Nick Smith | Horse Racing Free Tips

Ascot’s Nick Smith Receives New Year Honours

Ascot's director of racing and public affairs, Nick Smith, has been named to the New Year's Honours list.

Smith, who started at Ascot in 2000, was made a lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order, which rewards personal service to the monarch and their household. In 2023, King Charles III and Queen Camilla celebrated their first Royal Ascot winner with Desert Hero (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who would subsequently be Classic placed in the G1 St Leger. Other highlights of Ascot's year include Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB})'s battle in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S., and Frankie Dettori's Royal Ascot resurgence aboard G1 Gold Cup winner Courage Mon Ami (GB) (Frankel {GB}) among others.

Smith said, “I'm obviously absolutely delighted and honoured. It's been a fantastic journey working for Ascot for so long and it's nice to have it recognised.

“It's been a brilliant year at the racecourse with the King and Queen having a winner, Frankie Dettori lighting up Royal Ascot this year, a vintage King George and full fields for the Shergar Cup, so we really couldn't ask for much more.”

Smith added, “We're just about to start our overseas campaign in Australia, Japan, the United States and suchlike, looking for those horses to populate the Royal meeting. That will all start in earnest and hopefully build up to another fantastic meeting in June.”

Smith was not the only racing industry figure to be honoured, with the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (TBA)'s Julian Richmond-Watson receiving an OBE. Richard Linley was recognised with an MBE. Linley was the former British Horseracing Authority (BHA) senior inspector of courses.

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Imperatriz Tops Royal Ascot Wishlist

Representatives from Ascot have made star New Zealand mare Imperatriz (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) the top of their wishlist for the Royal Ascot meeting in June next year. Nick Smith, Ascot's Director of Racing and Public Affairs, said he believes Te Akau Racing's crown jewel would be perfect for either the G1 King's Stand S. or the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee S.

“She's showing a lot of consistency and that's what you want with travelling horses,” Smith commented. “A lot of the horses that have one good run and jump on the plane aren't as successful. But you know she's the best horse and she suits all sorts of circumstances. If she maintains her form, as most Australian sprinters do, she'll go to the top of the market.”

While Smith also added that he'd briefly spoken to Imperatriz's connections about the possibility, he included that those discussions were at a very early stage. “It's definitely one step at a time but there has been some interest expressed.”

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Ascot Racecourse to Host TIEA Awards, Chamberlin Returns to Host

Ascot Racecourse will host the 20th anniversary celebration of the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, set to be held on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024. ITV Racing's Ed Chamberlin will host the festivities for the first time since 2020.

The awards, sponsored by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and by Godolphin, honours and celebrates the skill, passion and dedication of the remarkable individuals who care for the horses. There are six award categories–Leadership Award, Dedication Award, Rider/Racing Groom Award, Stud Staff Award, Community Award (in recognition of Rory MacDonald), and David Nicholson Newcomer Award.

“We are delighted that the 2024 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards ceremony will be held at Ascot Racecourse and that Ed Chamberlin has again agreed to host the celebrations,” BHA chief executive Julie Harrington said. “Ascot is an iconic venue, renowned for quality both on and off the track–it's the ideal setting for our 20th anniversary and we are proud and very grateful that Ascot Racecourse Supports joins us as a formal partner.”

Nick Smith, director of racing and public affairs at Ascot Racecourse, commented, “It's a privilege for Ascot Racecourse to host the 2024 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards and celebrate the 20th anniversary. People are the heart and soul of this industry and we are very lucky to have so many talented, dedicated, hard-working and enthusiastic employees that help keep this industry thriving, so it is only right we celebrate the best our industry has to offer.”

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Record Prize Money of £17M at Ascot in 2023

Ascot Racecourse announced total prize money will be a record £17 million across 25 racedays in 2023, an increase of £1.33 million (8.5%) from 2022. The overall figure excludes the industry-owned QIPCO British Champions Day. Prize money for Royal Ascot 2023 will also be a record £9.52 million, up from £8.65 million (10%).

All Group 1 races will be run for a minimum of £600,000 for the first time with increases to the King's Stand S., St James's Palace S., Gold Cup, Coronation S. and Commonwealth Cup (all £500,000 in 2022), while the Queen Anne S. will be worth £750,000 (£600,000 in 2022).

The Group 2 King Edward VII S. will be increased to £250,000 (£225,000 in 2022) while two Group 2 races for fillies and mares–the Duke of Cambridge S. and Ribblesdale S.–are raised to £225,000 (from £175,000 and £200,000). Both the Group 3 Hampton Court S. and Jersey S. also receive increases to £150,000 (from £100,000 and £110,000).

As in 2022, no race at Royal Ascot will be run for less than £100,000.

Outside Royal Ascot, the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup meeting will be worth £640,000, a 15% increase, with all eight races run for £80,000 in addition to £25,000 in stable prizes. The same stable prize bonus will also be in place on QIPCO King George Diamond Day.

Nick Smith, Director of Racing and Public Affairs at Ascot Racecourse, said: “Against a backdrop of reduced central funding, an increase of more than £1.1 million or almost 14% in Executive Contribution has been required to get to this figure. That represents a significant investment and whilst many of the headline increases are at Royal Ascot, there are also boosts to Class 2 and Class 3 Handicaps on the Flat driven by the welcome increase to Minimum Values in this area. We have focused again on raising the profile of the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup which attracts international jockey talent from around the world and are delighted that each of the eight races will be worth £80,000.”

For more information, visit www.ascot.co.uk

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