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News, competitions, behind the scenes and information from the World's Most Famous Racecourse.
Friday, 24 September 2010
British Racing Unites to Create Richest-Ever Day from 2011
British Champions’ Day, the richest fixture in British racing history, will be introduced from 2011, offering more than £3 million of prize money, it was announced today.
Racing’s stakeholders have come together to create the major new day, which will be hosted at Ascot on 15 October 2011. British Champions’ Day will feature the Champion Stakes, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, Diadem Stakes, Jockey Club Cup and Pride Stakes, as well as a high profile Handicap.
Ascot’s prime location and capacity are viewed as important to help set the stage for British racing to create a larger and more prestigious climax to the premier Flat season for three year olds and upwards. The long-term aim is for this event to rank with the USA’s Breeders’ Cup and France’s Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe.
The new event will be heavily marketed and is seen as a crucial step towards broadening the appeal of the sport in Britain, whilst also attracting audiences from around the world. British Champions’ Day will be the culmination of a series of races showcasing the best of British Flat racing throughout the season.
Britain already stages many of the world’s top Flat contests and this will be communicated more effectively to a wider public by branding them British Champions’ Series races. Other sports have proved that successfully differentiating and marketing premier events can transform their popularity, with the benefits felt by the whole sport, including increased attendances, betting revenues, sponsorship and media rights value.
The Series will launch on Saturday 30 April 2011 with the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile course and climax with British Champions’ Day at Ascot. It will comprise five separate championship categories, namely Sprint, Mile, Middle Distance, Long Distance and Fillies and Mares[1], featuring six of the highest-rated races in each category to create easy-to-follow storylines for a wider audience.
With a total prize money pot of more than £13 million, British Champions’ Series will be staged at ten of the UK’s leading racecourses: Ascot, Doncaster, Epsom Downs, Goodwood, Haydock Park, Newbury, Newmarket’s July Course, Newmarket’s Rowley Mile, Sandown Park and York. It will encompass British racing’s key festivals, including the Guineas Festival at Newmarket, the Epsom Derby Festival, Royal Ascot, the Newmarket July Festival, Glorious Goodwood, the Ebor Festival at York and the Doncaster St Leger Meeting.
Karl Oliver, Chief Executive of British Champions’ Series Ltd, said:
“British racing is the best in the world, but we need to give our sport a major new platform to compete for the public’s attention. Britain’s richest-ever day of racing is the opportunity to attract the very best British and overseas horses to compete at our top international racecourse. It can be the autumn climax that British racing deserves.
“By also introducing a series framework, we can highlight and use the best races throughout the Flat season to engage a much wider audience in our sport. In time, British racing can be proud that it backed British Champions’ Series and British Champions’ Day.”
The British Champions’ Series has no bearing on the official start and end of the Flat racing season in the UK, with the Jockeys’ Championship and Trainers’ Championship still being awarded at Doncaster in November 2011.
Establishing British Champions’ Day and the British Champions’ Series
The highly complex and challenging process of establishing British Champions’ Series has seen a combined effort from a wide range of British racing’s stakeholders, led by the Racing for Change (RfC) industry group and the racecourses involved, supported by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), the Racecourse Association (RCA) and The Horsemen’s Group, representing owners, trainers, breeders, jockeys and stable staff.
The race programme has required several fixtures to switch venue from their 2010 location and/or move into new slots. Achieving this has required unprecedented steps to be taken by The Jockey Club, Newmarket Racecourse and Ascot Racecourse in particular, in the best interests of British racing.
An extensive consultation process has been conducted throughout the formation stage of the project, with many prominent racehorse owners, trainers, breeders, racecourses, media companies, prospective commercial partners and racing authorities in the UK and abroad.
Future Champions’ Day unveiled
As part of reaching agreement for British Champions’ Series, Newmarket will host an annual Future Champions’ Day. This will help to identify racehorses with the potential to compete in the British Champions’ Series in the following year. Next year this will be hosted at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile course on Saturday 8 October 2011 and feature the Dewhurst Stakes (Group 1), Middle Park Stakes (Group 1), Rockfel Stakes (Group 2) and Autumn Stakes (Group 3) for two-year-old horses, and the Challenge Stakes (Group 2), Darley Stakes (Group 3) and the Cesarewitch Heritage Handicap for three-year-olds and upwards.
Another aspect of the agreement will see Newmarket Annual Members benefit from a reciprocal arrangement with Ascot at British Champions’ Day and in return, Ascot’s Members will be welcomed at Newmarket on Future Champions’ Day.
Commercial structure and funding
A new company will be formed, British Champions’ Series Limited (BCS Ltd), to run the series and finale. The investors in the British Champions’ Series project are the BCS racecourses and REL, which will benefit from equity stakes reflecting their respective investments in the new company.
Karl Oliver, Project Director for Premier Racing at Racing Enterprises Ltd (REL), is appointed Chief Executive of BCS Ltd, effective immediately, having been central to its formation. Oliver will oversee the marketing and commercial rights associated with the new series. A robust business case for BCS Ltd through until 2018 has been established and has been endorsed by RfC, REL and the BCS racecourses.
The terrestrial broadcast rights to all races that will feature in British Champions’ Series are currently contracted to the BBC (11 races) and Channel 4 (19 races) through until 2012, with the exception of British Champions’ Day. BCS Ltd has already entered into discussions with its terrestrial broadcast partners about televising British Champions’ Day and in principle, both have expressed an interest to broadcast the fixture.
BCS Ltd has also entered into discussions with a number of prospective commercial partners to British Champions’ Series. A business plan is in place to evolve the series’ sponsorship model as its potential impact grows.
For further information please contact:
Karl Oliver, Chief Executive, British Champions’ Series, 020 7152 0192 / 07785 254 024
Nick Attenborough, Director of Consumer PR, Racing for Change, 020 7152 0193 / 07714 146 528
Scott Bowers, Group Director of Communications, The Jockey Club, 020 7611 1814 / 07809 665 840
Nick Smith, Head of Communications, Ascot Racecourse, 01344 878 524 / 07771 791 449
Rod Street, Chief Executive, Racing Enterprises Limited, 020 7152 0190 / 07584 171 252Selected endorsements for British Champions’ Series:Paul Roy, Chairman of the British Horseracing Authority, said:
“Our intention to create a new autumn highlight which will grow in stature in the international racing calendar was always an exciting project that we wished to progress within the boundaries of, and with the blessing of, the European Pattern Committee.
“The European Pattern has stood the test of time. European racing nations have worked together very effectively, as clearly demonstrated by the success of the top races within Europe and the volume of horses competing outside their home country.
“The Committee has undertaken a number of effective negotiations over the years, for example producing the enhanced programme for older fillies and mares in recent times, which has had significant success in keeping some quality horses in training; a clear example of the value of working together.
“We have the utmost respect for the European Pattern system, and the work of the Committee in upholding its integrity. We greatly appreciate the work of Committee Chairman Brian Kavanagh and the other members of the Committee in helping us to bring this project to fruition. The considerable goodwill amongst the individuals that sit around the Committee table has been evident and we are very grateful to them. Britain has listened to the Committee and acted responsibly throughout this process in order to promote the Pattern and all that it is there to achieve in the interests of European racing.”
Chris McFadden, Chairman of Racing Enterprises Ltd and Racing for Change, said:
“We believe strongly that British Champions’ Series and British Champions’ Day will enable us to tackle some of the key challenges facing British racing, including the declining Levy yield and share of the betting market, attendances, media rights and sponsorship value, terrestrial TV audiences and giving owners more reason to stay in the sport.
“Our new Flat racing finale will also give us a long-overdue alternative to the Arc and Breeders’ Cup. Seven of the top twelve most highly rated Flat races in the world take place in Britain so it seems unfair to get upstaged annually by overseas events.”
Simon Bazalgette, Chief Executive of The Jockey Club and Board Member of Racing for Change, said:
“A lot of hard work and some challenging decisions have gone into establishing the British Champions’ Series. Now we must use this platform to tell our sport’s brilliant stories and appeal to the public’s imagination. High drama, thrilling competition and big rewards; I firmly believe we are creating a catalyst for many more people to become captivated by our sport.”
Charles Barnett, Chief Executive of Ascot Racecourse, said:
“We are delighted to be hosting British Champions’ Day, which is the result of the whole racing family coming together to do what is best for the sport. The Champion Stakes and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at £1 million plus races have the platform to become the world’s premier turf events in the ten furlong and mile categories. We look forward to working with the BHA and our European partners to develop the Diadem, Pride and Jockey Club Cup into Group One events as soon as possible.
“We have worked with Newmarket for many years on several initiatives and the idea of a climax for the two-year-olds on the Rowley Mile and for the three-year-olds and upwards at Ascot has natural synergy. Newmarket is the home of racing and their part in this project is a perfect example of the innovation that they and The Jockey Club have shown throughout their long history in the sport. It is entirely appropriate that the Jockey Club Cup on British Champions Day reflects their full partnership in this venture.”Stephen Wallis, Managing Director of Newmarket Racecourses, said:
“Newmarket’s Board fully supports the creation of this major new platform for British racing. We have played a central role in this initiative from the outset in an effort to help create the best possible opportunity for the future of our sport, while preserving its heritage and securing a strong race programme for Newmarket.
“British Champions’ Series will launch on the Rowley Mile, where we will stage two further series races and two more on The July Course. These will be followed by Future Champions’ Day, which can become a focus of real excitement in the British racing calendar. It promises a superb climax to the premier two-year-old Flat season and is a fixture befitting the Home of Racing, where many future champions of our sport are bred and trained.
“We appreciate why some people would rather the Champion Stakes remained in Newmarket, but I also hope they will recognise it is now part of a shared industry day that will help build the profile and finances of the sport we hold so dear.”
Nic Coward, Chief Executive of the British Horseracing Authority, said:
“The Authority was set up to bring the sport together and lead on the major issues. Racing is changing, and today’s announcement is another significant step. The new series and the new British Champions Day will showcase the phenomenal excitement of great Racing on the sport’s greatest stages. This is one important element of how we are changing the fixture list, and how it is put together.”
Frankie Dettori, said:
"This is one of the toughest periods that British Horseracing will ever have to face. Our racing is the best in the world and Ascot is a world class venue at any level so it is fantastic that the industry is doing everything to help itself at this time. I congratulate everyone involved and look forward to racing at a world class event at my favourite track! This will equal The Melbourne Cup, The Breeders Cup and The World Cup in Dubai who have all led the way over the years with high class events."
Wilf Walsh, Non-Executive Director, Gala Coral Group, said:
“British flat racing needs a clear structure and a world class finale worthy of the sport and the BCS provides the ideal template going forward.”
Chris Palmer, Corporate Development Director, Ladbrokes, said:
“We are supportive of any initiative that increases the profile of the sport and can lead to increased revenues for all concerned.”
Nigel Payne, Chief Executive of the Horseracing Sponsors Association, said:
"Racing has eagerly awaited these details and we should not be at all disappointed. Here is a great opportunity to attract some Blue Chip partners and sponsors to our sport. Major sporting spectacles such as The Champions League and Formula 1 market themselves in this way and racing must be confident that we can do the same throughout the many media platforms available to us."
Professor Simon Chadwick, Founder and Director of the Centre for the International Business of Sport, said:
“Horseracing is actually an extremely well attended sport in the UK, but other sports have been quicker to modernise and make themselves relevant to a younger audience. In my view, establishing British Champions’ Series is exactly what British horseracing needs to propel it into the consciousness of today’s sports fans and sponsors, both domestically and internationally.”
Lord Grimthorpe, Racing Manager to His Highness Prince Khalid Abdullah and Juddmonte Farms, said:
"Racing needs to do something significant to re-engage the public. We have a wonderful sport and British racing is the best in the world. British Champions' Series will use our highest quality racing to inspire new followers, attract commercial partners and increase media rights. This is the right move for our sport."
Tony Kelly, Managing Director, Northern Racing, said:
“Racing needs to reach a bigger audience and there is sense in using the sport's key moments to to do. The fact that racing's key stakeholders have agreed upon a roadmap for the future to help achieve this is notable.”
The British Champions’ Series: Five Separate Champion Categories
Sprint
Temple Stakes
King’s Stand Stakes
Golden Jubilee Stakes
July Cup
Nunthorpe Stakes
Sprint Cup
Mile
2000 Guineas Stakes
Lockinge Stakes
St James’s Palace Stakes
Queen Anne Stakes
Sussex Stakes
Joel Stakes
Middle Distance
Coronation Cup
Derby
Prince of Wales’s Stakes
Eclipse
King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes
International Stakes
Fillies & Mares
1000 Guineas Stakes
Oaks
Coronation Stakes
Falmouth Stakes
Nassau Stakes
Yorkshire Oaks
Long Distance
Yorkshire Cup
Gold Cup
Goodwood Cup
Lonsdale Cup
Doncaster Cup
St Leger Stakes
Racing for Change is an initiative created by Racing Enterprises Ltd, the commercial arm of British horseracing. The Racing for Change board features all of the sport's key organisations and includes not only representation from the racecourses and the participants, but also the Horserace Betting Levy Board and the British Horseracing Authority, the bodies with responsibility for funding, governance and regulation. www.racingforchange.co.uk
Racing’s stakeholders have come together to create the major new day, which will be hosted at Ascot on 15 October 2011. British Champions’ Day will feature the Champion Stakes, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, Diadem Stakes, Jockey Club Cup and Pride Stakes, as well as a high profile Handicap.
Ascot’s prime location and capacity are viewed as important to help set the stage for British racing to create a larger and more prestigious climax to the premier Flat season for three year olds and upwards. The long-term aim is for this event to rank with the USA’s Breeders’ Cup and France’s Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe.
The new event will be heavily marketed and is seen as a crucial step towards broadening the appeal of the sport in Britain, whilst also attracting audiences from around the world. British Champions’ Day will be the culmination of a series of races showcasing the best of British Flat racing throughout the season.
Britain already stages many of the world’s top Flat contests and this will be communicated more effectively to a wider public by branding them British Champions’ Series races. Other sports have proved that successfully differentiating and marketing premier events can transform their popularity, with the benefits felt by the whole sport, including increased attendances, betting revenues, sponsorship and media rights value.
The Series will launch on Saturday 30 April 2011 with the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile course and climax with British Champions’ Day at Ascot. It will comprise five separate championship categories, namely Sprint, Mile, Middle Distance, Long Distance and Fillies and Mares[1], featuring six of the highest-rated races in each category to create easy-to-follow storylines for a wider audience.
With a total prize money pot of more than £13 million, British Champions’ Series will be staged at ten of the UK’s leading racecourses: Ascot, Doncaster, Epsom Downs, Goodwood, Haydock Park, Newbury, Newmarket’s July Course, Newmarket’s Rowley Mile, Sandown Park and York. It will encompass British racing’s key festivals, including the Guineas Festival at Newmarket, the Epsom Derby Festival, Royal Ascot, the Newmarket July Festival, Glorious Goodwood, the Ebor Festival at York and the Doncaster St Leger Meeting.
Karl Oliver, Chief Executive of British Champions’ Series Ltd, said:
“British racing is the best in the world, but we need to give our sport a major new platform to compete for the public’s attention. Britain’s richest-ever day of racing is the opportunity to attract the very best British and overseas horses to compete at our top international racecourse. It can be the autumn climax that British racing deserves.
“By also introducing a series framework, we can highlight and use the best races throughout the Flat season to engage a much wider audience in our sport. In time, British racing can be proud that it backed British Champions’ Series and British Champions’ Day.”
The British Champions’ Series has no bearing on the official start and end of the Flat racing season in the UK, with the Jockeys’ Championship and Trainers’ Championship still being awarded at Doncaster in November 2011.
Establishing British Champions’ Day and the British Champions’ Series
The highly complex and challenging process of establishing British Champions’ Series has seen a combined effort from a wide range of British racing’s stakeholders, led by the Racing for Change (RfC) industry group and the racecourses involved, supported by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), the Racecourse Association (RCA) and The Horsemen’s Group, representing owners, trainers, breeders, jockeys and stable staff.
The race programme has required several fixtures to switch venue from their 2010 location and/or move into new slots. Achieving this has required unprecedented steps to be taken by The Jockey Club, Newmarket Racecourse and Ascot Racecourse in particular, in the best interests of British racing.
An extensive consultation process has been conducted throughout the formation stage of the project, with many prominent racehorse owners, trainers, breeders, racecourses, media companies, prospective commercial partners and racing authorities in the UK and abroad.
Future Champions’ Day unveiled
As part of reaching agreement for British Champions’ Series, Newmarket will host an annual Future Champions’ Day. This will help to identify racehorses with the potential to compete in the British Champions’ Series in the following year. Next year this will be hosted at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile course on Saturday 8 October 2011 and feature the Dewhurst Stakes (Group 1), Middle Park Stakes (Group 1), Rockfel Stakes (Group 2) and Autumn Stakes (Group 3) for two-year-old horses, and the Challenge Stakes (Group 2), Darley Stakes (Group 3) and the Cesarewitch Heritage Handicap for three-year-olds and upwards.
Another aspect of the agreement will see Newmarket Annual Members benefit from a reciprocal arrangement with Ascot at British Champions’ Day and in return, Ascot’s Members will be welcomed at Newmarket on Future Champions’ Day.
Commercial structure and funding
A new company will be formed, British Champions’ Series Limited (BCS Ltd), to run the series and finale. The investors in the British Champions’ Series project are the BCS racecourses and REL, which will benefit from equity stakes reflecting their respective investments in the new company.
Karl Oliver, Project Director for Premier Racing at Racing Enterprises Ltd (REL), is appointed Chief Executive of BCS Ltd, effective immediately, having been central to its formation. Oliver will oversee the marketing and commercial rights associated with the new series. A robust business case for BCS Ltd through until 2018 has been established and has been endorsed by RfC, REL and the BCS racecourses.
The terrestrial broadcast rights to all races that will feature in British Champions’ Series are currently contracted to the BBC (11 races) and Channel 4 (19 races) through until 2012, with the exception of British Champions’ Day. BCS Ltd has already entered into discussions with its terrestrial broadcast partners about televising British Champions’ Day and in principle, both have expressed an interest to broadcast the fixture.
BCS Ltd has also entered into discussions with a number of prospective commercial partners to British Champions’ Series. A business plan is in place to evolve the series’ sponsorship model as its potential impact grows.
For further information please contact:
Karl Oliver, Chief Executive, British Champions’ Series, 020 7152 0192 / 07785 254 024
Nick Attenborough, Director of Consumer PR, Racing for Change, 020 7152 0193 / 07714 146 528
Scott Bowers, Group Director of Communications, The Jockey Club, 020 7611 1814 / 07809 665 840
Nick Smith, Head of Communications, Ascot Racecourse, 01344 878 524 / 07771 791 449
Rod Street, Chief Executive, Racing Enterprises Limited, 020 7152 0190 / 07584 171 252Selected endorsements for British Champions’ Series:Paul Roy, Chairman of the British Horseracing Authority, said:
“Our intention to create a new autumn highlight which will grow in stature in the international racing calendar was always an exciting project that we wished to progress within the boundaries of, and with the blessing of, the European Pattern Committee.
“The European Pattern has stood the test of time. European racing nations have worked together very effectively, as clearly demonstrated by the success of the top races within Europe and the volume of horses competing outside their home country.
“The Committee has undertaken a number of effective negotiations over the years, for example producing the enhanced programme for older fillies and mares in recent times, which has had significant success in keeping some quality horses in training; a clear example of the value of working together.
“We have the utmost respect for the European Pattern system, and the work of the Committee in upholding its integrity. We greatly appreciate the work of Committee Chairman Brian Kavanagh and the other members of the Committee in helping us to bring this project to fruition. The considerable goodwill amongst the individuals that sit around the Committee table has been evident and we are very grateful to them. Britain has listened to the Committee and acted responsibly throughout this process in order to promote the Pattern and all that it is there to achieve in the interests of European racing.”
Chris McFadden, Chairman of Racing Enterprises Ltd and Racing for Change, said:
“We believe strongly that British Champions’ Series and British Champions’ Day will enable us to tackle some of the key challenges facing British racing, including the declining Levy yield and share of the betting market, attendances, media rights and sponsorship value, terrestrial TV audiences and giving owners more reason to stay in the sport.
“Our new Flat racing finale will also give us a long-overdue alternative to the Arc and Breeders’ Cup. Seven of the top twelve most highly rated Flat races in the world take place in Britain so it seems unfair to get upstaged annually by overseas events.”
Simon Bazalgette, Chief Executive of The Jockey Club and Board Member of Racing for Change, said:
“A lot of hard work and some challenging decisions have gone into establishing the British Champions’ Series. Now we must use this platform to tell our sport’s brilliant stories and appeal to the public’s imagination. High drama, thrilling competition and big rewards; I firmly believe we are creating a catalyst for many more people to become captivated by our sport.”
Charles Barnett, Chief Executive of Ascot Racecourse, said:
“We are delighted to be hosting British Champions’ Day, which is the result of the whole racing family coming together to do what is best for the sport. The Champion Stakes and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at £1 million plus races have the platform to become the world’s premier turf events in the ten furlong and mile categories. We look forward to working with the BHA and our European partners to develop the Diadem, Pride and Jockey Club Cup into Group One events as soon as possible.
“We have worked with Newmarket for many years on several initiatives and the idea of a climax for the two-year-olds on the Rowley Mile and for the three-year-olds and upwards at Ascot has natural synergy. Newmarket is the home of racing and their part in this project is a perfect example of the innovation that they and The Jockey Club have shown throughout their long history in the sport. It is entirely appropriate that the Jockey Club Cup on British Champions Day reflects their full partnership in this venture.”Stephen Wallis, Managing Director of Newmarket Racecourses, said:
“Newmarket’s Board fully supports the creation of this major new platform for British racing. We have played a central role in this initiative from the outset in an effort to help create the best possible opportunity for the future of our sport, while preserving its heritage and securing a strong race programme for Newmarket.
“British Champions’ Series will launch on the Rowley Mile, where we will stage two further series races and two more on The July Course. These will be followed by Future Champions’ Day, which can become a focus of real excitement in the British racing calendar. It promises a superb climax to the premier two-year-old Flat season and is a fixture befitting the Home of Racing, where many future champions of our sport are bred and trained.
“We appreciate why some people would rather the Champion Stakes remained in Newmarket, but I also hope they will recognise it is now part of a shared industry day that will help build the profile and finances of the sport we hold so dear.”
Nic Coward, Chief Executive of the British Horseracing Authority, said:
“The Authority was set up to bring the sport together and lead on the major issues. Racing is changing, and today’s announcement is another significant step. The new series and the new British Champions Day will showcase the phenomenal excitement of great Racing on the sport’s greatest stages. This is one important element of how we are changing the fixture list, and how it is put together.”
Frankie Dettori, said:
"This is one of the toughest periods that British Horseracing will ever have to face. Our racing is the best in the world and Ascot is a world class venue at any level so it is fantastic that the industry is doing everything to help itself at this time. I congratulate everyone involved and look forward to racing at a world class event at my favourite track! This will equal The Melbourne Cup, The Breeders Cup and The World Cup in Dubai who have all led the way over the years with high class events."
Wilf Walsh, Non-Executive Director, Gala Coral Group, said:
“British flat racing needs a clear structure and a world class finale worthy of the sport and the BCS provides the ideal template going forward.”
Chris Palmer, Corporate Development Director, Ladbrokes, said:
“We are supportive of any initiative that increases the profile of the sport and can lead to increased revenues for all concerned.”
Nigel Payne, Chief Executive of the Horseracing Sponsors Association, said:
"Racing has eagerly awaited these details and we should not be at all disappointed. Here is a great opportunity to attract some Blue Chip partners and sponsors to our sport. Major sporting spectacles such as The Champions League and Formula 1 market themselves in this way and racing must be confident that we can do the same throughout the many media platforms available to us."
Professor Simon Chadwick, Founder and Director of the Centre for the International Business of Sport, said:
“Horseracing is actually an extremely well attended sport in the UK, but other sports have been quicker to modernise and make themselves relevant to a younger audience. In my view, establishing British Champions’ Series is exactly what British horseracing needs to propel it into the consciousness of today’s sports fans and sponsors, both domestically and internationally.”
Lord Grimthorpe, Racing Manager to His Highness Prince Khalid Abdullah and Juddmonte Farms, said:
"Racing needs to do something significant to re-engage the public. We have a wonderful sport and British racing is the best in the world. British Champions' Series will use our highest quality racing to inspire new followers, attract commercial partners and increase media rights. This is the right move for our sport."
Tony Kelly, Managing Director, Northern Racing, said:
“Racing needs to reach a bigger audience and there is sense in using the sport's key moments to to do. The fact that racing's key stakeholders have agreed upon a roadmap for the future to help achieve this is notable.”
The British Champions’ Series: Five Separate Champion Categories
Sprint
Temple Stakes
King’s Stand Stakes
Golden Jubilee Stakes
July Cup
Nunthorpe Stakes
Sprint Cup
Mile
2000 Guineas Stakes
Lockinge Stakes
St James’s Palace Stakes
Queen Anne Stakes
Sussex Stakes
Joel Stakes
Middle Distance
Coronation Cup
Derby
Prince of Wales’s Stakes
Eclipse
King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes
International Stakes
Fillies & Mares
1000 Guineas Stakes
Oaks
Coronation Stakes
Falmouth Stakes
Nassau Stakes
Yorkshire Oaks
Long Distance
Yorkshire Cup
Gold Cup
Goodwood Cup
Lonsdale Cup
Doncaster Cup
St Leger Stakes
Racing for Change is an initiative created by Racing Enterprises Ltd, the commercial arm of British horseracing. The Racing for Change board features all of the sport's key organisations and includes not only representation from the racecourses and the participants, but also the Horserace Betting Levy Board and the British Horseracing Authority, the bodies with responsibility for funding, governance and regulation. www.racingforchange.co.uk
Thursday, 23 September 2010
Preview of the 2010 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, sponsored by Sony.
Johnny Murtagh and Rip Van Winkle following their victory in the 2009 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.Trained in France by Mikel Delzangles, Makfi may have only raced five times to date, but he has already left an indelible impression by winning four of those races in deeply impressive style, including a decisive victory in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in May.
His only defeat came here in the St James’s Palace Stakes at the Royal Meeting in June when he was found to be sick afterwards. He returned to the track at Deauville two months later in France’s premier mile race, the Prix Jacques Le Marois, where he defeated the outstanding mare Goldikova with a scintillating display.
If he can repeat that performance this afternoon, Christophe Soumillon’s mount will surely land the £150,000 first prize and see his name added to the race’s glittering roll of honour, where he would join his illustrious grandsire, Dubai Millennium.
His main opponent is last year’s winner, Rip Van Winkle. The top class, Aidan O’Brien-trained four-year-old has already taken the Juddmonte International at York this season and Ascot’s stiff mile suits him well. Johnny Murtagh, who has won five races on him, will be looking to exploit any chinks in Makfi’s armour.
Frankie Dettori’s mount, Poet’s Voice, has been improving steadily and could pose a threat, while Beethoven, Hearts of Fire, Red Jazz, Bushman and Air Chief Marshall are all talented colts in their own right.
Makfi is a very worthy favourite but he will be thoroughly tested, as one would expect in the outstanding mile race of the European season for which the winner earns automatic entry to the top mile race in the USA, the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Churchill Downs on 6 November.
“Win and You’re In” is the title of that promotion. “Win and you’re Europe’s champion miler” is what’s at stake for Makfi.
Friday, 17 September 2010
Royal Ascot Racing Club Update 17th September
Expose made a highly encouraging debut at Newbury this afternoon finishing third of the twelve runners, beaten only a nose and a length by the first and second. He was very relaxed throughout all of the preliminaries and went to post beautifully. William was worried beforehand that Expose might run a shade free early on as he had shown this a couple of times on the gallops, so the plan was for Shane Kelly to try and settle him in behind horses and then to come with a steady run without been knocked around. As it turned out the horse on his inside played up badly in the stalls which set Expose alight when the gates opened, making him run too free for the first furlong and a bit. He relaxed soon thereafter and travelled beautifully looking the likely winner a furlong and a half from home but the first and second, who had both run before, got the better of him inside the final 150 yards and Shane Kelly wasn’t in any way hard on Expose and accepted third place.
Expose will have learnt plenty from this debut and I would expect him to hopefully notch a victory next time he runs and he certainly looks to be the most promising colt in the making. William has made a provisional entry for him at Wolverhampton on Thursday, 23rd September but I suspect that it is unlikely that he will run so soon.
Richard has made two further entries for Mirabella on Thursday, 23rd September which are as follows:
The Simon Scrope Dalby Handicap Stakes over a mile and a quarter at Pontefract at 4.00 p.m.
The Bet in Play William Hill Handicap Stakes over a mile at Wolverhampton at 7.30 p.m.
Expose will have learnt plenty from this debut and I would expect him to hopefully notch a victory next time he runs and he certainly looks to be the most promising colt in the making. William has made a provisional entry for him at Wolverhampton on Thursday, 23rd September but I suspect that it is unlikely that he will run so soon.
Richard has made two further entries for Mirabella on Thursday, 23rd September which are as follows:
The Simon Scrope Dalby Handicap Stakes over a mile and a quarter at Pontefract at 4.00 p.m.
The Bet in Play William Hill Handicap Stakes over a mile at Wolverhampton at 7.30 p.m.
Wednesday, 4 August 2010
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.
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.
Thursday, 29 July 2010
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.
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.
Tuesday, 27 July 2010
Ascot Ales to brew a Festival Special for the 4th CAMRA Ascot Racecourse Beer Festival
It has been announced today that Ascot Ales will brew a festival special for the 4th Annual Ascot Racecourse CAMRA Beer Festival on Friday 24th And Saturday 25th September.
Ascot Ales Cob wil be a 4.5% Hazelnut Porter. Head Brewer Chris Gill explains ‘This beautiful smooth chestnut ale has an initial subtle hazelnut flavour followed with rich chocolate at the finish’. The name Cob represents the link between brewing, with the hazelnut base of the porter, and the equie world with Cob being another name for a a stout strong horse.
Ascot Ales have supported the Ascot Racecourse Beer Festival, organised by the Berkshire South East branch of the Campaign for Real Ale, since its inception in 2007 and the brewery will again be sponsoring the staff t-shirts in 2010. The racing over the two days of the Beer Festival is of the highest quality including Saturday’s Queen Elizabeth II Stakes sponsored by Sony, Euope’s highest rated mile race.
The Campaign for Real Ale campaigns for real ale, real pubs and consumer rights. They are an independent, voluntary organisation with over 100,000 members and have been described as the most successful consumer group in Europe. CAMRA promotes good-quality real ale and pubs, as well as acting as the consumer's champion in relation to the UK and European beer and drinks industry: www.camra.org.uk.
Past winners of the Beer of the Festival Award as voted for by racegoers are as follows:2007: Summer Lightning brewed by Hop Back Brewery, Downton, Wiltshire.2008: Barbus Barbus brewed by Butts Brewery, Great Shefford, Berkshire.2009: Sump brewed by Pitstop Brewery, Wantage, Oxfordshire.
Ascot Ales http://www.ascot-ales.co.uk/ brew five regular beers; their flagship bitter Posh Pooch so named after a local woman was seen walking a dog with a diamond necklace - the dog that is!
Ascot’s Alligator Ale, a wonderful hoppy golden ale, was originally a summer seasonal, but due to popular demand is now brewed all year round. It won Best Golden Ale at Woking Beer Festival in November 2008.
Their third regular is Anastasia's Exile Stout also, unusually, brewed all year round. This is another award winner and is the house stout at the Nags Head in Reading. On The Rails was originally brewed as a festival special for Ascot Beer Festival in 2008 and has since become a regular. It's a smooth drinking dark ale with caramel and chocolate flavours from the malt and a great aroma of pine and citrus from whole hop flowers making this a memorable session beer.
The latest addition is Alley Cat Ale at 3.8%. It's their new light copper ale packed full of flavour. Refreshing and hoppy with Brewers Gold hops giving gorgeous romas of tropical and lemony fruits - a terrific session ale.
Tickets for the Ascot Racecourse Beer Festival start from just £11. To book call 0870 727 1234 or visit ascot.co.uk. Gates and bars open at 11am with the first race off at 2pm. A voucher system will be in operation for all Beer Festival ales, perries and ciders. A half pint is priced at £1.40 and a pint £2.80. A limited edition commemorative oversized pint glass is available for £4.
Ascot Ales Cob wil be a 4.5% Hazelnut Porter. Head Brewer Chris Gill explains ‘This beautiful smooth chestnut ale has an initial subtle hazelnut flavour followed with rich chocolate at the finish’. The name Cob represents the link between brewing, with the hazelnut base of the porter, and the equie world with Cob being another name for a a stout strong horse.
Ascot Ales have supported the Ascot Racecourse Beer Festival, organised by the Berkshire South East branch of the Campaign for Real Ale, since its inception in 2007 and the brewery will again be sponsoring the staff t-shirts in 2010. The racing over the two days of the Beer Festival is of the highest quality including Saturday’s Queen Elizabeth II Stakes sponsored by Sony, Euope’s highest rated mile race.
The Campaign for Real Ale campaigns for real ale, real pubs and consumer rights. They are an independent, voluntary organisation with over 100,000 members and have been described as the most successful consumer group in Europe. CAMRA promotes good-quality real ale and pubs, as well as acting as the consumer's champion in relation to the UK and European beer and drinks industry: www.camra.org.uk.
Past winners of the Beer of the Festival Award as voted for by racegoers are as follows:2007: Summer Lightning brewed by Hop Back Brewery, Downton, Wiltshire.2008: Barbus Barbus brewed by Butts Brewery, Great Shefford, Berkshire.2009: Sump brewed by Pitstop Brewery, Wantage, Oxfordshire.
Ascot Ales http://www.ascot-ales.co.uk/ brew five regular beers; their flagship bitter Posh Pooch so named after a local woman was seen walking a dog with a diamond necklace - the dog that is!
Ascot’s Alligator Ale, a wonderful hoppy golden ale, was originally a summer seasonal, but due to popular demand is now brewed all year round. It won Best Golden Ale at Woking Beer Festival in November 2008.
Their third regular is Anastasia's Exile Stout also, unusually, brewed all year round. This is another award winner and is the house stout at the Nags Head in Reading. On The Rails was originally brewed as a festival special for Ascot Beer Festival in 2008 and has since become a regular. It's a smooth drinking dark ale with caramel and chocolate flavours from the malt and a great aroma of pine and citrus from whole hop flowers making this a memorable session beer.
The latest addition is Alley Cat Ale at 3.8%. It's their new light copper ale packed full of flavour. Refreshing and hoppy with Brewers Gold hops giving gorgeous romas of tropical and lemony fruits - a terrific session ale.
Tickets for the Ascot Racecourse Beer Festival start from just £11. To book call 0870 727 1234 or visit ascot.co.uk. Gates and bars open at 11am with the first race off at 2pm. A voucher system will be in operation for all Beer Festival ales, perries and ciders. A half pint is priced at £1.40 and a pint £2.80. A limited edition commemorative oversized pint glass is available for £4.
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