Provision Made For Champions Day Course Switch

A provision has been made that will allow officials to move races on the round course to the inner track at Ascot on British Champions Day should the ground have 'heavy' in the going description at morning inspection. The previous rule stated that the inner course, which is normally used only for jumps races, could only be considered in an abandonment situation.

The course will be inspected by Clerk of the Course Chris Stickels as per usual on the morning of the race. If he gives “heavy” in the going description or indeed chooses not to do so in a marginal call, an independent panel will also assess the ground. The panel will decide whether there is heavy anywhere on the outer course, which would trigger the switch.

The inner track was used for the fixture in 2019, but went ahead as planned on the outer course last year despite conditions being very soft.

Nick Smith, director of racing and public affairs at Ascot, said, “Using the cambered outer course with wider bends is obviously the ideal on Qipco British Champions Day. However, following discussions with the BHA, there is agreement that racing on heavy ground, if it can be avoided, is best for the day as a whole. Importantly, we are not setting out to penalise horses that prefer cut in the ground, which more often than not will be the prevailing conditions in autumn. In all likelihood, when heavy is in the going description on the outer course, the inner course will still be predominantly soft. Given the potential sensitivity around a switch of surfaces in a marginal situation, Chris has recommended that an independent panel verifies his assessment on the day.”

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Armed Forces Announced as Official Charities for Royal Ascot

The three principal single Service Armed Forces charities–the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, ABF The Soldiers' Charity and the RAF Benevolent Fund, are the official nominated charity partners for Royal Ascot 2021.

Traditionally, the charities have been supported and promoted on the penultimate day of racing at the Royal meeting, with more than £20,000 raised from bucket collections alone on the Friday. This year, they will have a presence across all five days of the meeting in an attempt to raise funds, which have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ascot Racecourse will work in concert with the Armed Forces charities to raise awareness of their work by promoting the personal stories of servicemen and servicewomen through digital content, on-course activations and in the Royal Ascot racecard.

As in years past, Ascot will be making its own donation of a portion of sales rom certain food and beverage in addition to 1% of sale by concessionaires during the Friday program.

Ascot Racecourse will also be making a donation from the sale of its Royal Ascot Hampers which are available to purchase from the Online Ascot Shop. £5 for each two-person hamper sold and £10 for each six-person hamper sold will be donated to the Armed Forces charities.

Nick Smith, Director of Racing and Public Affairs for Ascot, said: “Typically, racegoers really engage with the three charities on the Friday and it will be fantastic to see some of the military personnel and volunteers back on site through the week.

“Having been unable to welcome them last year due to the pandemic, we are really pleased to extend our relationship across all five days and look forward to helping them raise much needed funds and awareness of the work they do.”

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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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King George Purse Set At £400,000

The G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. at Ascot on July 25 will be worth £400,000. Minimum prize money for a Group 1 in Britain post lockdown has been £250,000.

Nick Smith, Director of Racing and Public Affairs at Ascot, said, “With the deeply appreciated support of our Official Partner and race sponsor, QIPCO, we will be running this year’s King George at £400,000. In doing so, we are maintaining our policy of contributing significant executive contribution to our flagship races which began with £1.7-million being added across the Royal Ascot programme. We are paying executive contribution for all pattern and listed races, including approximately £250,000 for the King George after estimated owners’ stakes.

“We have maintained entry fees at 1.25% for the King George, rather than increasing to the new 2% limit for Group 1 races. This mirrors the policy for Royal Ascot where entry fees were maintained at the 2019 percentages at all race levels. We wish to make entering as appealing as possible for owners across the spectrum at a time where, unavoidably, prize money nationally is having to be reduced significantly without paying crowds. In our case, 70% of annual income comes from racegoers’ attendance and spend. All Ascot races will have previous standard entry fees in 2020.

“We are very much looking forward to QIPCO King George Diamond Weekend and Enable’s hat trick bid.”

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