Ascot’s Shergar Cup 1980s concert...spotlight on China Crisis

Looking ahead to the spectacular three hour 1980s Here and Now post Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup concert on Saturday 6th August, each week we are focussing on one of the acts performing in the concert and this week is the turn of China Crisis.

Last, but by no means least, the line up of '80s legends is completed by China Crisis - a British rock band formed in 1979 in Kirby, Merseyside with a core consisting of vocalist/keyboardist Garry Daly and guitarist Eddie Lundon. Thier music was a similar style to that of the New Wave, but had strong similarities to the post-punk movement of the '80s. They became successful between 1982 and 1987 with six albums and ten hit singles including 'Christian', 'Wishful Thinking' and 'Black Man Ray'.

Tickets for the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup on Saturday 6th August, including the Here and Now concert, start from £26. Please note we have now SOLD OUT of Premier Admission tickets. To book, or for further information, call 0870 727 1234 or visit ascot.co.uk

Ascot’s Shergar Cup 1980s concert...spotlight on Brother Beyond

Looking ahead to the spectacular two and three quarter hour 1980s Here and Now post Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup concert on Saturday 6th August, each week we are focussing on one of the acts performing in the concert and this week is the turn of Brother Beyond.

Brother Beyond, was a British boy band that saw mainstream success in the latter half of the shoulder pad decade. The group first released ‘I Should Have Lied’ and ‘How Many Times’, but it wasn’t until Brother Beyond won a charity auction along with label EMI to work with Stock, Aitken and Waterman - considered one of the most successful song writing and producing partnerships of all time - that they hit the big time. The group went on to release some of their most memorable tracks ‘The Harder I Try’, ‘He Aint No Competition’ and ‘Be My Twin’. This year, Brother Beyond re-released their album ‘Get Even’ along with four bonus tracks.

Tickets for the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup on Saturday 6th August, including the Here and Now concert, start from £26. To book, or for further information, call 0870 727 1234 or visit ascot.co.uk.

Ascot’s Shergar Cup 1980s concert...spotlight on Odyssey

Looking ahead to the spectacular 1980s Here and Now post Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup concert on Saturday 6th August, each week we are focussing on one of the acts gracing Ascot’s Old Paddock lawns and this week is the turn of Odyssey.
Odyssey takes the tally of bands for the Shergar Cup 80s concert to seven. The New York based group grew out of the trio Lillian, Louise and Carmen Lopez. Tony Reynolds - a singer from the Philippines - joined the group and Odyssey was formed.

The group didn’t have much success state side, but after launching themselves in the UK they had a number one hit with ‘Use It Up and Wear It Out’. The band members have changed over the years, but the very best of Odyssey still goes strong with Steven Callazo, Annis Peters and Tahira Jumah singing some of their classic numbers. ‘Native New Yorker’, ‘If you’re Looking For A Way Out’ and ‘Going Back To My Roots’ will ring around the world famous Berkshire track.

Tickets for the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup on Saturday 6th August, including the Here and Now concert, start from £26. To book, or for further information, call 0870 727 1234 or visit ascot.co.uk.

Ascot’s Shergar Cup 1980s concert...spotlight on Paul Young

As some of the finest jockeys in the world descend upon Ascot Racecourse for this year’s Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup on Saturday 6th August, we look ahead to the spectacular 1980s Here and Now post racing concert. In the run up to the raceday, each week we are focussing on one of the acts performing in the concert and this week is the turn of Paul Young.

The fourth act of the terrific Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup concert line-up is Paul Young. Paul was interested in music from a young age, preferring the then unpopular style of music, Soul. He continued with his ambition to be a singer which has now made him one of the most respected British singers of all time.

Paul had a top 20 hit with his group Streetband in the late 1970’s but the band broke up and he formed Q-Tips. For 3 years the band played over 600 shows throughout the UK and Europe allowing Paul to introduce himself to the British public. This helped lead the way for his fantastic solo career, with chart topping hits such as ‘Wherever I Lay My Hat’ and ‘Come Back and Stay’. He has continued to write and record his soulful music for his fans all over the world for the past two decades.

Tickets for the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup on Saturday 6th August, including the Here and Now concert, start from £26. To book, or for further information, call 0870 727 1234 or visit ascot.co.uk.

Ascot’s Shergar Cup 1980s concert...spotlight on Jimmy Somerville

As some of the finest jockeys in the world descend upon Ascot Racecourse on Saturday 6th August, we look ahead to the spectacular 1980s Here and Now concert after this year’s Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup. In the run up to the raceday, each week we focus on one of the acts performing in the concert and this week is the turn of Jimmy Somerville.
Jimmy Somerville is renowned for his unusually high pitched voice in the group Bronski Beat which had a number of hits in the British charts, including its most famous ‘Small Town Boy’. In 1985, Jimmy left Bronski Beat to form The Communards, which had two successful albums and stayed in the charts with a cover version of the famous soul classic ‘Don’t Leave Me This Way’.

In 1989, Jimmy launched his solo career with five more hit singles and two albums. His popularity has continued to the present day and Jimmy released his Bright Thing EP in 2011 with four new original tracks which he wrote and performed himself.

Tickets for the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup on Saturday 6th August, including the Here and Now concert, start from £26. To book, or for further information, call 0870 727 1234 or visit ascot.co.uk.

Adrian Edmondson and The Bad Shepherds to play the Ascot Beer Festival

You can expect more than just excellent quality racing at the 5th Ascot Racecourse Beer Festival in association with CAMRA and Fuller’s on Friday 30th September and Saturday 1st October. With the help of the Berkshire South East branch of CAMRA and Fuller’s, Ascot Racecourse will be showcasing over 200 beers, ciders and perries predominantly from local craft brewers and stunning live music.
Ascot has announced that Adrian Edmondson and the Bad Shepherds will play live on the Saturday of the Beer Festival. The Bad Shepherds will be entertaining racegoers by playing punk songs on folk instruments. The band believes the songs by The Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Stranglers, The Jam, Sham 69, The Undertones, The Buzzcocks, The Ramones, The Specials, Talking Heads, Squeeze and others bands of a similar genre are better than people remember.
Adrian Edmondson of the Bad Shepherds stated, ‘The Bad Shepherds are all in training for our appearance at Ascot Racecourse - I am good for two furlongs as long as the ground is not too firm. Unfortunately, Troy Donockley is not much good over jumps but Andy Dinan goes quite quickly if you dangle free beer tokens in front of his face…’
John Blake, Head of Sales and Marketing at the Berkshire track, added: ‘The Ascot Beer Festival continues to go from strength to strength. Since its inception, we have gone from selling 6,500 pints in 2007 to a massive 23,000 pints in 2010. The introduction of a live act such as Adrian Edmonson and the Bad Shepherds on the Saturday heralds in a new era for the Ascot Beer Festival and establishes it as one of the must-attend Beer Festivals in the UK’.
Tickets start from just £12 on the Friday and £17 on the Saturday. To book call 0870 727 1234 or visit ascot.co.uk. Gates and bars open at 11am with the first race at 2pm. A voucher system will be in operation for all Beer Festival ales, perries and ciders. A half pint is priced at £1.50 and a pint £3.00. A limited edition commemorative oversized pint glass is available for £4 as well as Ascot Tercentenery Ale brewed by Fuller’s to commemorate Ascot’s 300th year.

Ascot’s Shergar Cup 1980s concert...spotlight on Kid Creole and the Coconuts

The world’s finest jockeys descend upon Ascot Racecourse on Saturday 6th August to compete in the coveted Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup. In the run up to this prestigious tournament, each week we are focussing on one of the acts performing in the concert. This week is the turn of Kid Creole.
Kid Creole and the Coconuts, formed in 1980 after Dr Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band split up. August Darnell - the bassist from the band - adopted the name Kid Creole and formed his group along with a glamorous trio of female backing vocalists known as the Coconuts. This peculiar name was inspired by Cab Calloway and Hollywood films of the 1930s and 40s. For over 30 years the band have been entertaining thousands of crowds around the world, recording 23 albums which included hits like ‘Lifeboat Party’, ‘Gina Gina’, ‘I’m A Wonderful Thing’ and ‘Me No Pop I’.

Tickets for the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup (Saturday 6th August), including the Here and Now concert, start from £26. To book, or for further information, call 0870 727 1234 or visit ascot.co.uk

Ascot’s Shergar Cup 1980s concert...spotlight on Jason Donovan

As some of the finest jockeys in the world descend upon Ascot Racecourse on Saturday 6th August, we look ahead to the spectacular 1980s Here and Now concert after this year’s Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup. In the run up to the raceday, each week we will focus on one of the acts performing in the concert. Kicking off this trip down memory lane is Australian legend Jason Donovan.

Jason Donovan shot to fame in the Australian soap opera Neighbours as Scott Robinson. Jason went on to have a successful pop career with many hits like ‘Nothing Can Divide Us’, ‘Especially for You’ (with Kylie Minogue) and ‘Everyday I Love You More’. He has sold over 3 million records in the UK with his debut album ‘Ten Good Reasons’ selling over 1.5 million copies alone making it the highest selling album of 1989.
Jason has not only wowed his audience as a pop singer, but he has also performed the lead in many West End shows such as ‘Joseph & The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat’, ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’ and most recently ‘Priscilla Queen Of The Desert’. After re-launching his career in I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! in 2006, Jason went on to produce his ‘Greatest Hits’ album and in 2010 released his 5th album ‘Soundtrack of the 80s’.

Tickets for the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup (Saturday 6th August), including the Here and Now concert, start from £26. To book, or for further information, call 0870 727 1234 or visit www.ascot.co.uk

The Best of the '80s comes to Ascot for the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup

Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup: Saturday 6th August 2011

The legendary Toyah

Kid Creole with his Coconuts

Aussie star and all round good bloke, Jason Donovan

Ascot Racecourse has announced its much anticipated line up for the ‘80s concert after racing on Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Day on Saturday 6th August.

To mark the Royal Racecourse’s 300th anniversary and the 10th anniversary of promoter Here and Now, there will be no fewer than ten acts performing a two and a half hour set of their greatest hits from the 1980’s after racing. The full line-up is as follows:
• Jason Donovan
• Kid Creole & The Coconuts
• Jimmy Somerville
• Paul Young
• Toyah
• China Crisis
• Odyssey
• Altered Images
• Brother Beyond
• Visage

Aussie legend Jason Donovan is very excited about the prospect of playing at the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup: ‘I can’t wait to perform at Ascot on the Here and Now Tour when the days are longer and warmer - it should be a great day and I’m really looking forward to it!’

Kid Creole added: ‘Ascot - 300 years - and still going strong. What a thrill to be associated with an idea that conjures up the very ingredients that I adore: hats, glamour, tradition, heritage, flamboyance, competition, thrills and romance ..... Perfect!’

Colm McLoughlin, Managing Director of the event's title sponsor, Dubai Duty Free said, ‘It's a terrific line-up and will provide the perfect finale for a unique day's racing.’

John Blake, Head of Sales and Marketing at Ascot Racecourse, said. ‘We are delighted that so many stars from the 80s have agreed to play Ascot. The day is always very special with racegoers dressing up in their best 80’s gear, which all adds to the wonderful family friendly atmosphere’.

This unique raceday begins with the chance to meet the jockeys taking part at the autograph signing session. To complement the party mood on this Family Day, one of five at the racecourse in 2011, there will be fairground rides available throughout afternoon – all free of charge.

Ticket start from just £26 per person and can be purchased at www.ascot.co.uk or by calling 0870 727 1234. Generous group and advance discounts apply. Ticket on sale from 11th January 2011.

New for 2011: The Ascot Family Day Pass: In celebration of Ascot’s tercentenary, customers can buy a Grandstand Admission ticket to include all five Family Days in 2011 for just £39.99 per person when booking before 1st April 2011. This is a huge saving of over £54. Grandstand Admission tickets for Family Days are usually £17 per person except for the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup, when they are priced at £26 per person. So, this really is exceptional value for money! Under 18s are admitted free on all Ascot racedays.

For further information:
John Blake, Head of Sales and Marketing, Ascot Racecourse; 01344 878512 / 07917 521429
Tony Denton, Managing Director, Tony Denton Promotions, 020 8447 9411: www.here-and-now.info

Please contact John Blake for logos and images of all the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup acts.

Save £54 with the 2011 Ascot Family Day Pass

The 2011 Ascot Family Day Pass gets the thumbs up from Scotty!

Ascot first raced on 11th August 1711 which means next year will be our 300th birthday!

Look out for lots of fun activities and special events throughout 2011 to celebrate our tercentenary. We have five Family Day dates for your diary in 2011. Further details will follow in due course.

· Sunday 10th April: Countryside Alliance Raceday
· Sunday 24th July: Betfair Weekend Family Fun Day
· Saturday 6th August: Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup and ‘80s Concert
· Saturday 29th October: United House Group Day and Firework Spectacular
· Saturday 17th December: Christmas Raceday

In celebration of our 300th Birthday you can now buy a Grandstand Admission ticket to include all five Family Days in 2011 for just £39.99 per person when booking before 1st April 2011. This is a whopping saving of over £54. Grandstand Admission tickets for Family Days are usually £17 per person expect for the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup when they are priced at £25. So, this really is great value for money!

Simply quote Family Day Pass Offer when booking. To book, call 0870 727 1234 and talk to a member of the Sales Team. Don’t forget; kids under 18 go FREE! Offer limited to four 2011 Family Day Passes per household and must be booked before 1st April 2011.

The Benefits of becoming an Ascot Annual Badgeholder in 2011

The 2011 Ascot Annual Badge marking Ascot's tercentenary.

Learn more about the benefit of becoming an Ascot Annual Badgeholder in 2011. For just £320 including VAT in 2011, the Ascot Annual Badgeholder benefits include:

• Access to the Racecourse and the Premier Admission areas on all 21 Ascot racedays outside Royal Ascot (Tuesday 14th to Saturday 18th June 2011).


• Premier Admission access to British Champions' Day (Saturday 15th October 2011).


• A comprehensive calendar of over 30 reciprocal dates, including Future Champions' Day at Newmarket (Saturday 8th October 2011).


• Exclusive half price tickets on all days of Royal Ascot (maximum of four per person per day of Royal Ascot).


• An Ascot Badgeholder metal badge and Badgeholder passcard. For existing Badgeholders, as soon as your renewal form is received, we will issue you a new passcard to allow you access into the Racecourse on all the relevant 2011 racedays. For new Badgeholders, a passport sized photograph will be required.


• The opportunity to purchase metal guest badges with passcards.


• Exclusive access to the Trackside Room, a private bar and restaurant facility located in the west end of the Grandstand offering a full bar facility, tea and coffee, hot dish of the day, sandwiches, baguettes and cakes.


• Ascot Badgeholders are permitted to bring one accompanied Premier Admission guest into the Trackside Room on all racedays except Saturday 23rd July, Saturday 6th August, Saturday 15th October and Saturday 17th December.


• Access to the Ascot Badgeholders’ viewing area on Level 2 of the Grandstand.


• Access to Premier Admission on Level 4 of the Grandstand.


• A car parking space in Car Park 1 or Car Park 2 at all 21 racedays.


• Free copy of the Royal Ascot Magazine.

Children and Grandchildren aged 17 and under are welcome in the Trackside Room on all days.
Up to two tickets at half price to any day outside Royal Ascot to entertain friends and family.
The Ascot Badgeholder metal badge should be worn so that it is clearly visible at all times. In the event of an Ascot Badgeholder losing his or her badge, passcard or car park label an administration fee of £25 will be charged for replacements.

The Ascot Badgeholder passcard will act as the entrance ticket on the day of the meeting. Once inside the course, the metal badge will allow access to the Ascot Badgeholders’ facilities.

For further information, or to join, call 01344 878 513 or visit http://www.ascot.co.uk/?page=Racing_Information

A Preview of the 2010 Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup at Ascot

The Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup is the world’s premier international jockeys’ team competition. Three world-class riders will represent each of Great Britain (GBR), Ireland (IRE), Europe (EUR) and the Rest of the World (ROW).
The six races are limited to 10 runners with either two or three horses racing for each team (this will balance itself out over the course of the afternoon), and points are awarded on a 15, 10, 7, 5, 3 basis to the first five horses home (non runners score 4 points). Subject to full fields, each jockey has five rides and the team with the highest total after the sixth race lifts the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup.
All six races are handicaps and all will be run with identical prize money - £30,000 per race. Owners have a fantastic opportunity on Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Day - there are no entry fees for the races, there is prize money down to last place (with reserves that miss out on a run paid £500 travel money) and there is complimentary hospitality throughout the day.
Dubai Duty Free has been associated with the Shergar Cup since its inception, initially as team sponsor of the Rest of the World team and as a race sponsor. In 2006, the company became title sponsor of the whole event for the first time.
Captain for the GBR Team is Hayley Turner, riding in her fourth Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup and the most successful female rider Britain has ever produced. She will be joined by Ascot-born Jim Crowley, who is enjoying a fantastic season as stable jockey to Ralph Beckett and Alan Munro, who will forever be associated with the great Generous, winner of the Derby and King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 1991.
Captain for the IRE Team is Richard Hughes, fresh from a record-breaking nine winners at Glorious Goodwood last week and twice winner of the Silver Saddle at the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup. Hughes will ride alongside Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup debutants Pat Smullen, Ireland’s five-time champion jockey and successful in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot this season aboard Rite Of Passage, and Fran Berry, who was elevated to number one jockey to John Oxx and the Aga Khan in Ireland following the retirement of Mick Kinane. Smullen and Berry are currently the top two riders in this season’s Irish jockeys’ championship.
Captain for the EUR Team is Olivier Peslier, who will be making a speedy return to Ascot following his imperious victory aboard Harbinger in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes on July 24. He will be joined by Italian Umberto Rispoli, the 2009 champion jockey who smashed Frankie Dettori’s father’s long-standing record for most in winners in an Italian season, and French-based Belgian-born superstar Christophe Soumillon.
Captain for the ROW Team is Anton Marcus. The South African champion captured the US$5 million Dubai Duty Free aboard Jay Peg in 2008. His teammates are Luke Nolen from Australia, recently crowned champion in Victoria, and Yasunari Iwata from Japan who is the only Japanese jockey to have won the Emirates Melbourne Cup.
The Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup is being run for the 10th time at Ascot. The first running took place in 2000 when it was staged as an owners’ competition. It became a jockeys’ competition in 2001 and has gone from strength to strength ever since, attracting bumper crowds in each of the last six years it has been run (2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 - it was not staged in 2005 when the racecourse was being redeveloped).
The jockeys competing in the four-team Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup will wear full team colours for the first time at this year’s renewal on Saturday, August 7. This is a one-year trial agreed with the Racehorse Owners Association. Please see page 4 for further information.
The three jockeys riding for the Great Britain team will wear red and white colours, the jockeys representing Ireland will wear green and white, the jockeys riding for Europe will wear blue and white and the Rest of the World team will wear black and white. Distinguishing caps and sleeves (checks, hoops and stars) will allow commentators, racegoers and TV viewers to differentiate between the jockeys riding within each team. Please see page 4 for further information.
Back by popular demand, a two-hour live 1980s concert will take place in the old paddock after racing. The line-up consists of Boy George, Johnny Hates Jazz, Cutting Crew, The Christians, Captain Sensible, Belinda Carlisle and Midge Ure.
Tickets start from £25 (10% discount if you book in advance) and are available from https://www.ascotkiosk.co.uk Premier Admission SOLD OUT. Grandstand Admission tickets still available.

Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Teams Taking Shape for Saturday 7th August

The teams for this year’s Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup at Ascot a week on Saturday (August 7) are close to being finalised, with stars like six times British champion jockey Kieren Fallon, three times French champion Christophe Soumillon and five times Irish champion Pat Smullen signed up in the last 10 days for the world’s premier international jockeys team competition.

Both Soumillon and Smullen will be making their Shergar Cup debuts, while Fallon has not participated in it since 2004. All three of the Rest of the World jockeys – three times South African champion, Anton Marcus, top Japanese rider, Yasunari Iwata, and Melbourne’s reigning champion jockey, Luke Nolen – will be making their UK debuts.

Just four jockeys need to confirm their participation once they know whether they will be required by their retained stables – Ryan Moore and William Buick for the Great Britain team, Richard Hughes for the Ireland team and Frankie Dettori for the European team.

Great Britain
Hayley Turner (Captain)
*Ryan Moore
*William Buick

Ireland
Kieren Fallon (Captain)
Pat Smullen
*Richard Hughes

Europe
*Frankie Dettori (Captain) (Italy)
Christophe Soumillon (Belgium)
Umberto Rispoli (Italy)

Rest of the World
Anton Marcus (Captain) (South Africa)
Yasunari Iwata (Japan)
Luke Nolen (Australia)

* to be confirmed

At The Races, for whom this is a stand-alone afternoon card, will be the host broadcaster for the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup and will be looking to capture the whole flavour of the event.Racing will start an hour later than in previous years at 2.10pm, with the 12 jockeys signing autographs between 1pm and 1.30pm and the Opening Ceremony following straight on from that.

In the races, the jockeys will wear team colours for the first time, with the ROA having given its support to the initiative which should help bring alive the team competition more vividly for racegoers on the track and ATR viewers at home.

As last year, cheerleaders will be dancing in front of the stands when the horses reach the start before each race and they will dance again once each race is over to the winning rider’s team anthem.The anthems this year are:

Great Britain:Kasabian – Fire
Europe: Alphabeat – Fascination
Ireland: U2 – Elevation
Rest of the World: Black Eyed Peas – I Gotta Feeling

After the Closing Ceremony and presentation of the Shergar Cup, the Silver Saddle trophy for the top points-scoring jockey and the Dubai Duty Free Ride of the Day award, a free 80’s concert will take place in the Old Paddock with stars like Boy George, former Ultravox front man Midge Ure, Belinda Carlisle, the Christians, Captain Sensible, Cutting Crew and Johnny Hates Jazz entertaining the crowds.

Only a few tickets for Premier Admission (£35, but £31.50 if booked in advance) remain to be sold although there are still plenty of General Admission tickets available (£25, but £22.50 if booked in advance). All accompanied under 18’s are admitted free and there will be lots of additional free children’s entertainments.

Colm McLoughlin, Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free, said: “We are delighted with the way the day is shaping up and look forward to another exciting competition.

“We are very pleased that special guests Joe Mercer and John Reid will be joining us to judge the Dubai Duty Free Ride of the Day, a new award we introduced last year that we expect to be keenly contested once again.”

Ascot Head of Communications and International Racing Nick Smith commented: “In recent years the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Day has been our best attended race meeting outside the five days of Royal Ascot and there should be another fantastic atmosphere here next Saturday.

“It’s great to have a lot of new faces in the competition this year, all with tremendous international or domestic achievements to their name. For instance, it will be fascinating to see Frankie Dettori riding alongside fellow countryman Umberto Rispoli, the young rider who last year smashed Frankie’s father’s all-time record for the number of winners in an Italian season.

“And it will be just as interesting to see Yasunari Iwata from Japan, the only rider from his country to win Australia’s greatest race, the Emirates Melbourne Cup, riding alongside an up-and-coming Aussie star, Luke Nolen.

“Overall we have an outstanding array of jockeys taking part and a great line-up of acts for the post-racing concert. It all points to a vintage Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Day and with advance bookings on a par with last year, we should be on for another crowd not far short of 30,000.”

Further information:
Nick Smith, Head of Communications and International Racing, Ascot , 07771 791 449
Alistair Haggis, Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Event Manager, 07761 896500

Note to Editors
The Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup is one of the world’s major international jockeys’ competitions and was first staged at Ascot in 2000. Twelve top riders take part, three representing Great Britain, three Ireland , three Europe and three riding for the Rest of the World. The day features six races, all handicaps worth £30,000, with each jockey having five rides and sitting out one race. Points are awarded on a 15, 10, 7, 5, 3 basis to the first five horses to finish in each race and the team with the highest points total after the last race lifts the Shergar Cup trophy. The top individual points-scoring rider wins the Silver Saddle trophy and there is also the Dubai Duty Free Ride of the Day award.

Dubai Duty Free, the world’s number one airport retailer, has been involved with the Shergar Cup since its inception, and became title sponsor of the event in 2006.

Football & Cheerleading Workshops for Children at the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup on Saturday 7th August

A cheerleading class from the 2009 Shergar Cup

Reading FC’s Kingsley will be cheering on the footie workshops

Coaches from Reading Football Club will be taking football master classes at the racecourse for the Shergar Cup. The master class will last 30minutes and you will be taken through the paces of a Championship Footballer by the coaches that train the team.

If football isn’t your idea of fun then the Cheerleaders from Hit TV Show The Pineapple Dance Studios hit TV show will be at the racecourse to teach you a lively dance routine from the show. You are then welcome to perform with the Cheerleaders in the Parade Ring after the last race, if you wish.

Britain's only jockeys' competition, where teams of riders from all over the world compete over six races for the coveted Shergar Cup trophy. The teams are Great Britain, Ireland, Europe and Rest of the World.

All football and cheerleader workshops last approx. 30 mins. To pre-book your spot simply email coltsandfillies@ascot.co.uk. Please note spaces will be issued on a first come first served basis.

Racing and Other Entertainment on Shergar Cup Day

Britain's only jockeys' competition, where teams of riders from all over the world compete over six races for the coveted Shergar Cup trophy. The teams are Great Britain, Ireland, Europe and Rest of the World.

Meet the jockey’s in the Parade Ring before racing at the Autograph signing session or keep the kids entertained on the fairground rides. There is also the chance to enhance your look with hair braiders and temporary tattoo artists all for free.

‘80s Concert After Racing
Back by popular demand we have a 2 hour live 80s concert featuring the ‘Here & Now’ Tour in the Old Paddock after racing. You’ll get the chance to listen to some classic hits from:
Boy George
Johnny Hates Jazz
Cutting Crew
The Christians
Captain Sensible
Belinda Carlisle
Midge Ure

Tickets start from £25 (10% discount if you book in advance) and are available from https://www.ascotkiosk.co.uk

Ratings Bands Reduced for 12-Furlong Shergar Cup Races (Saturday 7th August)

Free Family Entertainment throughout the day including an ‘80s Concert after Racing

The successful Irish Team after last year’s Shergar Cup

Ascot has reduced the ratings bands for the two races run over a mile and a half at this year’s Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup, the world’s premier international jockeys’ team competition, on Saturday 7th August.

The £30,000 Michael Page International Shergar Cup Challenge for four-year-olds and up and the £30,000 Titanic Quarter Shergar Cup Classic for three-year-olds, which failed to attract a full field of ten runners and two reserves last year, are now open to horses rated 76 to 95 (also open to horses rated 75 and below). Last year they were for horses rated 81-100.

The £30,000 Barclays Shergar Cup Dash for three-year-olds and up over five furlongs remains 86-105 (also open to horses rated 85 and below), while the other three races – the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint for three year-olds over six furlongs, the St Hallett Shergar Cup Stayers for four-year-olds and up over two miles and the Les Ambassadeurs Club Shergar Cup Mile for four-year-olds and up – all remain 81-100 (also open to horses rated 80 and below).

Nick Smith, Ascot’s Head of Communications and International Racing, said: “We hope that by dropping the ratings bands, more trainers will be encouraged to enter horses in these two races. There aren’t too many £30,000 handicaps for horses rated 95 and below, while the same prize money for the other four races also remains very attractive in the current financial climate even though they are retaining their slightly higher ratings bands.

"When you consider that it costs nothing to enter or to run in these races, there is prize money right down to last place and the owners and trainers enjoy free hospitality all day, there are plenty of other reasons to have runners.

“We also look after the stable staff really well on this day. There is free food and drink in the hostel and they benefit from a series of cash payments worth £4,800. There is a £200 best turned out award in every race, the lad or girl in charge of every winner receives £200, while those in charge of the second, third, fourth and fifth in every race – i.e. the other points scoring horses in the jockeys’ competition – get £100 each.”

Further information:

Nick Smith, Head of Communications and International Racing, Ascot , 07771 791 449

Alistair Haggis, Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Event Manager, 07761 896500

Madcap Family Fun with Alice’s Adventures at Ascot on Sunday 25th July

Sunday 25th July, is a colourful day that offers something for everyone, with a combination of spectacular racing action and free entertainment for the children. Off the track turn an ordinary Summer’s afternoon into a magical adventure as we relive Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Start the day with a ride on the fairground rides following the white rabbit down the rabbit hole helter-skelter, between races take tea with the Mad Hatter and solver the Cheshire Cat's riddles. Have your face painted and meet the Queen of Hearts. This is all rounded off by the Sound of the Musicals sing-a-long around the Bandstand after racing with everything from Greece to Mama Mia.

Face Painters: Have your faces painted in the characters of Alice in Wonderland on the Plaza Lawns today.

Fairground Rides: Why not take a ride down the Rabbit hole helter skelter, jump around in the White Rabbit’s cottage or play on the array of family friendly rides at the racecourse today.

Alice Chasing the Rabbit: Help Alice find the White Rabbit in this giant game of hide and seek. All children are welcome to help find the White Rabbit.

Play Croquet with the Queen of Hearts: The Queen of Hearts and her loyal playing card subjects formally invite you to join them for a game of hedgehog croquet. This is a re-creation of scene the from the book and audience participation is required. The White Rabbit is the umpire for The Queen’s battle against you and Alice so don’t forget to give the Queen her well-deserved ‘BOOOO’s (but be careful as she may scream Off With Your Head!). RULES OF THE GAME - The Queen always wins!

Cheshire Cat & Treasure Trail: The Cheshire Cat will be answering all your questions from the Cedar Tree, look up or you might miss him! Please note: not all directions are completely accurate If you miss the Cheshire Cat, he will be leaving a treasure trail for the children around the racecourse during the afternoon. Your prize can be collected from the blue Racecard kiosk on the Plaza Lawn.

Mad Hatters Tea Party: Watch as the Mad Hatters Tea Party is re-created before you. Watch out, all is not what it seems!

The Caterpillar: The Caterpillar on his mushroom will be located on the Plaza Lawns. This fantastic and ridiculous sight is worth a visit, but please note he is rather fond of his own voice. We do not recommend taking his advice too literally.

Sounds of the Musicals: Join us around the Bandstand after racing for a sing-a-long of all your favourite hits from the West End shows including Grease, Mamma Mia, Phantom of the Opera, We Will Rock You, Les Miserables, Dirty Dancing, The Sound of Music and more.

The Betfair Weekend: Betfair are celebrating their 10th Birthday this weekend and have a great deal for all their customers. Make sure you visit the brand new Betfair Lounge in the Grandstand to see what’s on offer.

Timings
11am - Gates open.
11.30am - Colts & Fillies Tour (Sovereign’s Gate).
12pm - Meet the Cheshire Cat (Cedar Tree).
12pm - Hide & Seek with Alice and the White Rabbit (Parade Ring).
12pm - Tweedledum & Tweedledee and the March Hare Meet & Greet (Plaza Lawns).
1pm - Colts & Fillies Mad Hatters Tea Party (pre-booked event).
2.15pm - First race.
2.30pm - Croquet Match with the Queen of Hearts.
5.10pm – Last (6th) race.
5.15pm - Sounds of the Musicals around the Bandstand.

Tickets available from £16. To book, call 0870 727 1234 or visit www.ascot.co.uk. Children aged 17 and under admitted Free of Charge.

Jockeys To Wear Team Colours in The Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup

The jockeys competing in the four team Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup will wear team colours for the first time at this year’s renewal on Saturday, 7th August.

The Racehorse Owners Association (ROA) and Ascot Racecourse, both mindful of the many and varied current industry initiatives aimed at broadening the appeal of the sport, have agreed to this one year trial in the belief that this will add to the sense of competition and to the spectacle.

The three jockeys riding for the Great Britain team will wear red and white colours, the jockeys representing Ireland will wear green and white, the jockeys riding for Europe will wear blue and white and the Rest of the World team will wear black and white.

Distinguishing caps and sleeves (checks, hoops and stars) will allow commentators, racegoers and TV viewers to differentiate between the jockeys riding within each team.

“We are very grateful to the ROA for giving us the go-ahead for this trial,” said Ascot’s Head of Communications, Nick Smith.

“Seeing their horses in their own colours is obviously important to owners so the ROA is to be applauded for its flexibility and foresight in lending its weight to the initiative, which is aimed at enabling racegoers to follow more easily this unique team competition.

“The Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup has been the best attended raceday at Ascot outside the Royal Meeting in recent years, attracting a crowd of around 30,000, many of whom are new to the sport and to whom this initiative is expected to appeal. It should also add to the sense of fun for viewers watching at home on At The Races, who have exciting plans for all day coverage from Ascot, which is their stand alone afternoon card.”

Michael Harris, Chief Executive of the Racehorse Owners’ Association, said: “Ascot has always made this one-off day rewarding for owners, with no entry fees, decent prize money for races of their grades paid down to last place, number cloth sponsorship for every runner and complimentary hospitality throughout the day. This is a one off event and I hope that owners really get behind the trial.”

Nick Attenborough, PR Director for Racing For Change, added: ‘We’re delighted that team silks have been agreed for the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup. Ascot has done a great job of building this day into a major event which attracts many novice racegoers. This latest initiative will further enhance it.”

The Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup is one of the world’s major international jockeys’ competitions which was first staged at Ascot in 2000. Twelve top riders take part, three representing Great Britain, three Ireland, three Europe and three riding for the Rest of the World. The day features six races, all handicaps worth £30,000, with each jockey having five rides and sitting out one race. Points are awarded on a 15, 10, 7, 5, 3 basis to the first five horses to finish in each race and the team with the highest points total after the last race lifts the Shergar Cup trophy. The top individual points-scoring rider wins the Silver Saddle trophy.

Dubai Duty Free, the world’s number one airport retailer, has been involved with the Shergar Cup since its inception, and became title sponsor of the event in 2006.

Boy, oh Boy! The 2010 Shergar Cup at Ascot

As the world’s finest jockeys converge on Ascot, and a string of ‘80s acts perform after racing, we look back at last year’s racing action and this year’s concert.

The Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup attracts the cream of world riding talent to Ascot, as well as a string of pop legends from the 1980s. The competition on the track comprises of four teams; Great Britain, Ireland, Europe and the Rest of the World. Each team has three jockeys with points awarded on a 15-10-7-5-3 basis for the first five home. Rivalry is fierce, not only are the jockeys riding for the team award, the coveted Shergar Cup, but also the Silver Saddle presented to the best individual rider of the day. In 2009, it was all about one man; Richard Hughes. Richard enjoyed an outstanding afternoon's work as a 377-1 treble sealed the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup for himself and his Irish teammates.

It didn’t quite compare with his hat-trick on the first day of Royal Ascot aboard Paco Boy, Canford Cliffs and Judgethemoment, but it was enough to claim the Silver Saddle - a prize he first took back in 2002.While Indian rider Malesh Narredu and the Japanese Hiroyuki Uchida had never even seen the Berkshire course, Hughes knows virtually every blade of grass and waltzed to victory thanks to Polly's Mark, We'll Come and Press The Button. 'I'm very proud - in 2008 we were terrible!' said Hughes. 'I was lucky to have some good rides - if you're not in the hustle you won't win anything’.

Hughes shone particularly brightly on the giant We'll Come, poking up the far rail to bolt four and a half lengths clear in the Les Ambassadeurs Club Shergar Cup Mile Handicap. Hughes wrapped up the competition on Push The Button in the Michael Page International Shergar Cup Challenge before Callan added another Irish success as he delivered Aaim to Prosper late in the Sodexo Prestige Shergar Cup Stayers to pick off the 7-2 favourite Yes Mr President inside the final 100 yards.

Ireland ended the day with an incredible 101 points from the overall placings from Hughes, Seamie Heffernan and Neil Callan, while Hayley Turner's Great Britain team were runners-up on 56 points. Individually, Turner and the Swede Fredrik Johansson tied for second place on 30 points each; 19 behind Hughes.

Johansson teamed up with Nick Littmoden's chestnut Group Therapy in the opening Barclays Shergar Cup Dash, while the final word went to Turner, who had been stuck in traffic and had to sprint through the Parade Ring barefoot to make her first ride. She closed the meeting by scoring on Tom Dascombe's Noverre To Go in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint, in which Uchida was hit with a nine-day ban for excessive use of the whip on third-placed Able Master. 'It took me about three hours to get here, and I missed all the introductions, but it's such a good day and everyone always has a wonderful time,' said Turner before bopping away to the likes of Rick Astley, Curiosity Killed The Cat and Bucks Fizz in the Old Paddock.

As long as Hayley Turner stays injury-free, you may just see her don her leggings and mullet wig boogying down to this year’s line up of Boy George, The Christians, Belinda Carlisle, Johnny Hates Jazz, Midge Ure, China Crisis and Captain Sensible.

Back in 1983, I remember my excitement when I bought the original Now That’s What I Call Music LP. How I wish I’d kept it as the original version fetches a few quid on ebay these days. Wedged between Bonnie Tyler’s Total Eclipse Of The Heart and Men Without Hats’ Safety Dance on the track list was UK number 1 Karma Chameleon by Culture Club fronted by the inimitable Boy George. Culture Club also had hits with Do You Really Want To Hurt Me - also a chart topper - and I’ll Tumble 4 Ya.

Another classic track from the era was Harvest For The World by The Christians, which reached number 8 in the UK in 1988 - a travesty it did not go higher. The band was one of a number of soul-influenced groups in the 1980s that had strong links to UK punk rock, New Wave music and post-punk. The band's frontman and lead singer Garry Christian became the group’s unique selling point with his distinctive look and velvet-smooth soulful tones. In Rock: The Rough Guide, music critic Charles Bottomley, described the band as ‘The Temptations in ripped jeans, producing gritty-centered songs in a sugary vocal shell’.

Belinda Carlisle makes a welcome return to the ‘80s Day line up having wowed the crowd in 2008. Once of the Go-Gos, Belinda Carlise launched her solo career in 1996. She didn’t have to wait long for a number one, when the next year Heaven Is A Place On Earth reached number 1 in the UK and seven other countries, including the US. Belinda went on a have a further five top ten hits, including Leave A Light On in 1989 and (We Want) The Same Thing one year later.
In April 1987, Johnny Hates Jazz vaulted to international success following the release of their first hit single Shattered Dreams. The group consists of singer-songwriter Clark Datchler, Calvin Hayes and Mike Nocito. Here’s a fact for you should the conversation dry up on the journey home - the band’s tongue-in-cheek name referenced Nocito’s brother-in-law Johnny, who really did hate jazz!

James ‘Midge’ Ure, OBE is a guitarist, singer, keyboard player and songwriter from north of the border. He enjoyed particular success in the 1970s and 1980s in bands including Slik, Thin Lizzy, The Rich Kids, Visage, and most notably as frontman of Ultravox. Midge co-wrote and produced the charity single Do They Know It's Christmas? and co-organised Band Aid, Live Aid and Live 8 with Bob Geldof. He twice received an Ivor Novello Award with Geldof for co-writing Do They Know It's Christmas? Ure acts as trustee for the charity, and serves as ambassador for Save The Children. His stage name, Midge, is a phonetic reversal of Jim, the diminutive form of his real name. Ascot is indeed honored to have a such a legend performing on the hallowed Old Paddock turf belting out his 1980 track Vienna (famously beaten to the top spot by Joe Dolce's novelty hit Shaddap You Face - less said about that the better).

Vocalist Nick Van Eede founded Cutting Crew along with Canadian guitarist Kevin Scott MacMichael in 1985. The band shot t number one in the US, Canada and Norway with their debut single ‘(I just) Died in Your Arms.’ The band received a prestigious Grammy nomination as Best New Artist of 1987.

Completing our line-up of stars form the ‘80s is Captain Sensible; co-founder of punk rock band The Damned who decided to go it alone in 1982. I remember being blown away as an impressionable teenager by Captain Sensible’s performance of Glad It’s All Over on Top of the Pops, with his distinctive red beret and wooden parrot - I didn’t then, and still don’t now, understand the significance of the latter. Never far from controversy, in September 2006 he formed a new British political party known as the Blah! Party. ‘Politics is dead’, he said in a statement at the time. ‘The British public aren't voting because the parties are totally ignoring their opinions. At the moment, the only real method of mass protest against this is by not voting’.

After the racing, take a trip down memory lane and relive the days of big hair, ‘Relax’ t-shirts and jackets with rolled up sleeves because the 1980s are back.

Tickets for the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup, including the Here and Now concert start from £25. To book, or for further information, call 0870 727 1234 or visit ascot.co.uk.

Ascot Racecourse Shergar Cup Concert Line-Up

The following seven 'Here and Now' acts will be performing at Ascot Racecourse after the Shergar Cup on Saturday 7th August 2010:

• Boy George
  
• The Christians


• Belinda Carlisle


• Johnny Hates Jazz


• Midge Ure


• Captain Sensible


• China Crisis

What's your favourite?

Tickets start from £25 (10% discount if you book in advance) and are available from https://www.ascotkiosk.co.uk