Season XI of the All-Weather Championships is set to kick off on Tuesday, Oct. 17, and culminates back at the same venue with the £1-million All-Weather Championships Finals Day on Mar. 29, 2024, with the £395,000 All-Weather Championships Vase set for the same day at Lingfield Park.
This year there are some notable changes to the structure of the All-Weather Championships, including removing the 'Fast Track Qualifier' status from races which previously earned horses a guaranteed entry to the Final in each category. The rule requiring three runs on an all-weather racing surface in Britain [at either Chelmsford City, Kempton Park, Lingfield Park, Newcastle, Southwell or Wolverhampton, Ireland or France to qualify for the Newcastle and Lingfield Park fixtures remains, and one of the three runs can take place in either Dubai or Saudi Arabia.
Prize-money values will remain unchanged with each Final continuing to offer £150,000, with the Middle-Distance Final set at £200,000.
New for Season XI will be two All-Weather Championships Trials Day fixtures, hosting a series of £45,000 open handicaps at Newcastle on Jan. 1 and Lingfield Park on Mar. 1. The winner of each race will be eligible for free entry to the corresponding Finals Day race at Newcastle and a £30,000 bonus should they go on to also win the finals. Any horse that wins at both All-Weather Trials Days in the same category and goes on to also win at Newcastle will be eligible for a total bonus of £75,000.
ARC also announced the return of the £1-million All-Weather Bonus Scheme earlier this year, which will once again offer monthly, and end of season, rewards to the most consistent performers across the groups four all-weather racecourses. The scheme runs in conjunction with the All-Weather Championships, starting on the same date, Oct. 17.
“The All-Weather Championships is a popular competition throughout the winter months,” Managing Director of ARC's Racing Division, Mark Spincer, said. “We have, however, looked at the structure of the programme, in conjunction with the BHA, that ultimately leads horses to either Newcastle or Lingfield Park on Good Friday and made a few adjustments.”
For more information, please visit the All-Weather Championships website.
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