A man walked to the home of the Derby last week as part of his journey to and from every racecourse in mainland Britain.

Richard Farquhar, 53, has set out to connect 60 racecourses on foot and cover nearly 3,000 miles over 13 months. He has already raised more than £70,000.

Mr Farquhar walked 19 miles from Lingfield Park to Tattenham Corner on Tuesday and walked the course at Epsom Downs Racecourse on Wednesday. 

He said: "Walking the Derby course on Epsom Downs' first day of the season was a real reward at the end of my walk from Lingfield Park Racecourse.

"It makes you realise how challenging the world's most famous flat race really is. Epsom is a hugely impressive racecourse and was looking an absolute picture in the sunshine."

Surrey Comet:

Mr Farquhar is fundraising for Pancreatic Cancer UK and Racing Welfare charities and his target is £1.4m. The last walk will take place in April 2016.

He said: "My father, who taught me all I know about racing, passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2012 and I decided I must do something more meaningful and impressive to help the fight against this pernicious and underfunded illness than simply growing a rather pathetic moustache, which was all that I had done up until that point.

"The racing world is a tremendously tight-knit and supportive community and by involving all of the racecourses in my challenge and making Racing Welfare a co-beneficiary, I hoped that I would be able to really capture the attention of those within racing. So far, we seem to be succeeding."

Surrey Comet:

Simon Durrant, general manager at Epsom Downs Racecourse, said they were delighted to welcome Mr Farquhar to the Spring meeting.

Mr Durrant said: "With its undulations and pronounced camber, Epsom Downs will be one of the more challenging yet inspiring courses that Richard will encounter."

For more information on the challenge visit www.walkingthecourses.com