Ascot Racecourse

Noor Elaine Farm's multiple pattern-race winner Asfoora (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}--Golden Child {Aus}, by I Am Invincible {Aus}), who placed twice in elite-level sprints Down Under, benefitted from a Oisin Murphy masterclass and pounced late to secure a sixth renewal for Australia in Tuesday's G1 King Charles III S., the rebranded King's Stand S., at Royal Ascot. It is a "Win and You're In" for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint in the autumn. The Henry Dwyer-trained mare broke smartly and accepted a tow from Regional (GB) (Territories {Ire}), racing...

Ascot Racecourse and the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) have signed a new strategic partnership this week, acknowledging the unique ties between the two "sister" tracks, it was announced on Tuesday. The signatories are Ascot chairman and His Majesty's representative, Sir Francis Brooke, and Neil Wilson, chairman of the Victoria Racing Club. Both courses stage their nations' premier Flat meetings and they work together on various race planning initiatives, which have led to multiple runners in the Royal Ascot sprints from Australia and numerous runners in the Melbourne Cup and other...

Having secured a maiden pattern-race win in Germany earlier in the campaign, fledgling jockey Billy Loughnane registered a career high when steering the twice-raced maiden and Brian Meehan trainee Rashabar (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}--Amazonka {Ire}, by Camelot {GB}), racing in the famed Robert Sangster silks, to a narrow victory in Tuesday's G2 Coventry S. at Royal Ascot. The 80-1 outsider, who placed in maidens at Newbury and Chester prior to this black-type bow, broke smartly and raced in a leading wave of three at the head of the smaller...

A five-year agreement aimed at strengthening and growing pool betting in the UK was signed by Ascot Racecourse and the Tote on Thursday. Beginning on Jan. 1, 2024, the agreement ensures all pool bets placed on racing from Ascot Racecourse will continue to support liquidity in the UK pool which has been operated by the UK Tote Group since October 2019. The "Bet with Ascot" brand is included under this umbrella of bets as long as the bets are placed on the Tote website, through bookmakers and third-party partners on...

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...

A pair of runners competing during Kentucky Derby week at Churchill Downs, the home of the Kentucky Derby, will be offered wild card entries for Epsom's 3-year-old Classics contested four weeks later. The winner of Churchill's $500,000 GII Edgewood S., contested on the Kentucky Oaks undercard May 3, will receive an entry and travel incentive to run in the G1 Betfred Oaks at Epsom May 31. In the colt's division, a runner from the $500,000 GII American Turf S., scheduled for Kentucky Derby Day May 4, will receive an entry...

The total prize-money at Ascot Racecourse in 2024 will increase to £17.5 million, the racecourse announced on Wednesday. This marks a 3.9% increase on 2023's total of £16.8 million. Royal Ascot's prize-money has been raised to an even £10 million, with no races contested at less than £110,000, up from £100,000. All Group 1 races at the iconic stand will be worth £650,000, an increase of £50,000 per race. The affected races include the King Charles III S. (formerly the King's Stand S.), the St James's Palace S., the Gold...

David and Yvonne Blunt's G2 Lancashire Oaks victrix Poptronic (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}--Alpine Dream {Ire}), by Dream Ahead) finished off the board in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks and G1 Prix de Royallieu, but bounced back in brave fashion and made all for a career best in Saturday's G1 Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares S. at Ascot. The 22-1 chance was swiftly into stride from an outer gate and led at a solid clip throughout. Coming under pressure turning for home, she refused to yield under a Sam James drive in...

Godolphin's homebred Trawlerman (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}--Tidespring {Ire}, by Monsun {Ger}), fresh off an 18-length rout in the Listed Jockey Club Rose Bowl S. at Newmarket, overcame seafaring conditions and bettered a third in last year's G2 Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup to secure a career high in this term's renewal of the marathon test at Ascot. Last year's Ebor H. victor was caught between two stools and raced in an isolated second off the clear leader through halfway and inched ahead with five furlongs remaining. Taken on and...

Listed winner Purosangue (GB) (Aclaim {Ire}) (lot 5) is a new addition to the upcoming Goffs QIPCO Champions Day Sale at Ascot on Saturday, Oct. 21. The wildcard landed last weekend's Listed Rockingham S. at York. He was previously thrice runner-up in the Listed Rosebery S., the Listed Roses S., and the G3 Molecomb S. Consigned by Andrew Balding's Park House Stables, the 2-year-old is from the family of stakes winners Saigon (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}) and Tabaret (GB) (Bertolini). The sale will begin at 11:10 a.m. on Saturday prior...

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...

Four-time Group 1 winner Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) will be freshened until a likely start on QIPCO British Champions Day in October, trainer Aidan O'Brien revealed. After breaking his maiden at second asking at two, the Coolmore partners runner won his first six starts at three, including the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas, G1 St James's Palace S., G1 Eclipse and the G1 Sussex S. He suffered only his second career loss when a game third to Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Juddmonte International S. at York on Wednesday....