2012 Prize Money At Royal Ascot Increased To £4,500,000

Ascot Racecourse announces today that the Total Prize Fund for this year’s Royal Meeting will be £4,500,000, an increase of £715,000 on 2011 values.

The Prince of Wales’s Stakes, being run this year as “The 150th Anniversary of The Prince Of Wales’s Stakes,” and The Diamond Jubilee Stakes, will both be run for £500,000, an increase of £100,000 in each instance.

The Queen Anne Stakes, Gold Cup and King’s Stand Stakes will be worth £350,000 this year, representing increases of £100,000 for the first two named and £50,000 for the latter.

The Hardwicke Stakes has doubled in value to £200,000 and there will be no penalties to be carried by Group One or Group Two winners this year.

The King Edward VII Stakes will be run for £150,000 (£140,000 in 2011); The Ribblesdale Stakes will be run for £125,000 (£100,000 in 2011); The Wokingham and Royal Hunt Cup will be run for £125,000 (£100,000 in 2011); The Buckingham Palace will be run for £75,000 (£50,000 in 2011) and The Duke of Edinburgh will be run for £70,000 (£50,000 in 2011).

In addition, £5,000 has been added to the value of seven races previously run for £50,000, to increase the minimum prize money at the meeting to £55,000.

Charles Barnett, Chief Executive at Ascot, said:

“In an increasingly competitive international environment, it is crucial for Europe’s flagship race meeting to invest in prize money and we are delighted to announce a near 20% increase on last year’s Total Prize Fund in this respect.

“At Group One level, we have increased the value of the races which historically attract interest from around the world and those that we feel have the most scope to do so in the future.

“The Hardwicke is a race that we are very keen to build as it comfortably achieves Group One ratings on a regular basis. In order to attract Group One and Group Two winners further, the penalties have been removed and the race has doubled in value.

“Ensuring that the whole Royal Ascot programme on a domestic level moves forward is as important as investing in the Pattern races, and we have increased the value of several handicaps, including the flagship Royal Hunt Cup and Wokingham.”

The Royal Ascot Group One races close on Tuesday, April 24.

Further Information:

Charles Barnett: Chief Executive, 01344 878501

Nick Smith: Head of Communications, 07771 791449