Ascot Racecourse

The 2020 financial results were announced by Ascot Racecourse on Wednesday. Total turnover was down by 77% due to COVID-19 restrictions with only two racedays being held with spectators and another 18 run behind closed doors. There were also five lost racedays due to the pandemic and one abandonment due to inclement weather. Pandemic insurance and support from the UK Government through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and business rates relief prevented a pre-tax loss of over £31 million. In addition, the staff were restructured to adjust to pandemic trading...

A pair of wins for Nicola Currie saw the jockey win the Alistair Haggis "Silver Saddle" Trophy and assist the Ladies Team to Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup glory at Ascot. Going into the finale, the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Dash, the Ladies Team had a five-point advantage, but Team Ireland finished first and second with Joe Fanning and Tadhg O'Shea. Currie was third, giving the Shergar Cup to the Ladies Team by three points with 69 points. Ireland was second on 66 points, with Great Britain third with...

The four teams for Saturday's Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup jockey competition at Ascot have been confirmed, with three jockeys comprising each team. This year's Derby winning jockey Adam Kirby will captain Team Great Britain, on which he will be joined by Cieren Fallon and James Doyle. This year's G1 Gold Cup-winning rider Joe Fanning leads Team Ireland, which is also made up of David Egan and Tadhg O'Shea. Hayley Turner, the most successful rider in the history of the Shergar Cup, captains the Ladies Team which also includes Mickaelle...

Saturday's G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco S. at Ascot may have been whittled down to just five following the withdrawal of Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), but it will be remembered as one of the finest renewals since the turn of the century as the G1 Epsom Derby hero Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) became the first since Galileo (Ire) to bring up the cherished double. Placed prominently and racing freely early for William Buick as the slow-starting Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) was gradually cajoled to the...

Entering Saturday's G3 Princess Margaret Keeneland S. off an impressive maiden win over this six-furlong trip at Newmarket June 25, Saeed Al Tayer's Zain Claudette (Ire) (No Nay Never) was produced in the nick of time by the young weighing room talent Ray Dawson to nose out Desert Dreamer (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in a brief rainstorm at Ascot. Held up towards the rear early racing alongside the eventual runner-up, the 15-2 shot came stand's side of the pack while that 9-4 favourite was taken far side in what amounted...

Godolphin's €260,000 Arqana Select yearling New Science (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) backed up a May 28 debut success going a shade over seven furlongs at Great Yarmouth with a seventh-of-10 effort when contesting a stellar renewal of Royal Ascot's June 19 Listed Chesham S. last time. He was sent postward with crowd support for Saturday's Listed Pat Eddery S. tackling the Berkshire venue's same seven-furlong strip and delivered a game display to register a career high. Steadied to settle off the pace in fifth until taking closer order approaching...

There was very little on form between the main protagonists for Saturday's G2 Summer Mile at Ascot, but one who did have some play in his profile was Tilsit (First Defence) and the Juddmonte homebred duly made that class edge tell to prevail for a career-best success. Last seen finishing a head second to Skalleti (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) in the G1 Prix d'Ispahan over an extra furlong and 55 yards at ParisLongchamp May 30, the 4-1 favourite followed Century Dream (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) wide of the other runners throughout...

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...

Guy Henderson will retire from his position as chief executive officer of Ascot after next year's Royal meeting, which will be his eighth in that position. Henderson said, "We make this announcement as the process to appoint the next CEO begins. Meanwhile, it remains business as usual as we deliver the remainder of the 2021 racing and events programme and build towards Royal Ascot 2022 in the Platinum Jubilee year. This will be a unique event at Ascot about which we are all very excited." Sir Francis Brooke, Her Majesty's...

Ascot Racecourse will fund the Professional Jockeys Association's Career Ending Insurance scheme for a period of one month while the PJA continues discussions with industry stakeholders to establish a sustainable long-term funding solution. The scheme pays out a capital sum should a jockey suffer a career-ending injury. The scheme was traditionally funded through commercial sponsorship but for the last two years has been paid for out of PJA reserves, assisted for the last six months by a grant from the Horserace Betting Levy Board. Jon Holmes, chairman of the PJA,...

Insurance broker Howden is now an official partner of Ascot Racecourse, the organisation announced on Monday. The five-year deal will run from 2021 to 2025. The insurance broker is well known in the racing industry as they arrange specialist equine insurance solutions for equestrian associations, racecourses, racehorse trainers, stud farms, riding schools and horse owners. Founded by David Howden who is also the president of the Cornbury House Horse Trials, Howden will have extensive branding at every live raceday at Ascot, including the five days of Royal Ascot this year...

Bjorn Nielsen's triple G1 Gold Cup hero Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) halted the longest losing streak of his career with a first success in Wednesday's G3 Longines Sagaro S. tackling two miles of his favoured Ascot stomping ground. Backing up another Royal triumph by snaffling a fourth G1 Goodwood Cup in July, the homebred chestnut was edged out by ill-fated G1 Epsom Derby hero Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in ParisLongchamp's G2 Prix Foy in September and was not disgraced when seventh back over the same course...