Derby tie up with Ibiza club co-owned by Wayne Lineker gets mixed reaction
O Beach Ibiza, a resort on the Spanish holiday island, has been brought in to generate a party vibe during the two days when the famous Classic will be run
A new tie-up between the Epsom Derby and an Ibiza club co-founded by Wayne Lineker has received a mixed reaction from fans.
The Jockey Club, owners of Epsom Downs racecourse, have made a commitment to win back the crowds after the attendance on Derby day last year fell to 22,000 which, barring two years of the Covid pandemic, was the lowest turnout since 1989.
Boxing promoter Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions have been recruited to help promote the world famous race and two day meeting, which also stages the Betfred Oaks and Coronation Cup. On Friday the Jockey Club announced that O Beach Ibiza, a resort on the Mediterranean island known for its poolside parties and live DJs club, will be in charge of the non-racing entertainment.
The press release said: “The collaboration will see O Beach Ibiza bring its renowned daytime party experience to the iconic Epsom Downs Racecourse, taking over Galileo’s, an exciting new marquee in the Grandstand Enclosure.
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“Available to all Grandstand ticket holders, the activation will create a vibrant destination throughout the day and host a one of a kind after party.
“The blend of music, atmosphere and sporting occasion represents a key element of Epsom Downs’ ongoing investment plans for 2026 and beyond, helping to re-invigorate the Betfred Derby Festival, and appeal to a younger audience, inspiring the next generation of racegoers to attend one of the most historic racing fixtures in the world.
The track’s general manager Jim Allen said: “This partnership marks an exciting step in how we continue to evolve the Betfred Derby Festival.
“Working with O Beach allows us to enhance the Grandstand experience with high-quality entertainment that appeals to a younger audience, while remaining true to the heritage of the event. We are excited to work with the team and bring this vision to life in 2026.”
Tony Truman, who owns O Beach with Wayne Lineker, brother of former Match Of The Day host Gary Lineker, said: “Epsom is such a special one for me, so bringing the O Beach vibe to the Derby Festival feels like the perfect fit.
“It’s a legendary weekend with huge heritage and a brilliant crowd, and we can’t wait to create an experience that feels exciting, premium and full of energy — the kind of celebration people will talk about long after the last race.”
Plenty of fans weren’t impressed by the news with one poster saying: “Nothing says prestigious British sporting institution quite like bolting on an Ibiza brand and pretending that plastic influencers and overpriced cocktails are a substitute for relevance.”
Another said: “It should not all be about a party atmosphere. A younger audience should learn about the horses, the stable staff, jockeys, trainers, and all of the work that goes into getting a horse ready to race. It should all be about the racing not the partying.”
In response one person commented: “The Derby has been a mess for years, people have been moaning that they ain’t doing enough and they’ve finally gone and sorted some promotional support (who by the way sell s**t tons of tickets) and that’s still not good enough. Just moaning to moan at this point.”
While another said: “What a bizarre choice of event/race to do it with. I don’t mind the idea but really not convinced the Derby is the right day for it.”
