Tag Archives: Royal Ascot

*Featured/Spotlights

Which Three Competitions in Horse Racing Are Considered to Be the Most Prestigious in the UK?

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The history of horse racing in England can be traced all the way back to the 16th century, making it one of the most historic sports and spectator events in the country. Nevertheless, if we only consider horse racing in terms of its role as a sport, we diminish the cultural traditions and historical relevance of the activity.

These world-famous racing events have millions of followers and fans all around the world. Also, if you didn’t know already, this sport along with the events brings in millions of gamblers around the world and as this sport is one of the most popular gambling activities, passionate horse racing fans are constantly looking for new ways to get the best odds, offers, promotions, and much more in order to win the most money. However, if you also have been looking for a new platform, you’re in luck because you can play online at this resource and receive the best odds and promotions for the upcoming horse racing events.

Cheltenham Festival

One of the events in the United Kingdom that is considered to be the most prestigious and oldest is the Cheltenham Festival, which was first held in 1860. The historic event takes place once a year over the course of four days, and it is known for its elegance and style in welcoming the most avid racing fans in the country. The horses are stabled at the world-famous Cheltenham Racecourse in Gloucestershire, which also boasts amenities that are second to none and staff members who are trained to greet guests in the most refined manner possible.

Epsom Derby

The Epsom Derby is a gorgeous annual spectacle that has been running since 1780. It comprises a number of Thoroughbred racehorses competing against one another for the title of the fastest performer. In the month of June, supporters head down to Epsom Downs in Surrey for the event that is aimed to evaluate as “The Derby.” The illustrious competition typically draws in close to 150,000 spectators, and attendees of the event are strongly encouraged to dress appropriately.

That suggests that men’s and women’s fashion should be on par with one another. The dresses the women wear are often very brilliant colours, and they also wear elaborate headpieces. It is customary for males to attend races in top hats and suits, and it is strongly advised that they steer clear of wearing clothing that does not fit well as well as sportswear.

Royal Ascot

Every year in the month of June, the well-known festival brings together hordes of celebrities, members of the royalty, and well-dressed men, women, and children who are all searching for a chance to have a good time and get the attention of some of the most prestigious individuals in the world.

The competition is one of the oldest in the world, making it an unbeatable experience, and the prize money of over six million pounds is unsurpassed. The fact that the Queen has made it a point to attend Royal Ascot each and every year of her reign is another indication of the event’s high quality.

*Featured/Spotlights

Andrew Balding: 5 to Follow after Royal Ascot

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Image from unsplash.com.

Trainer Andrew Balding went into Royal Ascot 2022 with a very strong team assembled for the prestigious five-day meeting.

He had finished joint-top of the trainer standings last time around with four winners, and hopes were high that he could at least match that tally.

Although he recorded just one winner from his 27 runners, there were undoubtedly plenty of positives to take from the event.

Read on as we take a closer look at five Balding-trained horses that we believe are worth following after their Royal Ascot runs.

The Foxes – Chesham Stakes

Balding pinpointed The Foxes as one of his best chances of the week before Royal Ascot and he will be disappointed with the horse’s run.

In an interview with Betway, Balding described the two-year-old as ‘very smart’ and backed him to build on a promising debut at Newbury.

The Foxes ultimately finished ninth in the Chesham Stakes, but it is too early to write him off given Balding’s comments prior to the race.

Coltrane – Ascot Stakes

Coltrane’s victory under jockey Callum Hutchinson in the long-distance Ascot Stakes was the highlight of the week for the Balding stable.

Hutchinson produced a masterful performance aboard the five-year-old to guide him home ahead of the Willie Mullins trained Bring On The Night.

Coltrane is entered in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle this weekend, but may swerve that race in favour of tackling the Ebor Handicap at York.

Chateau – Windsor Castle Stakes

Chateau was fancied to run well in the Windsor Castle Stakes after recording an excellent victory on his previous outing at Beverley.

He finished fourth in a big field behind Little Big Bear, who was rated as one of trainer Aidan O’Brien’s best horse racing tips of the week.

A step up to six furlongs will probably bring out plenty of improvement in Chateau and he looks well worth following as the season progresses.

Bakeel – Norfolk Stakes

Bakeel was surprisingly sent off at 9/1 in the Norfolk Stakes after recording an impressive course and distance victory on his debut in April.

The Sioux Nation colt was in the front rank at the two-furlong marker, before being slightly outpaced during the latter stages of the race.

He eventually finished in fifth place, and it would be no surprise to see him step up on this effort over a slightly longer distance.

Tactical – Buckingham Palace Stakes

Tactical made a promising return to action after wind surgery at Newmarket in April and looked primed to run a big race in the Buckingham Palace Stakes.

The four-year-old was in rear on the wrong side of the group before being hampered at a crucial stage with two furlongs to run.

He finished off with a rattle to claim sixth place and seems a sure-fire future winner for Balding based on this solid performance.

*Featured/Spotlights, Racing

Where Next for Saudi Cup Winner Mishriff?

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Source: Unsplash.

Mishriff produced the performance of his career to claim the 2021 Saudi Cup earlier this year at the King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh. John Gosden’s runner got the better of the American horse Charlatan in the closing stages of the prestigious dirt contest.

His win in Riyadh opens a lot of doors for the British-based horse, including some of the major races on the surface which are set to take place in the United States over the course of the rest of the year. Here is a look at some of those targets.

Royal Ascot Likely to Be Next

The Royal Meeting at Ascot is one of the biggest weeks of the year in Europe and given Mishriff is based in the UK, it would be a surprise if he did not line up in one of the races across the five days.

If he runs at Ascot in June, it will be his first appearance at the track since coming home at the back end of the field in the Champion Stakes last October. It will be interesting to see how Gosden’s runner fares in the horse racing predictions for the meeting.  As the community speculates on who will win, tools such as this will consider all elements when deciding odds. He has yet to win at the track but his latest form is excellent, two factors that will be worked into the tools used to predict the winners. These systems can offer greater insight which may even change your betting patterns.

Options at Royal Ascot include the Queen Anne Stakes (1m), Prince of Wales’s Stakes (1m2f), and Hardwicke Stakes (1m4f). The middle of those three races looks the most likely. Gosden has been successful on four occasions in that contest, including last year with Lord North.

Breeders’ Cup Classic Must Be a Target

Consideration is surely going to be given to the Breeders’ Cup Classic this year for Mishriff. The feature race of the world championship meeting is one of the most prestigious events in world racing. Success in the race would help elevate the horse into one of the best of his generation.

This year’s Breeders’ Cup meeting takes place at Del Mark Racecourse in California. A rematch with Charlatan could take place in that race in what would be a fascinating dual. It is Bob Baffert’s runner who currently tops the betting for the 1m2f contest on day two of the meeting.

Gosden became the first European trainer to win the Breeders’ Cup when he was successful with Raven’s Pass in 2008. If he can land the prize again 13 years later, it will be a huge achievement for the man who was once based in California.

Arc Hard to Refuse

Another race the British horse is likely to be campaigned for in 2021 is the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in Paris. That race takes place on turf, something which should not be a problem for him as he recently scored in the Sheema Classic.

The Arc attracts the best middle-distance horses from Europe, Japan, and other places around the world. It is a difficult race to win as it is often a large field, leaving the runners short for room on the course at Longchamp.

Gosden has won the Arc three times. He did so with the Derby winner Golden Horn in 2015, while the super mare, Enable, was victorious in 2017 and 2018.

This could be the final year we see Mishriff on the track before a career at stud. The more valuable races he sweeps up before then, the higher his value will become once he retires from the track.

*Featured/Spotlights, Racing

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Horse Racing World

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COVID-19 or the novel coronavirus has impacted the world of horses, horse racing, horse sales, competitions, barn visits, horse rescues, veterinarian visits, and more.

The impact to racing is costing millions of dollars.  Losses are tied to canceled race dates and suspended casino operations adding up.  Racetracks that continue to race behind closed doors are seeing reduced revenues. Horse racing in the UK and in the US are holding some of the racing behind closed doors and being broadcast online and on TV.

The Royal Ascot 2020 race that was to be held on June 16-20 will not be able to take place as an event open to the public. It may prove possible to run the Royal Ascot races behind closed doors, dependent on Government and public health policy and the approval of the BHA, British Horseracing Authority.

Other racetracks have completely halted racing, and casinos that generate purse money have suspended operations. The COVID-19 outbreak is taking a significant economic toll on the sport. As authorities are taking action to mitigate the spread, and with the novel coronavirus being labeled a pandemic by the World Health Organization, horse racing is not immune to the impact.

The BHA has defined a plan to have racings at tracks with hotels on site, where jockeys, officials, and other essential staff could be quarantined. Racing has continued behind closed doors in Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, and at a handful of tracks in the United States. Germany has plans for a scaled-down racing to resume from May 1.

The iconic Kentucky Derby has been postponed to September 5, the first Saturday in September; Keeneland has canceled its Spring Meet; live racing has been canceled at Aqueduct the rest of the spring after a Belmont-based backstretch worker tested positive. COVID-19 is having a major impact on the horse racing industry that will last for years.

As the majority of horse racing tracks have been closed, which is preventing breeders from selling their horses.  For example, Kentucky’s Thoroughbred breeding industry is at a crucial time: it’s the height of breeding season.  The mares are foaling right now. You can’t stop mares foaling.

Thousands of Bluegrass mares are being vanned to stallions, often to other farms, for “live cover,” the only way that the Thoroughbred industry breeds horses.  Thoroughbred breeders are taking extra precautions, like wearing gloves and isolating personnel, to keep COVID-19 from spreading from farm to farm.

Large horse farms already are very familiar with biosecurity protocols, which are in place to avoid accidental transmission of any number equine diseases. The only difference now is the addition of concern for the health of humans which bring new breeding protocols as defined by The Jockey Club.

For trainers with operations of all sizes, that has meant their income stopped in its tracks, and some are already wondering how long they can keep going.  Gallopers, grooms, assistants, farriers, jockeys who depend on horse trainers as their source of income – all are in survival mode.  Horse vanners or haulers have a big decline in business because horses suddenly can’t ship into the next track or training center on their circuit. Many independent contractors like pony riders derive their income from per-horse fees they charge trainers to escort horses in the morning or afternoon.  The uncertainty is the problem.

The Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation is calling for donations to assist backstretch workers affected by the COVID-19 outbreak across the United States. All donations to the foundation will be designated for COVID-19 relief until further notice.  The foundation’s current priority is addressing the immediate need to stock food pantries at racetracks around the country, and it is coordinating with the Race Track Chaplaincy of America in this effort.

The Foundation’s support represents virtually every facet of the Thoroughbred industry, from jockeys, trainers, exercise riders, and grooms to office personnel and other employees of racetracks, racing organizations, and breeding farms.  Assistance can come in any number of forms, including financial aid, medication, surgical and hospital costs, therapeutic equipment, voice-recognition computers for quadriplegics, and wheelchair accessible vans.

On April 1, the Foundation donated 1,000 Kroop’s Brands face shields to the New York Racing Association (NYRA) racetrack community as it deals with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. NYRA’s Aqueduct Racetrack is the location for a temporary medical facility being constructed to help during the pandemic. Koop’s makes goggles for sports such as horse racing and skydiving. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the company began creating a face shield to help protect medical personnel and others from the coronavirus.

Other horse racing business owners are shifting course as a company to help fill a depleted resource during the coronavirus pandemic. Christine A. Moore Millinery is producing masks for healthcare workers; Lexington-based Bloodline Products, the maker of jockey silks, created two different types of surgical masks as well as hospital gowns for medical professionals; and Major League Baseball teamed with Fanatics apparel CEO Michael Rubin to makes masks and gowns rather than jerseys.

*Featured/Spotlights, Racing

Anticipation Building ahead of Return of Flat Season in Britain

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We were in the middle of a memorable national hunt season, with the Cheltenham festival taking place, despite the issues rising due to the coronavirus pandemic. This led to the Grand National being cancelled, and there is now a wait to when horse racing and sport will return. All eyes are now on the upcoming flat season, with punters already looking at the Royal Ascot promotions and offers to support horses in the outright markets. The big question now is: will sport have returned by the start of what is the marquee event for many in the racing calendar?

The flat season in Britain has a number of key meetings upcoming that are also under threat. All will culminate with the Breeders’ Cup in America, which comes at the end of the season, with a large number of horses heading over to contest the meeting. This is taking place over two days.

The flat season was really set to kick off in the opening weekend of May, with the 1000 and 2000 Guineas. This takes place at Newmarket racecourse, with Pinatubo the horse everyone is looking forward to seeing. He is the short priced favourite for the race, and this is little surprise, considering just how impressive he was last year. If he returns in the same form, then it is his race to lose, as he is rated clear of his opposition.  He has won all six of his racecourse starts, with his key performance coming in Ireland at the Curragh. This saw the horse produce a stunning display to clear away from a classy field and win by nine lengths. A performance which put the horse as one of the highest rated two year olds in memory and even higher than the great Frankel. If he can continue his progression, then he could be another all-time great.

There are so many other meetings that punters and racing fans on a whole will be looking forward to. These include the Oaks and Derby in the early period of June. This takes place at Epsom racecourse and is one of the most prestigious meetings in racing and one that fans looking forward to each year around the world.

This will all lead on to the previously mentioned Royal Ascot meeting, in which Pinatubo would also be expected to race. The Breeders’ Cup would then be the great finish to the season, so let’s hope the action can resume in the near future, and we see an end to the coronavirus pandemic.

*Featured/Spotlights, Racing

Royal Ascot Ante Post Betting

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As you may have seen, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has announced (17th March) that racing will be suspended until the end of April due to the national coronavirus crisis. All ticket purchasers will be refunded for the relevant race meetings.

Royal Ascot ante post betting gives you an opportunity in advance to bet on this prestigious race with an odds on offer in the months and weeks leading up to the event.  The fan favorites and odds will be updated closer to Royal Ascot 2020 race meeting.  Ante-post betting allows you to place a bet on a horse race well in advance of the race being run.  Risks vs. rewards are that you get bigger odds betting so far in advance of the race, but if your horse fails to run in the race, you don’t get a refund.

The current favorite horses for ante-post betting are: Called to the Bar, Capri, Magic Circle, Stradivarius, Thomas Hobson, Cross Counter, Cypress Creek, Dee Ex Bee, and Flag of Honour.  The Ascot Gold Cup race has Stradivarius 3-1, Kew Gardens 5-1, and Dee Ex Bee 12-1. All are subject to change. Please check back as the race gets closer.

Using our tips and tricks for ante post betting will help you pick a winner.  Who knows if your horse will improve during his race season? The odds will get shorter nearer to the race. As the race draws closer, certain horses might not run, jockeys and trainers might be affected by the novel coronavirus, or other illness or injury.  This will affect the betting odds which may change in the months and weeks leading up to the race.

Ante post betting is popular year-around for the Cheltenham Festival and Aintree Grand National, but for ante-post betting on the Royal Ascot, you’ll have to wait until closer to the event.

The Royal Ascot meeting has 30 great races including the very best Group 1 action. The key races that feature each day are the St James’s Palace Stakes and Queen Anne Stakes on day 1; day 2 sees the Prince of Wales Stakes and Royal Hunt Cup. Day 3 which is Royal Ascot Ladies’ Day has the Royal Ascot Gold Cup, and day 4 has the Coronation Stakes. The final day has three great spectacles in the Golden Jubilee Stakes, the Wokingham Stakes, and the Queen Alexandra Stakes.

Ascot Racecourse was founded in 1711 by Queen Anne. The first race, “Her Majesty’s Plate”, with a purse of 100 guineas, was held on 11 August 1711. Seven horses competed. This first race comprised three separate four-mile (6437 m) heats. Handicap races started at Ascot, the first one being the Oatlands Handicap in 1791.

In 1813 Parliament passed an Act to ensure that the grounds would remain a public racecourse. A new grandstand was opened in 1839 at a cost of £10000.  A further Act of Parliament of 1913 establishing the Ascot Authority which manages the racecourse to this day. From its creation until 1945, the only racing that took place at Ascot was the Royal Meeting, a four-day event. Since that date, more fixtures have been introduced to the grounds, notably National Hunt racing in 1965. The National Hunt course was established using turf from Hurst Park Racecourse, which closed in 1962.

*Featured/Spotlights, Racing

Royal Ascot 2020

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The five-day British Royal Ascot horse racing festival, due to start on June 16, attracts over 300,000 spectators. As you may have seen, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) announced on March 17th that racing will be suspended until the end of April due to the national coronavirus crisis.  At this stage we ask for everyone’s patience with regards to updates relating to Royal Ascot.

The shutting down of racing until the end of April by the BHA places a considerable degree of uncertainty on some of Britain’s biggest Flat meetings, for example the June jewels of Royal Ascot and the Epsom Derby.  But know that you have come to the right place for the latest info in the Ascot betting guide. Go to this guide to understand the types of betting available to you, e.g., win, place bets, each-way bets, and futures. Futures bets can be place in advance of the race months, weeks, or days ahead of a race with fixed and generous odds.

Make your predictions for the finishers to get the trifecta, one of the most popular Royal Ascot bets.  Even more type of bets and tips are available, so be sure to study this guide before the race in June. As the race date gets near, there will be even more types and offers of betting. On top of that, you can watch the race online here.

The Royal Ascot race stretches over five days, with six races each day. The Ascot Racecourse located in Ascot, Berkshire, England is one of the leading racecourses in the United Kingdom, hosting 13 of Britain’s 36 annual Group 1 horse races.  The Royal Ascot is the centerpiece of Ascot’s year and it dates back to 1911 when the week of races in the third week of June became a Royal Week.

Every year Royal Ascot is attended by Elizabeth II and other members of the British Royal Family such as The Prince of Wales, arriving each day in a horse-drawn carriage with the Royal procession taking place at the start of each race day and the raising of the Royal Standard and the playing of the National Anthem. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also attend, as well as the Earl and Countess of Wessex, and other Royals.

What to wear in the Royal Enclosure if the race is still on in June?  The Royal Enclosure is synonymous with sartorial elegance. This is upheld by a formal Dress Code, which guests are invited to embrace with their own individual style and thus contribute to an occasion heralded internationally as a major fashion event.

Ladies are required to wear formal daywear, including a hat with a solid base of 4 inches or more. Gentlemen are required to wear black, grey, or navy morning dress and top hat.

What will your day be like at Royal Ascot? Gates open at 10:30am with the Royal Ascot Greencoats greeting you at the gate. At 2pm each day, the Royal Procession begins with the Royal Landaus or carriages approaching down the famous Straight Mile.  It is a short but spectacular jaunt that has happened since 1825 which signals the start of the Royal Meeting event.

After the Royal Procession passes throughout the parade ring, the first race begins at 2:30.  The last of the 6 Flat races is at 5:35pm.

At 6pm, there is singing around the bandstand to the Royal Welsh Guards choir for songs old and new.  The day draws to a close at 8pm in the Royal, Queen Anne, and Windsor Enclosures, but on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, the Village Enclosure continues its party until 9pm.

*Featured/Spotlights, Racing

3 of the Best: Three of Aiden O’Brien’s Key Runners ahead of Royal Ascot

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Photo: Sergei Prokofiev clears away to win easily for the O’Brien team. Source: https://www.theirishfield.ie/naas-sunday-sergei-prokofiev-is-a-confident-choice-372911/.

The O’Brien team is no doubt set to dominate across Royal Ascot with their incredible strength in depth. Some who are some of the key contenders to note for the Champion trainer?

Coventry Stakes
Sergei Prokofiev

The son of Scat daddy looks to be at the head of the pecking order of 2 year olds for the Ballydoyle team. He was sent off at odds of 4/9 in a maiden at Dundalk and shaped with a fair bit of promise only to lose a short head to Skitter Scatter. Skitter had already had a run under his belt and clearly showed the experience on the day.

Sergei was then pitched in again just 12 days later at Navan and was supported as if defeat was out of the question. Ridden by Ryan Moore he sat behind the leaders always travelling the best before taking it up with just over a furlong to go. He cleared away to win by 7 and a half lengths with ease. This was a performance stamped with class and one that shows why the horse is held in such high regard by connections.

Sergei again returned over the weekend for his final prep race in a tough looking listed contest but was sent off at odds of at prohibitive odds of 2/7. He again looked a complete class above and a clear Group 1 performer in winning by 4 lengths. All roads are now likely to lead to the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot in just a few weeks’ time. He is currently priced at odds of 4/1 for the race and if showing similar improvement again it is going to take a seriously top horse to stop him from following in the footsteps of previous stable stars in 2013 and 2016 winners War Command and Caravaggio.

St James Palace Stakes
Gustav Klimt

Yet another classy horse to have been sired by the great Galileo. He entered his current 3 year old campaign following two successes in his three starts as a 2 year old. His only defeat coming on debut which comes as no surprise as being trained by O’Brien. The final of those victories was at Newmarket in a Group 2 where he found a significant amount of trouble only to fly late on to get up and land the odds. This performance firmly stamped him down as a horse with a significant amount of ability and one to follow.

Gustav returned with a victory in the 2000 guineas trial at Leopardstown where he got up to beat the promising Imaging cosily on unsuitable ground. Following this he was made a short favourite for the guineas at Newmarket. However, on the build up to the day he drifted heavily with his stablemate Saxon Warrior continued to be gambled on. The market got this correct with Saxon Warrior as he was a very impressive winner of the race. Gustav is clearly still a horse with a lot of ability so is still one to follow. His next start is likely to be in the St James Palace Stakes in which he is currently priced at odds of 4/1.

Gold Cup
Order of St George

The final horse to make the select list is the classy stayer Order of St George. The 6 year old is another star from the stable who is not far off surpassing the £2 million prize money mark. He has returned with a solid victory showing the horse is in fine fettle ahead of another testing campaign. He has always looked all about stamina and is renowned for finishing best, which is why this race is tailor made for the horse. To further back up his claims, he has placed in the last two runnings of the Arc over an inadequate trip – again, not only showing the class, but the will to win in the horse.

Order was a very impressive winner of the Gold Cup back in 2016 where he made up an incredible amount of ground in the latter stages of the race. He came back to contest the race again last year and was a very unlucky fast finishing second from an enterprisingly ridden Big Orange. There is no doubt the horse is one to follow and if bringing his A game again it will certainly take a class performance from one of the younger brigade to topple the experienced campaigner. You can place a bet on Royal Ascot and he is currently 9/4 to go on and land his second Ascot Gold Cup.

*Featured/Spotlights, Racing

Lady Aurelia Set for a Return to Royal Ascot

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Photo: Keeneland via Twitter.

American sprinter Lady Aurelia has established herself as one of the quickest horses on the planet over the last couple of seasons and she will get the opportunity to win another big race in Europe later this year when she travels across to the UK for the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Wesley Ward’s runner first rose to prominence as a two-year-old in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2016, where she made all in a dominant display which saw her prevail by seven lengths on her first appearance in the UK.

The filly returned to the Royal meeting last year to take on the opposite sex and much more experienced horses in the King’s Stand Stakes when going off at 7/2 in the betting for one of the leading spring races at the meeting. Under the hands of John Velazquez, she was ridden prominently once again and was able to hit top speed inside the final 200 metres to score by three lengths ahead of Profitable and Marsha, respectively.

Lady Aurelia is 4.5 in the ante-post betting for the King’s Stand Stakes next month and she is sure to be popular, especially with punters who take advantage of the best free betting offers on Royal Ascot, including a £30 free offer from Dafabet. Her odds drifted slightly recently as she was beaten on her seasonal reappearance at Keeneland in the Giant’s Causeway Stakes where she had to settle for second place behind Triple Chelsea.

Battaash Looks to Continue Dominance in Sprint Division

Battaash is the bookmakers’ favourite at 3.5 for the King’s Stand Stakes, following what was a dominant campaign in 2017, with four victories coming from his five starts. Charles Hills’ runner is set for his first outing at Royal Ascot this year and will be bidding to prevail in one of the biggest sprint races in the British Champion Series.

The son of Dark Angel beat a strong field in the Group Two King George Stakes at Glorious Goodwood last year which earned him the opportunity to line up in a Group One field. Connections took their chance in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York. Unfortunately for those associated with the horse, he did not produce his best performance of the season as he could only come home fourth on the Knavesmire.

Battaash had a second shot at Group One contest at Chantilly in the Prix de l’Abbaye. With Champion Jockey Jim Crowley on his back, the pair made all in France in what was a career-best performance from the then three-year-old. Given what he has achieved in the last 12 months, he is arguably the best sprinter in Europe right now.

Redkirk Warrior to Carry the Flag for Australia

FlemingtonRacecourse via Twitter

Australian horses often travel across to the UK for Royal Ascot – in particular, the leading sprinters who tackle the European horses in the King’s Stand Stakes and Diamond Jubilee Stakes. Redkirk Warrior has an entry in both races.

The seven-year-old has two Group One wins in the bag already this year at Flemington. He last raced at Ascot in 2014 when he was based in the UK in William Haggas’ stable.

Royal Ascot begins on June 19 and the King’s Stand Stakes is one of the feature races on day one of the meeting.

*Featured/Spotlights, Racing

Royal Ascot Horse Racing, 20-24 June

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The Royal carriages depart after The Queen’s arrival at the races.

Ascot Racecourse is one of the leading racecourses in the United Kingdom, hosting nine of Britain’s 32 annual Group 1 horse races.

The course, owned by Ascot Racecourse Ltd, enjoys close associations with the British Royal Family, being approximately six miles from Windsor Castle.

Ascot today stages twenty-six days of racing over the course of the year, comprising eighteen flat meetings held between the months of May and October inclusive. It also stages important jump racing throughout the winter months. The Royal Meeting held each June remains a major draw, its highlight being The Gold Cup.

The Gold Cup stands proudly as the showpiece event of Royal Ascot week and is the world’s premier race for horses that are specialists over long distances. Modern tradition has scheduled the race for the middle day (Thursday) of the meeting, when fashion and glamour that is so synonymous with the Royal Meeting reaches its zenith.

The Gold Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 2 miles and 4 furlongs (4,023 meters), and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.

It is Britain’s most prestigious event for “stayers” – horses which specialize in racing over long distances. It is traditionally held on day three of the Royal Ascot meeting, which is known colloquially (but not officially) as Ladies’ Day. Contrary to popular belief the actual title of the race does not include the word “Ascot”. In 2016 it was run as “the Gold Cup in Honor of The Queen’s 90th Birthday.”

The Gold Cup is the first leg of Britain’s Stayers’ Triple Crown, followed by the Goodwood Cup and the Doncaster Cup. The last horse to win all three races in the same year was Double Trigger in 1995.

The Ascot Gold Cup 1834, James Pollard (1792-1867)

The Gold Cup is one of three perpetual trophies at the Royal Ascot meeting, along with the Royal Hunt Cup and the Queen’s Vase, which can be kept permanently by the winning owners. A number of horses have won it more than once, and the most successful is Yeats, who recorded his fourth victory in 2009. The winner of the 2016 Ascot Gold Cup was Order of St. George.

Top Owner Trophy to Be Awarded at Royal Ascot

Ascot Racecourse is delighted to announce that a Royal Ascot Leading Owner Trophy will be awarded next week.

The competition will run alongside the established equivalents for jockeys and trainers. Those two awards are both kindly sponsored by QIPCO.

Like the established jockeys and trainers’ awards, the champion owner over the week will be decided on straight wins, with seconds, thirds (etc.) only coming into play in the event of a tie for wins.

With the agreement of Coolmore, the operation will be regarded as one entity regardless of the precise ownership make up of any given horse or the colors they run in.

Charlie Liverton, Chief Executive of the ROA, welcomed the new initiative:

“Royal Ascot is one of the most eagerly anticipated meetings of the flat racing calendar and captures the imagination of horsemen both in the UK and overseas. The recognition of the part that owners play in the week long spectacle through the award of a leading owner trophy is very much welcome and it will be keenly contested.”

The eight Group One races at Royal Ascot are all QIPCO British Champions Series races and this year, the stable staff leading up the horses for those events will be provided with QIPCO British Champions Series gilets, all of which will carry the owners’ colors on the front.

“We’re very much looking forward to the Royal Meeting next week, with fields shaping well including a record turnout from the United States,” said Nick Smith, Director of Racing and Communications at Ascot.