free-to-air until 2012 but it is not certain what will happen after that.
The Jockey Club, which owns Epsom Racecourse, has made a mixed response to the proposal.
It is saying that there should no longer be a special list, but if one is maintained, the Derby should be on it.
The club is indignant that the famous Derby is no longer considered important enough to be on the list of major national sporting events that cannot be bought-up as exclusives by subscription television channels.
But it is also claiming that the days of listed events are past.
After the analogue switch off in 2012 the whole country will be able to receive more television channels and the majority already pay for some form of subscription tv.
Maintaining the list restricts the commercial viability of some events and limits the amount of money that can be re-invested in the sport, it says.
Simon Bazalgette, group chief executive of the Jockey Club which runs the Derby and the Grand National, said: “It is clear to us that the Investec Derby remains an event of national resonance, no matter what the Panel says.
“It has higher TV audiences than many other sports events and has probably the highest one day attendance of any British sports event.”
Listed events have to be of general interest, not just of interest to people who follow the particular sport.
The Epsom Derby regularly attracts crowds of up to 120,000 and is broadcast round the world.
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