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.

Global Sprint Challenge Expands to Singapore

The Global Sprint Challenge (GSC) has been enhanced with the addition of Singapore’s premier turf sprint, the KrisFlyer International Sprint, from next year.

The introduction of the six-furlong Group 1 event, to be held at Kranji Racecourse on 22 May, takes to nine the number of races forming the $US10.8 million series.

The GSC will be exclusively run at Group 1 level in 2011 following the substitution of Japan’s Group 2 Centaur Stakes (six furlongs) with the Group 1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen (six furlongs) in that country on 27 March.

The Takamatsunomiya Kinen is held annually at Japan’s Chukyo Racecourse, but with the track under renovation in 2011, the race will be held next year at Hanshin.

GSC Chairman, Leigh Jordon, said: “The KrisFlyer International Sprint has proven itself a world class contest with winners from France, Australia and Hong Kong including Global Sprint Challenge stalwarts Takeover Target and Sacred Kingdom, and is a natural addition to the international series for turf sprinters.”

Nick Smith, Head of International Racing at Ascot, added: “Two Hong Kong-trained horses and one from Australia came to Royal Ascot after the KrisFlyer last year and we hope to see a similar pattern in 2011, with Singapore’s own star sprinter, Rocket Man, among those at the top our target list.”

Any horse that wins three races in three different countries outside its own racing jurisdiction will collect a $US1 million bonus to be split 75% to the owners and 25% to the trainer.

The 2011 GSC commences with the first of two Australian legs, the Coolmore Lightning Stakes (five furlongs), at Flemington Racecourse on 19 February.

It then moves to Japan and Singapore respectively for the two new legs, before continuing in the United Kingdom with the King’s Stand Stakes, Golden Jubilee Stakes and Darley July Cup over the summer.

The GSC returns to Japan on 2 October for the Sprinters Stakes (six furlongs) at Nakayama Racecourse, before making its second stop at Flemington for the Patinack Farm Classic (six furlongs) on 5 November.

The series will again reach its culmination in Hong Kong on 11 December with the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint (six furlongs) at Sha Tin Racecourse.

For further information please contact:

Leigh Jordon (Chairman GSC Committee)
General Manager – Racing Operations
Racing Victoria
Phone +61 (0) 3 9258 4661
Mobile +61 (0) 411 646 187
Email l.jordon@racingvictoria.net.au

Nick Smith
Head of Communications and International Racing
Ascot Racecourse Ltd.
Phone +44 (0) 1344 878 524
Mobile +44 (0) 7771 791 449
Email nick.smith@ascot.co.uk

Michael Prosser
Director of Racing
Newmarket Racecourses
Phone +44 (0) 1638 675 504
Mobile +44 (0) 7802 844 578
Email michael.prosser@jockeyclubracecourses.com

Sergeant Well-Drilled as Weights are revealed for The Ladbroke

Aegean Dawn is the 5/1 antepost favourite with Ladbrokes for The Ladbroke (2.35pm) at Ascot on Saturday, December 18, and Nicky Henderson’s rapidly improving charge has been allotted 11st 2lb for the ultra-competitive Listed two-mile handicap hurdle.

Henderson’s contender may boast a perfect four from four record but he faces his stiffest task to date in The Ladbroke, worth £150,000 and the richest handicap hurdle run in Britain, and Cheshire trainer Donald McCain is hoping that the Tim Leslie-owned Drill Sergeant (10st 7lb, 25/1) can be the horse to lower the favourite’s colours.

Drill Sergeant, a tough handicapper on the Flat and placed at Group Two level for trainer Mark Johnston, has made a pleasing start to his career over hurdles for McCain this autumn. Of his four runs over hurdles to date, the most notable came in a novice event at Haydock on October 27, when the front-running five-year-old pulled himself up after a circuit before being galvanised to victory under Tony McCoy.

Drill Sergeant returned to Haydock for his most recent start on November 20. After making most of the running, the gelding went down by eight lengths to the impressive Paul Nicholls-trained Toubab, to whom he was conceding 6lb.

Toubab (11st 6lb, 8/1), the current joint second-favourite with Ladbrokes, is set to reoppose Drill Sergeant on 19lb worse terms in The Ladbroke, giving McCain cause for optimism.

McCain revealed today: “Although Drill Sergeant hasn’t had a lot of runs over hurdles, he has an awful lot of experience on the Flat in strongly-run handicaps, so that justifies his entry in The Ladbroke and it is an option we are looking at.

“Haydock is very sharp now and a strong galloping two miles suits him better - he may even prove to be better over two and a half miles. The last Haydock run was a very solid effort and we are handicapped to be competitive if he is fluent enough over his hurdles for this type of contest.

“Toubab beat us senseless last time but the turn around in the weights will help. I wouldn’t say we’re well in but Drill Sergeant had to do a lot of the work that day and it might be that he’s a better horse in a big-field contest like The Ladbroke.”

Topping the weights on 11st 12lb are the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Get Me Out Of Here (12/1), Grade Two Elite Hurdle victor Nearby (16/1) from the Philip Hobbs yard and the John Hanlon-trained high-class Irish raider Luska Lad (20/1).

Henderson’s potential contenders also include Aintree Grade Two victor General Miller (11st 7lb, 20/1) and Oscar Whisky (11st 8lb, 12/1) whose sole defeat came when fourth to Menorah in the Grade One Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.

Sanctuaire (11st 8lb, 20/1) landed the Grade Three Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle for Nicholls last term and the Ditcheat handler’s Tito Bustillo (10st 12lb, 16/1) and Advisor (10st 9lb, 20/1) could also take their chances.

Alan King’s trio of entries are headed by Mille Chief (11st 7lb, 9/1) who has a 17lb pull with Aegean Dawn (including the latter’s 5lb rider’s allowance) for a four and a half-length defeat over the course and distance in November. King could also run the smart Salden Licht (11st 4lb, 10/1) and Manyriverstocross (11st 4lb, 10/1).

Tocca Ferro (11st 3lb, 8/1) is looking for a hat-trick after Listed wins at Ascot and Newbury for trainer Emma Lavelle, while Nick Williams could seek victory with James De Vassy (11st 6lb, 25/1) and For Non Stop (10st 11lb, 10/1), and the Hobbs contingent also includes Oldrik (11st, 25/1) and Karasenir (10st 7lb, 25/1).

Bothy (10st 12lb, 10/1) ran Menorah close off a featherweight in the Grade Three Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham last month and is one of three solid contenders from Brian Ellison’s North Yorkshire yard, the others being Palomar (10st 9lb, 14/1) and Ultimate (10st 7lb, 50/1).

The Irish-trained entries also include Pires (10st 3lb, 10/1), Son Amix (10st 12lb, 16/1) from the Tom Cooper stable and the James Hartnett-trained Lancetto (10st 11lb, 20/1).

Grade One winner Orsippus (11st 1lb, 40/1) could line up for Northumberland trainer Michael Smith, John Quinn’s novice Recession Proof (16/1) is set to carry 10st 10lb and the useful Karen McLintock-trained Bygones Of Brid (33/1) has 11st 4lb.

Others of note include the David Pipe-trained pair of Notus De La Tour (11st 3lb, 12/1) and Hunterview (10st 7lb, 20/1), as well as the Laura Mongan-trained Alsadaa (11st 2lb, 50/1), runner-up in 2007.

The Ladbroke - Latest prices from Ladbrokes

5/1 Aegean Dawn
8/1 Tocca Ferro, Toubab
9/1 Mille Chief
10/1 Manyriverstocross, For Non Stop, Pires, Bothy, Salden Licht
12/1 Notus De La Tour, Get Me Out Of Here, Oscar Whisky
14/1 Palomar
16/1 Recession Proof, Nearby, Tito Bustillo, Son Amix
20/1 General Miller, Prince Of Fire, Montan, Advisor, Hunterview, Luska Lad, Lancetto, Sanctuaire
25/1 Karasenir, James De Vassy, Secret Dancer, Art Professor, Westlin' Winds, Oldrik, Drill Sergeant
33/1 Fiulin, Rebel Dancer, Ballybriggan, Bygones Of Brid, Caravel
40/1 Gifted Leader, Orsippus, Washington Irving
50/1 Heron Bay, Alsadaa, Ciceron, Dani's Girl, Dr Livingstone, Toshi, Ultimate

For more information, please contact:

Nick Smith - Head of Communications & International Racing, Ascot,
07771 791 449
nick.smith@ascot.co.uk

David Williams - Horseracing PR, Ladbrokes, 07976 180236
david.williams@ladbrokes.co.uk