Racing: Epsom unveils Derby Hall of Fame: The course's new tourist attraction complements the traditional lure of the Downs and Piggott - Greg Wood views a new display celebrating Classic art at the home of the Blue Riband

FOR ONCE, it is not actionable to report that the Epsom weighing room was populated by dummies yesterday. As the course put the finishing touches to its preparations for the Derby, it also unveiled a new exhibition, the Derby Hall of Fame, which includes several life-size models of trainers and jockeys arranged near the scales where the Classic's riders will weigh out a week today.

Unfortunately the models, and the other exhibits which chart the history of the great race, will be out of commission on the big day itself. Unlike a similar display at Cheltenham, Epsom's Hall of Fame is targeted very much at parties of foreign tourists. British fans who want to sample its diverting mixture of historical artefacts and hi- tech terminals showing great races of the past will need to book in advance, on non-race days.

Racegoers next Wednesday will have to make do with the standard range of alternative attractions, though the fun- fair, fortune-tellers and brass bands are again unlikely to mask the poor quality of the Derby undercard. Since a minor juvenile contest and three handicaps will help to support the main event, it was little wonder that the Epsom officials were keen to concentrate yesterday on the anticipated re-emergence of the Derby as Europe's richest race. With an estimated worth of pounds 790,000, the purse for the premier Classic is expected to exceed that for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe by about pounds 12,000.

A more fitting programme may be constructed around the Derby if, or more probably when, it is moved to a Sunday. More immediately, the course executive may make changes to the entry process for the Classic itself, though Tim Neligan, the managing director of United Racecourses, seemed less than anxious yesterday about the absence from this year's entries of three winners of recognised Derby trials.

'We should wait until October to find out if the best horse wasn't in the race,' Neligan said. 'I remember a few years ago, a horse wasn't entered for the Derby and everyone said it would have a big chance but instead it went to the French Derby and started favourite. I said some very uncharacterstic prayers in church that morning, and sure enough it got soundly stuffed.'

Neligan will surely be relieved, however, that one big name will definitely make the Derby line-up. Lester Piggott, who has ridden just one winner in Britain this season, has been booked to partner Khamaseen, John Dunlop's second-string behind the uneasy Classic favourite, Erhaab.

Anticipating bets on Piggott at any price, the bookies were quick to cut Khamaseen's odds yesterday. Coral offer 16-1 from 20-1, and while a 10th Derby success for the former champion still seems unlikely, Khamaseen does have some reasonable form to his name, in particular a good second to Linney Head in the Thresher Classic Trial at Sandown last month.

The Sandown form implies that Khamaseen would enjoy some cut in the ground next week and his wish may be granted - the turf at Epsom is currently good to soft, with soft patches, and an unsettled seven days are in prospect. Broadway Flyer showed when winning on heavy ground at Newbury earlier in the season that he too would be untroubled by an easy surface, and John Hills's runner contracted further in the market yesterday. Coral make him their 7-2 clear favourite, with Erhaab at 4-1, while Ladbrokes offer 4-1 (from 9-2), with Erhaab still heading their market, just, on 7-2.

Michael Kinane travels to Newmarket today to partner King's Theatre and Foyer in separate workouts. After the gallops, the Irishman will decide which colt to ride in the Derby.

(Photograph omitted)