Ascot

Trainer Michael O'Callaghan has opened up about the emotion surrounding the Goodwood success of The Harv (Ten Sovereigns), named in honour of his late friend and business partner John Fleming, who helped source the Royal Ascot-bound juvenile merely hours before his untimely death back in April.  The Harv was heavily-punted into 5-6 favouritism before making a winning debut in a six-furlong novice on Sunday. That performance convinced his trainer that the colt was up to running in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, for which he is a general 33-1...

The Racecourse Association insists it remains "committed to being a positive advocate for the sport" following Ascot's announcement it intends to leave the organisation at the end of the year. Ascot, Goodwood, The Jockey Club, Newbury and York collectively wrote to the RCA in March calling for an "urgent review" of its governance to support industry change requesting a proposal for reform by the end of April. Objectives that were set out aimed at ensuring the board and voting representation is balanced and credible, that significant views from key racecourses...

Ascot Racecourse is set to leave the Racecourse Association (RCA) at the end of the year, due to the fact that "sufficient progress has not been made" to address concerns about the organisation's governance structure. In March, following Lord Allen's resignation as chair of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and the failure to establish an independent BHA Board, a joint-statement was released by the Jockey Club and four large independent racecourses - Ascot, Goodwood, Newbury and York - which called for an urgent review of the governance structure at the...

Of the first three from last year's Middle Park to line up in Friday's G3 Commonwealth Cup Trial, David Armstrong's Coppull (Bated Breath) was the least-expected in the market but came back strongest to turn that form around. Smartly away under Rossa Ryan in the course-and-distance prep for Royal Ascot's three-year-old sprint feature, the 7-2 shot who had won the Richmond at Goodwood and been third in the Coventry here as well as the Middle Park surged away from the main pack passing two out and was in front soon...

The finalists for the 2026 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, sponsored by Godolphin, were revealed on Wednesday. The finalists will head to Ascot Racecourse for the ceremony, hosted by ITV Racing's Ed Chamberlin on February 23 after a final round of judging earlier in the day. The finalists for each category are: Newcomer Award Emma Skerritt - Richenda Ford Freddie Wilks - Charlie Johnston Poppy Hatton - Folland-Bowen Bloodstock Leadership Award Carrie Sanderson - Karl Burke Claire Freeman - Dan Skelton Louisa Allen - Jim Boyle Rider / Racing Groom Award...

Sir Johnny Weatherby KCVO, owner-breeder and a member of one of racing's most distinguished families, has died at the age of 66. A seventh-generation member of the dynasty which has become synonymous with the administration of British racing and breeding, Weatherby owned Preston Lodge Stud in Oakham and was the breeder of dual Cheltenham Festival winner Presenting Percy as well as Top Wood, who won the Aintree Foxhunters' Chase in his colours during the 2019 Grand National meeting. A keen amateur jump jockey in his younger days, he was appointed...

Prize-money at Ascot Racecourse will be a record £19.4 million in 2026, an increase of £1.65 million on this year. Figures exclude the industry-owned QIPCO British Champions Day. Across 25 racedays, 88 of Ascot's 169 races (52%) will have a higher total prize fund than in 2025, with all races on the Flat worth £25,000 or more. Royal Ascot will be worth £10.65 million, from £10.05 million. Increases have been made across the Royal Ascot programme, with all eight Group 1 races now worth a minimum of £700,000 (including two...

Saturday's G1 Qipco Champion Stakes featured the winners of all the big 10-furlong prizes in 2025, but in the end it went to the horse who had still to win over the trip. While Calandagan (Gleneagles) was in danger of being pigeon-holed as a mile-and-a-half performer following his wins in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and King George this summer, The Aga Khan Studs homebred went through Ascot's test with ease under Mickael Barzalona. Swooping wide approaching the final furlong, the 15-8 second favourite powered to the line to beat...

It didn't take long for Ballydoyle to register a winner on Qipco British Champions Day as Mission Central (No Nay Never) came good in the second act of the afternoon at Ascot. Following an eight-length Curragh maiden win with success in the Round Tower, he was sent to the Flying Childers at Doncaster but failed to get into the five-furlong contest dominated by Revival Power. This was much more in his comfort zone and he was always travelling notably strongly tracking the pace before being launched by Christophe Soumillon inside...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features a full-brother to multiple Group 1 winner and Classic heroine Lake Victoria (Frankel). 4.50 Leopardstown, Mdn, 2yo, c/g, 7f 30yT DRUIDS GLEN (IRE) (Frankel {GB}) is a significant newcomer for Ballydoyle on an intriguing card, being a full-brother to the yard's outstanding Irish 1,000 Guineas, Breeders'...

We should have seen it coming really. Night Of Thunder burst onto the scene in 2019 to be champion first-season sire with seven stakes winners to his name. Not all leading freshmen go on to put themselves into contention for champion sire honours, of course, but six years later this is exactly what the prolific Night Of Thunder has done, and he looks almost certain now to follow the achievement of his own sire Dubawi, who was champion in 2022. Dubawi, who turns 24 in January, took longer to get...

Saturday's G1 Qipco Champion Stakes will feature all the big guns, with Ombudsman (Night Of Thunder), Delacroix (Dubawi), Calandagan (Gleneagles) and Economics (Night Of Thunder) set for a memorable showdown. There will be 11 in the line-up for the feature, where the draw has not been kind to Ombudsman and Economics in nine and 10 respectively but has been to the race's most intriguing runner Almaqam (Lope De Vega) in stall one. There will be 16 lining up for the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, with Juddmonte and the Gosdens'...