The Big Advent Calendar Giveaway at Ascot

Ascot Racecourse gets in the festive spirit with fantastic prizes to be won!

The first prize will be unveiled at 12pm today with full terms and conditions.

Christmas is just around the corner and this year, Ascot Racecourse would like to thank its loyal customers and friends with a special online advent calendar where top quality prizes can be won each day in December.

Courtesy of the Racecourse’s sponsors, prize highlights include; dinner for two at a Michelin starred restaurant and overnight stay; four tickets to a Premiership rugby match; a digital photo frame; Afternoon Tea for two in a top London hotel; generous betting vouchers up to the value of £250 and a designer golf bag, to name but a few.

The competition will run every day from the 1st to 24th December on the Ascot Facebook page where fans will have the opportunity to answer a general knowledge trivia question to be in with a chance of winning the selected prize that day (full details of which will be found on the Ascot blog).

All of those who have stated the correct answer will be put into a hat at the end of each day and a name drawn at random. The lucky winner will be notified and announced on the blog daily.

With so many exciting prizes to be won this Christmas, there’s never been a better time to ‘like’ Ascot Racecourse! So Click Here to 'Like' us on Facebook. -Ends-

Further information:

Karen Smith, PR Manager, Ascot Racecourse: 01344 878430 or karen.smith@ascot.co.uk

John Blake, Head of Sales and Marketing, Ascot Racecourse: 01344 878 512 or john.blake@ascot.co.uk

Notes to Editors

Full terms and conditions can be found on the Ascot Blog via the website, from Thursday 1st December at 12pm when the calendar is launched.



A Delightful Dinner With Clarissa Dickinson Wright

Ascot offers an exclusive invitation for you to join Fairmont President’s Club, offering countless benefits, including access to exclusive events like this one.

On November 10, members are invited to The Savoy for an evening of wit, wisdom and wonderful food, hosted by Clarissa Dickson Wright: acclaimed television personality and author of the brand-new A History of English Food.

WHEN: November 10, 2011, 6.00pm

WHERE: Lancaster Room and River Room, The Savoy

PRICE: £125

In partnership with Random House, the latest edition of our Iconic Voices series welcomes you inside London’s most celebrated hotel, where you will enjoy delectable wine and canapés, and a fabulous dinner prepared by Executive Chef Bernhard Mayer. The famously clever Clarissa Dickson Wright will then delight the audience with a discussion of her newest book, followed by a fascinating Q&A over coffee and petits fours. Each attendee will receive a copy of the book!

To take advantage of this once-in-a-life-time offer - and a world of additional benefits - click here to enroll in Fairmont President's Club (enter code CDWSY), then click here to reserve your ticket.* You will require your membership number to reserve.

*All ticket purchases are final sale and subject to terms and conditions outlined by Ticketweb.

 

Win Afternoon Tea at The Savoy

 

For your chance to win Afternoon Tea for 2 at The Savoy* just let us know what you thought about this exclusive event, hosted by Clarissa Dickson Wright on 10th November at The Savoy. Email your feedback to marketing@ascot.co.uk.

*Feedback must provided after the event on 10th November with proof of attendance.  

Ascot Awarded Top Marks in the Enjoy England Quality Assured Scheme

Ascot Racecourse has again been awarded Quality Assured status by Enjoy England, but with an even better score. The accolade assesses the level of customer care and service at visitor attractions across the country from arboreta to zoos. By displaying the easily recognised Enjoy England Quality Rose at the Berkshire track, racegoers can be confident their experience will be of the highest quality.


The Enjoy England Quality Rose was created to reassure customers before they visit their chosen attraction. The criteria is judged by an independent assessor on an annual basis and Enjoy England can then ensure that the standards experienced are as high as possible and the venue is worthy of carrying this auspicious mark. Customers can relax, book with confidence and get on with the real business of having a fantastic day out. The Quality Rose is the mark of England’s official, nationwide quality assessment scheme and is an independent, reliable, impartial assessment of quality covering just about every type of place you might want to stay or visit.

VisitEngland’s Chief Executive, James Berresford said: ‘The team at Ascot Racecourse deserve to be congratulated for achieving such a high score in their Quality Assessment report. As one of the premier racecourses in England, Ascot is leading the industry in delivering excellent standards of customer service and a high quality racing experience to seasoned racegoers and newcomers alike.’

John Blake, Head of Sales and Marketing at the Berkshire track enthused: ‘We are delighted to have been awarded the Quality Rose by Enjoy England. This recognition underpins our status as a first class national tourism attraction. It is especially exciting as it rounds off a wonderful year with Royal Ascot being awarded Gold in the Enjoy England Awards in April,’

Ascot is committed to providing a value-for-money and fun day out for all customers with Royal Ascot, live music, food, wine and beer festivals, family days and world class racing action.

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

John Blake, Head of Sales & Marketing, Ascot Racecourse, 01344 878512, 07917 521429, john.blake@ascot.co.uk, http://www.ascot.co.uk/  

Ascot Racecourse’s Jumps Season Starts With a Bang And a Bump In The Night!

On Saturday 29th October, the 2011/12 Jumps season starts with a bang as Ascot Racecourse once again hosts the United House Group Day and Firework Spectacular, but this year the Family Raceday, has a distinctly spooky feel. The feature race on the day is the £100,000 United House Gold Cup Chase over three miles.

Away from the excitement on the track there will be a host of rides on the Plaza Lawns including where you can experience the thrill of the Superbowl and the Super Star, Gasp on Oxygen or join in with the spooky Halloween theme as you wander round the House of Horrors and of course a number of fun rides for younger racegoers.

There will also be entertainment from Uncle Doom and his Organ of Gloom, Baron Von Grindle has risen from the dead and the resident Ascot Witch will all be on hand as well as some horror make-up, all of which is provided free of charge. Children are also welcome to wear fancy dress throughout the raceday.

Following racing, with toffee apples and candy floss at the ready, Ascot presents a Charity Firework Display in association with the Ascot Round Table, so wrap up warm and prepare for a spectacular show!

Amanda Sharp, a local resident said:

“We had such a great time at Ascot last year we’ve decided to come back again. The adults get to watch some exciting racing action whilst the kids have some fun on the fairground rides and to top it all off we can eat our toffee apples watching the spectacular firework display after racing”

All entertainment is free of charge and accompanied children aged 17 and under go racing for free. Adult tickets start from just £17 per person and can be purchased at www.ascot.co.uk or by calling 0870 727 1234. Generous group and advance discounts apply.

For further information:

John Blake, Head of Sales and Marketing, Ascot Racecourse; 01344 878512 / 07917 521429

 Vicky Paton, Marketing Manager, Ascot Racecourse, 01344 878 523



British Champions Series to Apply For Race Upgrades

British Champions Series will be applying to upgrade the Group 2 QIPCO British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes, won in fine style yesterday by dual Oaks heroine Dancing Rain, to Group 1 status next month.

Having surpassed the required average rating of 110 for a fillies’ and mares’ race for three consecutive years, the previous two when it was run as the Pride Stakes at Newmarket, the mile-and-a-half contest now meets the criteria to be considered by the European Pattern Committee for elevation to the top level.

An application is also likely to be made to upgrade the Group 2 QIPCO British Champions Sprint, won by the brilliant Deacon Blues, to Group 1 status as well.

“Yesterday exceeded our wildest expectations for the inaugural QIPCO British Champions Day with such high class fields, absolute top class winners and a record autumn Flat crowd for the modern era,” said British Champions Series Chief Executive, Rod Street.

“There is a great deal for us to review over the coming weeks, but one obvious thing we would like to improve is the official status of the two Group 2 races and one Group 3 on the card.

“Clearly we would like to have five Group 1s and after yesterday I don’t think anyone could say that the day does not merit that.

“Whilst it may be difficult to achieve, yesterday’s ratings will have ensured that we made some great strides towards our goal and, as well as applying to upgrade the Fillies and Mares, we also hope that the Sprint might qualify for fast-track elevation given that it does not conflict with the five furlong Prix de l’Abbaye on Arc weekend.

“Different horses tend to run over five and six furlongs and there is considerable logic in having a late season Group 1 sprint over six furlongs as well as five.

“The Group 3 QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup is much more difficult given the presence of the Group 1 Prix Royal Oak at Longchamp next weekend, but we would be delighted if it could achieve Group 2 status in the near future.

“Having had what are arguably the top two stayers in the world finish first and second yesterday, the same one-two from the Group 1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, we will have comfortably achieved the requisite rating for the race this year.”

“We are very grateful to the European Pattern Committee to have supported the vision that made yesterday possible and we look forward to working with them to strengthen further the overall autumn European Pattern.”

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Alistair Haggis, British Champions Series: 07761 896 500; ahaggis@britishchampionsseries.com

QIPCO British Champions Series – the world’s finest Flat racing

http://www.britishchampionsseries.com/

At The Races to Produce First Ever 3D Horseracing Feature for the QIPCO British Champions Day

At The Races, the dedicated racing channel available in 13 million Sky and Virgin homes, will produce and edit a groundbreaking 3D feature programme to mark the inaugural QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot this Saturday. It will be the first time British horseracing has been filmed in 3D. The feature is a co-production between ATR, QIPCO and the British Champions Series.

The 24 minute film will be used as a centrepiece at a press and industry event to launch the 2012 QIPCO British Champions Series next year and ATR is also in talks with 3D distributors, service providers and hardware manufacturers worldwide about rights to use the feature.

ATR will use 3D specialist production partner, CAN Communicate, to shoot at Ascot on six 3D cameras. Each 3D camera will actually be made up of two cameras set up to capture action from different angles. Two sets of footage will then be displayed to the viewer simultaneously allowing the brain to determine depth and perspective. Bespoke rigs on the ATR production will allow for smooth zooming, something difficult to achieve in 3D broadcast. State of the art post production systems will generate maximum impact and feature-film quality.

ATR, QIPCO and the British Champions Series are also delighted to announce that legendary racing broadcaster, Sir Peter O’Sullevan, will record the voiceover for the film.

Matthew Imi, Chief Executive of At The Races said, "We believe that racing is ideally suited to 3D broadcast. We want to use the latest technology to capture the colour, impact and excitement of this exceptional day and really create something that can help promote QIPCO British Champions Day, Ascot Racecourse and British racing more generally around the world. We are extremely grateful to Sheikh Fahad for QIPCO’s support of the project and also to the British Champions Series for its involvement. It is also, of course, a real honour to be working with Sir Peter O’Sullevan.”

Sheikh Fahad Al Thani said, “We are proud to extend our association with British racing through this film which should encapsulate the most thrilling raceday ever staged in the UK as well as the richest. We want to be associated with excellence and innovation and British Champions Day is shaping up well to deliver that.”

Rod Street, Chief Executive of the British Champions Series, said, "We are delighted ATR has taken this initiative and equally happy to support it. It's a great way to help celebrate what's already been a hugely successful first QIPCO British Champions Series and will launch us into next year with a showcase of what we're sure will be a real spectacle on QIPCO British Champions Day itself."

- ENDS -

For more information please contact:

Matthew Imi

Chief Executive, At The Races

Tel: 0207 420 3203

James Singer

Marketing Director, At The Races

Tel: 0207 420 3218

Queally and Dettori Battle it out for Jockey of the Series Title

DAFA set to benefit if either emerges triumphant

Direct Aid For Africa (DAFA) is set to benefit to the tune of at least £12,500 if either Tom Queally or Frankie Dettori is crowned top jockey in the QIPCO British Champions Series after the final five races are run on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot this Saturday, 15 October.

The Jockey of the Series will be presented with a specially crafted trophy and a cheque for £25,000 for the charity or charities of his choice after the final race, the QIPCO Champion Stakes, has been run.

Both are currently locked together on five victories apiece after the 30 races run so far, with Queally’s biggest contributor, Frankel (who has supplied him with three wins), looking his best chance to add to that tally in Saturday’s Queen Elizabeth II Stakes sponsored by QIPCO. He also has the probable favourite, Vita Nova, in the QIPCO British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes and star mare Midday in the QIPCO Champion Stakes.

Likewise Dettori’s biggest contributor, Opinion Poll (who has supplied him with two wins and a second place), appears to be his best chance to enhance his total in the QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup which opens the QIPCO British Champions Day race programme. Dettori is also likely to partner the highly-regarded Dubai Prince in the QIPCO Champion Stakes and Meeznah in the QIPCO British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes.

Queally currently edges the battle on the strength of his three second places to Dettori’s two, but a victory or second place for likely favourite Opinion Poll would take Dettori into the lead.

If successful, Queally would donate £15,000 to DAFA (Direct Aid For Africa), a charity founded by Newmarket trainer Barney Curley in 1996 to improve the lives of people in the Third World through a range of projects focusing on health care, education and self-help, £5,000 to the Jack And Jill Foundation, which provides care and support for children with severe neurological development issues in his native Ireland, and £5,000 for Save Historic Newmarket, which was formed in 2008 in order to protect and preserve the unique identity of the home of British horseracing.

Dettori would give £12,500 to DAFA and £12,500 to the Fortune Centre of Riding Therapy, which helps young people with special needs to relate more successfully to others and have greater and more appropriate control over their own lives through an interaction with horses.

William Buick has four wins to his name and will be hoping to add to that with Gertrude Bell in the QIPCO British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes and Nathaniel in the QIPCO Champion Stakes, but he has just the one second place and will therefore need two victories without reply from Queally or Dettori to take the inaugural title.

JOCKEY OF THE SERIES

JOCKEY WINS 2nds 3rds
1 Tom Queally 5 3 0
2 Frankie Dettori 5 2 2
3 William Buick 4 1 1
4 Richard Hughes 2 2 2
5 Hayley Turner 2 0 0

In the event of a tie for the number of winners, the number of seconds and thirds (and, if necessary, lower placings) will be taken into account

CECIL LOOKING GOOD FOR TRAINERS’ TITLE

With six victories to his name, Sir Henry Cecil leads Mahmood Al Zarooni by one winner in the Trainer of the Series table, but with one more second place to his name as well and Frankel, Vita Nova, Twice Over and Midday running for him on QIPCO British Champions Day, he looks nailed on for the inaugural title.

As with the Jockey of the Series, the trainer will receive a special trophy and a cheque for £25,000 for the charity or charities of his choice.

Al Zarooni is set to be represented in two races – with Opinion Poll in the QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup and Dubai Prince and Casamento in the QIPCO Champion Stakes – and would need to win them both without reply from Cecil to top the table.


TRAINER OF THE SERIES

TRAINER WINS 2nds 3rds
1 Sir Henry Cecil 6 3 1
2 Mahmood Al Zarooni 5 2 0
3 Aidan O’Brien 3 5 3
4 John Gosden 3 1 2
5 Richard Hannon 2 3 0
6 David Simcock 2 0 1

In the event of a tie for the number of winners, the number of seconds and thirds (and, if necessary, lower placings) will be taken into account

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Alistair Haggis, British Champions Series: 07761 896 500; ahaggis@britishchampionsseries.com

QIPCO British Champions Series – the world’s finest Flat racing

http://www.britishchampionsseries.com/