Part of the roof came adrift at 9.30am yesterday morning and police closed roads around the Surrey racecourse.
The site has now been secured and an investigation has begun to evaluate the damage. Work will start to make the roof safe as continued bad weather is forecast.
Events scheduled in the Duchess Stand will be relocated to the adjoining Queens’s Stand until the clean up operation is complete.
The venue said in an official statement yesterday: "Following severe weather conditions and turbulent winds at Epsom Downs Racecourse this morning, the Duchess Stand roof has been damaged. There were no injuries to anyone but as a result and after liaising with the emergency services, the racecourse has been evacuated and all non-essential members of staff sent home."
Epsom holds exhibitions, concerts, awards ceremonies, dinners and conferences in addition to the annual Derby race in June. The Duchess Stand opened in 2009 and has a capacity of 11,000 on race days. It houses an 800-seat conference centre, three restaurants and a 120-bedroom hotel.
Marketing manager Tim Derby told Event that no major events have been cancelled: "We have some very small events throughout the week and they will be moved to areas of the racecourse where they can be accommodated."
There are no racing events at the course until the Spring Meeting on April 25.
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