The general manager organising this year’s Derby admits he sometimes wakes up at night as the anticipation reaches fever pitch.
On Thursday workmen were busy mowing the grass, cleaning the grounds and constructing temporary facilities while stepped-up security staff guarded the racecourse.
General manager Simon Durrant, 42, who lives in West Ewell and used to come to the Derby as a boy, said: "The team starts to run on adrenaline after a while. We build up to it.
A countdown at Epsom Downs Racecourse on Thursday
"Certainly the month of May going into that week of the Derby, it’s all hands to the pump. It’s impressive how much of a team atmosphere we retain and it needs that strong team."
He said there are 30 team members there throughout the year, then about 150 in the run-up to the Derby and a couple of thousand people for the historic event itself.
As the big day nears, he said: "It’s fairly common for me to wake up and think ‘have I remembered whatever it might be’. Normally it’s something to do with signage or car parking."
He added: "It’s good fun, hard work but great fun."
Mr Durrant, who describes himself as a local man, stressed his strong commitment to the community and was positive about the idea of an arts festival for the borough.
He said: "Epsom’s really lucky to have such an iconic event and we think we put on a really good show and we want more people to be involved in it."
The racecourse helps puts Epsom on the map, and he said: "I want to be able to use that to give back to the community, to be part of it as well. Really important, really important."
Last week: "Greatest flat race in the world" - Preparations in full swing for Derby Day
Mr Durrant gave a reporter a tour of the deserted racecourse including the place where jockeys are weighed and a room full of memorabilia linked to the Derby’s history.
Walking past the Duchess stand at the end, Mr Durrant emphasised the fact that the big race is restricted to three-years-old horses so they only have one chance to win.
He said: "Bring the family, bring the kids and come and see history in the making. You have got one shot to win the greatest flat race in the world."
He smiled, adding: "It’s quite cool really."
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