The Stars of Kids TV are coming to Ascot!

Peppa Pig

Betfair Weekend Family Fun Day: Sunday 24th July

Ascot Racecourse is delighted to announce a star studded line-up for its Family Fun Day on Sunday 24th July to complement the superb Flat racing action on the track. Scotty the Ascot Mascot will be joined by Peppa Pig and George, Ben and Holly from their Little Kingdom, Fireman Sam and Scooby Doo.

Fireman Sam

The Betfair Weekend Family Fun Day is a colorful spectacle that offers something for everyone, with a combination of thrilling racing action and free entertainment for the children. The day is aimed at our younger audience where they can meet the characters from some of their favourite TV shows including Ben and Holly from their Little Kingdom, Scooby Doo and his wacky Roller Coaster and Fireman Sam along with his fireman friends and real fire engine. A highlight of the afternoon will be Peppa Pig and her little brother George telling stories in the Bandstand.

Scooby Doo

Vicky Glenister, Marketing Manager of Ascot Racecourse, enthused, ‘We are delighted to be joined by such prestigious company, especially in light of the fact that Peppa has been crowned the UK’s bestselling pre-school toy of 2010, overtaking Thomas the Tank Engine for the first time’.

All activities, including face painting and fairground rides, are free of charge and ideal for the under 10’s. Adult tickets to the Family Day start from £17 with a 10% saving if booked in advance and are available by calling 0870 727 1234 or by visiting www.ascot.co.uk


For further information:
Vicky Glenister, Marketing Manager, Ascot Racecourse; 01344 878523 / 07920 834277

Please contact Vicky Glenister for logos and images.

Notes to Editors
· Children under 18 are admitted free to all racedays at Ascot and all entertainment is included in the admission price.
· In celebration of Ascot’s 300th birthday, customers can buy a Grandstand Admission ticket to include all five 2011 Family Days for just £39.99 per person when booking before 1st April 2011 - a saving of over £54.
· Only adults need purchase an Ascot Family Pass.
· Children can join the Colts and Fillies Club to participate in additional activities on a raceday. The Club is free to join and membership currently stands at 11,500.

Johnny Weatherby to succeed The Duke Of Devonshire as Her Majesty’s Representative at Ascot

Johnny Weatherby

The Duke of Devonshire will stand down as Her Majesty’s Representative and Senior Trustee at Ascot following this year’s Royal Meeting (which concludes on 18th June).
The Duke has been one of three Trustees at Ascot since 1982 and became Her Majesty’s Representative in 1997.

Her Majesty The Queen has appointed Johnny Weatherby as Her next Representative at Ascot, the fifth person to hold the position during her reign.

Johnny Weatherby, a Trustee at Ascot since 1997, has been Chairman of Ascot Authority Holdings Limited since 2008. He is also Chairman of the Weatherbys group of companies.

Ascot has three Trustees and Her Majesty has appointed Sir Francis Brooke Bt. to serve alongside Johnny Weatherby and Mark Davies (an Ascot Trustee since 2002), following Royal Ascot.

Sir Francis Brooke is a Director and Senior Fund Manager at Troy Asset Management Ltd. His family has been involved for many years in the breeding, owning and training of racehorses.

Further Information:
Charles Barnett, Chief Executive, 01344 878501
Nick Smith, Head of Communications, 01344 878524 / 07771 791449

Upgrades to British Pattern Confirmed including the Hampton Court Stakes

Afsare (yellow silks) wins the 2010 Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot 2010

From the British Horseracing Authority.

• Newmarket’s Joel Stakes upgraded to Group 2 status
• Royal Ascot’s Hampton Court Stakes and Doncaster’s Sceptre Stakes upgraded to Group 3 status

Britain has been successful in securing the upgrade of Newmarket’s Joel Stakes from Group 3 to Group 2 status following the European Pattern Committee’s annual meeting in Ireland on Friday 14th January. The race is for three-year-olds and upwards and run over 8 furlongs (1600m). It will be run one week earlier than usual in 2010 on 23rd September 2011 as part of the British Champions’ Series.

The British Horseracing Authority has also managed to secure both of the applications it made for upgrades to Group 3 for 2011 through its representative on the European Pattern Committee, Director of Racing, Ruth Quinn.

Royal Ascot has secured an additional Group 3 contest in the form of the race traditionally known as the Hampton Court Stakes, for three-year-olds run over 10 furlongs (2000m). From 2011 this race will be known as The Tercentenary Stakes, in honour of the anniversary of the first racing taking place at Ascot in 1711.

The St Leger Festival at Doncaster in September is boosted by the upgrade to Group 3 status of the Sceptre Stakes. The race is run over 7 furlongs (1400m) and is for fillies and mares aged three-years-old and over. Its promotion further strengthens the programme of Group races in Europe for older fillies.

Ruth Quinn, Director of Racing for the British Horseracing Authority, said:

“All three races are fully deserving of the respective upgrades and are credible enhancements to Britain’s Pattern programme.

“The Joel is a race that consistently provides great strength in depth. As a Group 2 event on a revised date, it has been positioned to provide an opportunity for quality milers on the weekend where the QEII was previously sited. It will have an important role to play in the programme and I am sure it will live up to expectations.

“The Hampton Court, to be retitled the Tercentenary Stakes, has clearly been a strong addition to the Royal Ascot Meeting since its inception in 2000.

“The European Pattern Committee has done much in recent years to enhance the programme for fillies and mares to encourage them to stay in training and compete beyond the age of three. Rewarding the fillies being placed in the Sceptre with Group 3 status can only assist this evolving process.”

Newmarket's Director of Racing Michael Prosser said:

"The Joel Stakes, the last leg of the one mile element of the British Champions’ Series before British Champions’ Day, has consistently performed to a high level and we are very pleased that this has been recognised with its upgrading to Group 2 status.

"Our three-day Cambridgeshire meeting is traditionally very strong but the Joel Stakes upgrade further enhances its overall stature. The decision also reflects Newmarket's desire to strategically improve its racing programme when appropriate and possible."

Charles Barnett, Chief Executive of Ascot racecourse, said:

"We've been delighted with the progress that the Hampton Court Stakes has made and this promotion recognises that and brings the total number of Pattern races at Royal Ascot to 18.

"This is a very special year for Ascot as we commemorate 300 years of racing. The race now becomes the Tercentenary Stakes to mark this important historical landmark."

For more information please contact: Paul Struthers, BHA Media Relations Manager, on 020 7152 0166, 07966 590105 or at
pstruthers@britishhorseracing.com

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.

Complete Order of Running for Victor Chandler Day at Ascot on Saturday 22nd January

The Sawyer at odds of 8/1, partnered by Nathan Sweeney, on the road to victory in the 2010 victorchandler.com Handicap Steeple Chase.

Victor Chadler Day: Saturday 22nd January
Gates open: 10.45am.
Tickets available from £17.
To book, visit www.ascot.co.uk or call 0870 727 1234.

Race 1: 12.40pm: The Rosling King LLP Novices’ Limited Handicap Steeple Chase 0-135 (Class 3)
Age: 5+ (open to horses aged 5 and older)
Prize money: £15,000
Distance: Two miles about three furlongs

Race 2: 1.15pm: The Ascot Juvenile Hurdle Race (Class 3)
Age: 4
Prize money: £7,000
Distance: Two miles

Race 3: 1.50pm: The 1942 Was a Vintage Year Mares’ Hurdle Race (Registered as the Warfield Mares’ Hurdle) (Class 1) (Grade 2) CHANNEL 4
Age: 4+
Prize money: £40,000
Distance: Three miles

Race 4: 2.25pm: The Victor Chandler Steeple Chase (Registered as the Clarence House Steeple Chase) (Class 1) (Grade 1) CHANNEL 4
Age: 5+
Prize money: £105,000
Distance: Two miles about one furlong

Race 5: 2.55pm: The Bet With Your Mobile at victorchandler.com Holloway’s Hurdle (Grade 2) (Class 1) (Limited Handicap) CHANNEL 4
Age: 4 +
Prize money: £40,000
Distance: Two miles about three and half furlongs

Race 6: 3.30pm: The victorchandler.com Handicap Steeple Chase (Class 2) CHANNEL 4
Age: 5+
Prize money: £70,000
Distance: Two miles about five and half furlongs

Race 7: 4.05pm: The EBF ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle Race (Qualifier) (Class 3)
Age: 4 +
Prize money: £8,000
Distance: Two miles about three and half furlongs.

Ascot Racecourse Pledges Free Tickets For Troops in 2011

Britain’s racecourses donate 40,000 free tickets for our country’s soldiers, sailors and airmen and women to visit the races in 2011.

Ascot is today announcing its continued support of charity, Tickets For Troops for the second year running, offering 30 Grandstand Admission tickets to all fixtures across the 2011 racing calendar with the exception of Royal Ascot and British Champions’ Day. Every racecourse in Britain has joined forces to make an incredible donation of over 40,000 free tickets to the races in 2011, so that members of HM Forces from across the country will be able to enjoy a top day out, as a gesture to recognise their continued service for our country.

Over 5,000 members of Tickets For Troops took up the offer of a visit to the races in 2010, and Britain’s racecourses hope to see even more visiting in future months. Over 1,100 fixtures from all around the country have been included in the offer and, as children under 16 go free to every British racecourse and almost every fixture, this offer will allow many of our servicemen and women to have a well-deserved family day out for free.

Tickets For Troops is a charity that supports the work of serving military personnel and veterans by offering them free tickets to events around the country. Britain’s racecourses have made a range of offers, some offering unlimited tickets for troops at every fixture and some including tickets to their major racing festivals.

Top Jockey Richard Johnson, who is a Patron of Tickets For Troops alongside other names such as Freddie Flintoff, Steven Gerrard and Dame Kelly Holmes, said:
“British racing has been a supporter of Tickets For Troops since the charity was initiated and I’m delighted to see the level of support that is continuing into 2011. It’s an incredible charity that aims to go some way to recognising the inspirational job that our country’s forces do every day of their lives, and hopefully our being a part of it goes some way to saying thank you.”

Lord Marland, Chairman of Tickets For Troops said:
“Tickets For Troops are delighted to once again receive such generous support from the British Horseracing Authority. We would like to thank all the racecourses who have wanted to demonstrate their support and show their appreciation for the dedication and commitment of the marvellous men and women of our Armed Forces."

In addition to horseracing, thousands of tickets have been made available for the 2012 Olympics, top Premier League football matches, rugby games, cricket matches, boxing, athletics meetings, big music acts, tennis tournaments, snooker halls and West End theatres.

To find out more about this initiative, visit:
www.britishhorseracing.com/tickets-for-troops/.

For further information or imagery, please contact Amy Sherman, Promotions Manager at the British Horseracing Authority, on 020 7152 0115 or email her at asherman@britishhorseracing.com.

For more information about Ascot Racecourse, please contact John Blake, Head of Sales and Marketing, on 01344 878512 or john.blake@acot.co.uk. www.ascot.co.uk

Notes for Editors:

About the British Horseracing Authority:

It is the British Horseracing Authority’s role to ensure the continued health and successful development of the sport. As both the Governing and Regulatory body it is the British Horseracing Authority’s responsibility to:
provide the most compelling and attractive racing in the world;
be seen as the world leader in raceday regulation;
ensure the highest standards for the sport and participants, on and away from the racecourse;
promote the best for the racehorse; and
represent and promote the sport and the industry
For more information visit www.britishhorseracing.com
About Tickets For Troops:

Tickets For Troops is a charity dedicated to offering free tickets for big events to our soldiers, sailors and airmen. All serving military personnel, as well as any veterans who have been medically discharged through injury since 2001, qualify for tickets. Troops are encouraged to sign up for free tickets at www.ticketsfortroops.org.uk.

Additional:

In addition to the support shown for Tickets For Troops, racecourses also support a number of additional initiatives, including Value for Valour and Help for Heroes.