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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