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Felicity Barnard Named Ascot Commercial Director

Felicity Barnard has been named to the role of Ascot Commercial Director, the racecourse announced on Monday.

Barnard, who will report to Ascot Chief Executive Guy Henderson, will be responsible for devising and implementing commercial strategy for in venue sales and marketing, partnerships, sponsorship, licencing, memberships and new income streams. Ascot Finance Director Ian McGregor is in charge of the racecourse's domestic and international broadcast, media and data rights while a review of how these areas should be developed is underway.

Previously, Barnard spent four years as CEO of Tie Break Tens, where she launched the new short format of tennis internationally. Also during her 15 years in the sports industry, Barnard worked at Arsenal Football Club both in London and Singapore and at West Ham United as their commercial director.

“Felicity brings a wealth of commercial experience to the racecourse, having worked in the UK and internationally in two sports with a similar global reach to racing,” said Henderson. “Felicity will focus on our in venue commercial activities and we are all very much looking forward to welcoming her to the team.”

Added Barnard, “I am thrilled to be joining the team at Ascot at such an important time for the sport. Ascot's position in racing is unparalleled and I am excited to help drive the commercial growth of such a historic and iconic institution.”

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Royal Ascot Meet Extended To Include Seven Races Each Day In 2021

Following the success of last year's extended Royal Ascot program, Ascot Racecourse has announced that Her Majesty The Queen has graciously consented to approve the extension to seven races each day for the 2021 Royal Meeting (June 15 through 19).

Last year, the Copper Horse Stakes, the Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes and the Golden Gates Stakes were added to the program and the Buckingham Palace Stakes was reinstated. These races have all been retained.

Her Majesty has also approved the naming of the Kensington Palace Stakes (0-105), a new handicap to be run over the Old Mile for 4-year-old and upwards fillies and mares. Kensington Palace, set in Kensington Gardens, has been a residence for Members of the Royal Family since the 17th century.

The 'Silver' versions of the Royal Hunt Cup and the Wokingham Stakes have not been retained and there will not be eight races on Saturday as there were in 2020.

Sir Francis Brooke Bt., Her Majesty's Representative at Ascot, said: “A positive that we drew from Royal Ascot 2020 was that the additional races presented more opportunities to participate and that this had been widely welcomed by owners, trainers, breeders and jockeys. We are delighted to be able to make this change permanent.”

The order of running in 2021 will be based on 2019. The schedule in 2020 reflected the late start of the Flat season which necessitated considerable changes, mainly related to the timing of the Newmarket and Epsom Classics.

In 2021, the races being permanently added will be run as the final races on each day. The exception will be on the Saturday, where the Golden Gates Handicap will be run as race six and the meeting will conclude, as is traditional, with the Queen Alexandra Stakes. The Queen Anne Stakes will return to its usual position, opening the Royal Meeting.

Prize money will be confirmed in advance of the early closing races in April and will be listed for now with holding values (based on 2020) in program book two.

Nick Smith, Director of Racing and Public Affairs at Ascot, added:

“The concept of extended cards last year was well received, and we are very pleased to be able to offer additional opportunities to the horsemen community, the public, broadcasters and media going forward.

“At this time, more than ever, the increased opportunity to win prize money and to generate more levy and domestic and overseas betting income is crucial.

“Following consultation with the BHA, we decided to remove the two reserve races and bring in another high-quality handicap, as we are actually reducing the number of races run by one from last year, where eight races were staged on the Saturday. It occurred to us that the Old (round) Mile course is only used twice during Royal Ascot and another race on this track would add to the variety on offer.

“Last year's extended cards were only possible by reducing some field sizes slightly, and because no overnight stabling was allowed under Covid-19 protocols.

“In order that field sizes can go up to their maximums again and with overnight stabling extremely important, we have commissioned extra temporary stabling to be built to the required high BHA standards.

“Royal Ascot is constantly evolving and has benefitted from many recent race additions and promotions and we are excited that the week will now be bigger and better for everyone.”

Royal Ascot 2021 Order of Running:

TUESDAY, JUNE 15
The Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1) 4+ One mile (straight)
The Coventry Stakes (Group 2) 2 Six furlongs
The King's Stand Stakes (Group 1) 3+ Five furlongs
The St James's Palace Stakes (Group 1) 3 C Old mile (round)
The Ascot Stakes (Handicap) 4+ Two miles, four furlongs
The Wolferton Stakes (Listed) 4+ One mile, two furlongs
The Copper Horse Stakes (Handicap) 4+ One mile, six furlongs

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16
The Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2) 2 F Five furlongs
The Queen's Vase (Group 2) 3 One mile, six furlongs
The Duke of Cambridge Stakes (Group 2) 4+ FM One mile (straight)
The Prince Of Wales's Stakes (Group 1) 4+ One mile, two furlongs
The Royal Hunt Cup (Heritage Handicap) 3+ One mile (straight)
The Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed) 2 Five furlongs
The Kensington Palace Stakes (Handicap) 4+ FM Old mile (round)

THURSDAY, JUNE 17
The Norfolk Stakes (Group 2) 2 Five furlongs
The Hampton Court Stakes (Group 3) 3 One mile, two furlongs
The Ribblesdale Stakes (Group 2) 3 F One mile, four furlongs
The Gold Cup (Group 1) 4+ Two miles, four furlongs
The Britannia Stakes (Heritage Handicap) 3 CG One mile (straight)
The King George V Stakes (Handicap) 3 One mile, four furlongs
The Buckingham Palace Stakes (Handicap) 3+ Seven furlongs

FRIDAY, JUNE 18
The Albany Stakes (Group 3) 2 F Six furlongs
The King Edward VII Stakes (Group 2) 3 CG One mile, four furlongs
The Commonwealth Cup (Group 1) 3 CF Six furlongs
The Coronation Stakes (Group 1) 3 F Old mile (round)
The Sandringham Stakes (Handicap) 3 F One mile (straight)
The Duke of Edinburgh Stakes (Handicap) 3+ One mile, four furlongs
The Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes (Handicap) 3 Five furlongs

SATURDAY, JUNE 19
The Chesham Stakes (Listed) 2 Seven furlongs
The Jersey Stakes (Group 3) 3 Seven furlongs
The Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2) 4+ One mile, four furlongs
The Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Group 1) 4+ Six furlongs
The Wokingham Stakes (Heritage Handicap) 3+ Six furlongs
The Golden Gates Stakes (Handicap) 3 One mile, two furlongs
The Queen Alexandra Stakes (Conditions) 4+ Two miles, six furlongs

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Ascot Dec Racing Weekend to be Held Without Spectators

Ascot will not host spectators at the upcoming December Racing Meeting, held Dec. 18-19, as a result of the local authority in which Ascot is situated–the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead–moving into Tier Three of COVID-19 restrictions, beginning midnight on Friday, Dec. 18.

Additionally, Ascot has decided to exclude the public for the Dec. 18 card after consulting with Public Health England and its Safety Advisory Group.

Cases in the south of England have risen over 40% in the last week and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead is now in a very high-risk area. For more information, visit www.ascot.co.uk

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Ascot Projects Tough Times Ahead

Ascot Racecourse has said it does not expect crowds to return to pre-COVID levels before 2022, and in releasing its 2019 financial results on Wednesday painted a bleak financial picture for the next two years in the absence of continued government support.

“Overall, in terms of our long-term financial flight path, we forecast that the Covid-19 pandemic will have set the business plan back at least three years,” said Guy Henderson, chief executive officer of Ascot Racecourse.

Ascot returned a net profit of £7.3-million last year and a rise in turnover and reduced its net debt to £37.9-million, which is ahead of schedule, while making further investment and capital expenditure in racecourse facilities. Looking at 2020 and ahead into 2021, however, Henderson said things would have been extremely bleak this year without the significant government support the racecourse received.

“In 2020 the impact of the pandemic has been significant but mitigated by cushions such as the Government Furlough Scheme, Business Rates Relief and pandemic insurance for racing without crowds,” he said. “That picture adversely changes in 2021 and the business has had to take the appropriate steps to reduce its fixed and variable costs.

“Without our pandemic insurance and the Government support of furlough and business rates relief, our 2020 trading loss would be over £20m. The year will only be overall cash positive due to that support and a very significant reduction in our capital investment programme. 2021 will be much more challenging without such support. Our modelling currently projects a significant figure pre-tax loss in 2021. Whilst the business is robust and remains in sound financial health, the journey back to normality will be gradual and determined by the phasing of public allowed to the races.”

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