Ascot Racecourse has reported record post-Covid attendance and £10.5m in pre-tax profits, announcing a British-record £2.5m prize fund for next year's King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes. This strategic move aims to elevate the race's prestige, attracting a strong field including Japanese contenders.
Decision of the king’s track to quit the Racecourse Association may ultimately lead to long overdue reformThe racing industry is such a broad and varied collection of professions, venues and interests that at times it can feel like the Holy Roman empire: there is always a turf war or two going on somewhere, but never to such an extent that the whole thing falls apart.Ascot’s announcement on Monday that it will quit the Racecourse Association (RCA) at the end of the year, however, feels like more than just another localised dispute. The email dropped at 9am on a bank holiday, as if to underline that the king’s track means business, and where Ascot has led, others may follow, putting the future of a trade association that dates back to 1907 in serious doubt. Continue reading...
Dr. James Noyes, an early proponent of gambling affordability checks, has called on the government to pause their implementation. He cites concerns over transparency, potential harm to the horse racing industry, and the need for further evaluation of pilot schemes.
