QBCS To Sponsor Quartet of Autumn Juvenile Races

QIPCO British Champions Series (QBCS) will sponsor a set of maiden races this autumn to help strengthen the 2-year-old programme in Great Britain. The four races will be run at the QBCS racecourses of Doncaster, Goodwood, Newbury and York. Each race will be run for a total prize fund of £30,000.

The QIPCO British Champions Series-sponsored maidens are scheduled from late-August to October, offering a springboard to compete in the 2024 Series, which kicks off at the QIPCO 2000 Guineas in May.

David Redvers, QIPCO's representative and Racing Manager to Qatar Racing, said: “We are delighted to be supporting this initiative to boost prize money for developmental races and enhance the competitiveness of the British racing and breeding industries.”

 

The four newly sponsored races are made up as follows:

Tuesday, Aug. 29 – Newbury

QIPCO British Champions Series Maiden Fillies' S., 6f

 

Wednesday, Sept. 27 – Goodwood

QIPCO British Champions Series EBF Maiden S., 1m 2f

 

Saturday, Oct. 14 – York

Coral EBF Maiden S. (QIPCO British Champions Series 2YO Race), 1m

 

Friday, Oct. 27 – Doncaster

QIPCO British Champions Series EBF Maiden Fillies' S., 1m

 

Richard Wayman, Chief Operating Officer for the BHA, said: “Well-funded development races provide an opportunity to boost returns to owners in the early stages of their horse's career, thereby potentially supporting the yearling market and, in doing so, assisting breeders at all levels.”

For more info on QIPCO British Champions Series and Day visit www.britishchampionsseries.com

 

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QIPCO British Champions Series Launches Club 26

Club 26, a free-to-join club for young people between the ages of 18-26, was launched by the QIPCO British Champions Series on Tuesday.

Designed to encourage younger fans to attend Great Britains Flat racing during the summer, members will receive special perks in the form of reduced general admission prices at 10 different racecourses, as well as behind-the-scenes tours and raceday previews.

Club 26 will feature at all 26 QIPCO British Champions Series racedays this year, including the G1 Betfred Derby Festival at Epsom Downs, all five days at Royal Ascot in June, the Qatar Goodwood Festival at Goodwood, the Skybet Ebor Festival at York in August and the St Leger Festival at Doncaster in September.

“We are passionate about attracting young people to horseracing as future fans and participants and are very proud to launch Club 26 ahead of the QIPCO Guineas Festival,” HH Sheikh Fahad bin Abdullah Al Thani, Director of QIPCO, said. “We have lots of exciting plans for the Club and hope it educates and encourages more 18 to 26-year-olds, who are key to the future of this sport, to come racing.”

Rod Street, Chief Executive of QIPCO British Champions Series, said, “Our objective is to get a younger audience closer to horseracing, by involving them in some of the best Flat racing occasions in the calendar. Horseracing takes a bit of understanding, but by involving people more closely in the racing experience, we know the magic can rub off and create lifetime aficionados.”

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Cecil, Carson to be Inducted into QIPCO British Champions Series HOF

QIPCO British Champions Series announced the late Sir Henry Cecil and William 'Willie' Carson will be formally inducted into the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame, the official Hall of Fame for British Flat racing, with a special induction ceremony due to take place on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot Saturday Oct. 15.

Carson, who turns 80 next month, becomes the fourth jockey to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, after Lester Piggott, Pat Eddery and Frankie Dettori.

Willie Carson was crowned Champion Jockey in Britain five times and his 3,828 winners in the UK included 17 Classic triumphs, four of them in the Derby. Only three other greats have bettered his overall tally: Sir Gordon Richards (4870), Pat Eddery (4633) and Lester Piggott (4493).

He was associated with a bevy of champions, including Troy, Nashwan and Dayjur. He has enjoyed notable success as a breeder, and had the distinction of guiding Minster Son, who he himself bred, to victory in the 1988 St. Leger, making him the first jockey to breed and ride a Classic winner. He served as a broadcaster career following his retirement from the saddle, hosting the BBC's racing coverage following a stint as a captain on Question of Sport.

“It's very humbling because of where I've come from, but here I am, an ex-Champion Jockey, having ridden British Classic winners for Her Majesty the Queen and with four Derby winners,” said Carson. “I have done a few things in my life but being awarded into the Hall of Fame is one of the biggest. It is a big deal to be invited.”

“I am getting old, but I am still enjoying life. I've got the horses to keep me amused, I have the stud (Minster House); it keeps me amused, busy and working. I am still enjoying life because of the horse–the horse keeps me going.”

Also joining a very exclusive club, Cecil becomes just the second trainer to be inducted following Vincent O'Brien.

In 1976, Cecil was crowned champion for the first time, thanks in no small part to Wollow, who won the 2000 Guineas, Eclipse, Sussex S. and Juddmonte International. Cecil won the title again in 1978, 1979, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990 and 1993. Only Alec Taylor, who won the championship a dozen times between 1907 and 1925, has ever been champion on more occasions.

It was 10 years ago to the week that Cecil's most illustrious pupil–Frankel–concluded his undefeated 14-race career with victory in the QIPCO Champion S. on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot. “He's the best I've ever had, the best I've ever seen,” he said. “I'd be very surprised if there's ever been anything better.”

Eight months after Frankel's career finale, Cecil died at the age of 70.

“He was modest, and he would have been surprised to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, but he would also have felt very honoured,” said Lady Cecil, Sir Henry's widow, who played a key role in the latter part of Sir Henry's career. “I'm delighted as I think he's a very worthy inductee. I hope he will prove to be a popular choice.”

“Henry never understood why or how he was popular. When he had a runner at Newmarket, the reception he got was always amazing. I remember after he died, I was lucky enough to have a winner at Newmarket. The crowd used to come and cheer, and I knew it was for Henry. He was so popular–when I do the Discover Newmarket tours to raise money for the East Anglian Children's Hospice, they come to see Frankel but invariably they talk about Henry. They have so many stories about how Henry chatted to them, the kindness he showed. He was very special.”

Lady Cecil and Willie Carson, who will both attend QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot this weekend, will be presented with a prestigious medal in recognition of the inductions into the Hall of Fame.

Unique to British racing the medals, which were hand-crafted by Asprey, can also be viewed during the day as part of a special Hall of Fame display which will be held within the Grandstand at Ascot. For more information, click here.

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QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame Announced

The QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame, the first official Hall of Fame for British Flat racing honouring the champions of the sport, will be unveiled on Monday, Apr. 26, QIPCO announced on Wednesday.

Marking the 10th year QIPCO has sponsored the British Champions Series which started in 2011, the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame will immortalise the modern greats of British Flat racing-both human and equine-from 1970 onward. (Click here to view a highlights reel of modern greats). New members of the Hall of Fame will be inducted twice annually during the Flat season-ahead of the QIPCO Guineas Festival at Newmarket in May and in October in advance of the QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot. The Hall of Fame will exist online, and, in addition to featuring a range of expertly-curated written, pictorial and video content that pay tribute to Hall of Famers, as well as figures of historical importance, will tell racing's story from its beginning in the 17th century to modern day.

Visitors to the site will be able to register their details to receive updates as more Hall of fame content is added, including the inaugural Hall of Fame class prior to the start of the QIPCO Guineas Festival. The site will be updated throughout the summer and fall chronicling some of racing's most important moments and influential figures from the 17th-20th centuries. Visit www.Horseracinghof.com to register.

Sheikh Fahad bin Abdullah Al-Thani, Director of QIPCO Holding, said, “My Brothers and I are passionate about British flat racing and its rich history and heritage which makes it the envy of other racing jurisdictions the world over. We are delighted to announce the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame, which will honour the tremendous contributions made to British flat racing and will celebrate our most significant and important stars and their achievements.

“When I first got involved in British racing, I was captivated by racing's rich history and I hope that the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame will engage and excite existing and new fans by shining a light on the sport's most important figures.”

Rod Street, Chief Executive Officer of QIPCO British Champions Series, added, “British Champions Series, which showcases the finest flat racing, is the perfect home for a Hall of Fame. Over the past decade, QIPCO have been dedicated and committed partners of British Racing and our thanks go to them for their support of the QIPCO British Champions Hall of Fame and for helping to make this a reality. Our racing is the best in the world and we are delighted to be able to honour our greats through this exciting new initiative.”

Each Hall of Fame class will be selected from a quartet of categories-horses, jockeys, trainer and major contributors consisting of owners, breeders and other leading figures. Although the total number of inductees per year will remain flexible, at least one horse, jockey and trainer will join the Hall of Fame annually.

The following independent panel of horseracing experts will select the Hall of Fame members for the 2021/2022 classes:

  • Martin Mitchell, Former Tattersalls Bloodstock Director
  • Emma Berry, European Editor, Thoroughbred Daily News
  • Brough Scott, Racing Broadcaster and Journalist
  • Jamie Lynch, Racing Broadcaster and Journalist
  • James Delahooke, International Bloodstock Agent
  • Lydia Hislop, Racing Broadcaster and Journalist
  • Alan Byrne, Editor-in-Chief, Racing Post
  • Ruth Quinn, Racing Director, BHA

There will also be an annual shortlist of horses to be put to the public vote, with the winning horse also joining the Hall of Fame in October each year. Inductees will be honoured with a prestigious medal designed by Asprey to mark their achievement.

Panel member Brough Scott said,”I am really thrilled and honoured to have been asked to be part of the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame Judging Panel. Most of all because I have long believed in the idea and am really grateful for QIPCO and the British Champions Series to have brought it about. Being inducted into the Hall of Fame will be a true accolade at the pinnacle of the sport and I look forward to the panel's discussions on who is to be honoured in this way.”

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