Ascot Racecourse to Offer Record $22.17 Million in Prize Money in 2025

Ascot Racecourse has announced that prize money at the venue will reach an unprecedented $22.17 million in 2025, marking a historic milestone. Among the highlights, the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes will boast a prize fund of approximately $1.9 million, making it the richest race ever held at Ascot. This is a significant increase from its 2024 value of $1.56 million. Additionally, the King George will adopt a ‘Run For Free’ policy, reimbursing entry fees for all competing horses, except for supplementary entries.

Ruth Quinn, the British Horseracing Authority’s director of international racing and development, remarked on the importance of the King George as a cornerstone of the racing calendar, particularly for middle-distance horses. She praised Ascot’s innovative approach, emphasizing that the increased prize fund and the ‘Run For Free’ initiative would enhance the race’s appeal amid growing international competition. Quinn also highlighted that the refunded entry fees would encourage participation and make the race more accessible for owners.

Excluding the industry-managed QIPCO British Champions Day, which offered $5.1 million in 2024, Ascot’s total prize fund for 2025 includes $12.5 million allocated to Royal Ascot alone. Every race at the Royal Meeting will feature a minimum purse of $137,420, with all Group 1 races offering at least $812,000.

In addition to prize-money increases, changes to race conditions have been announced. The early closing entry requirements for four Group 2 races at Royal Ascot—Ribblesdale Stakes, King Edward VII Stakes, Duke of Cambridge Stakes, and Hardwicke Stakes—will be removed. Entries for these races will now close at the five-day stage, providing participants with more flexibility to select suitable horses after key events like the Epsom Classics and Coronation Cup.

Ascot’s executive contribution to prize money is also set to rise, increasing from $11.7 million in 2024 to a projected $12.6 million in 2025.

Nick Smith, Ascot’s director of racing and public affairs, explained that the ‘Run For Free’ concept for King George had been in development for some time, aiming to incentivize participation, particularly among horses not favored in betting. He expressed hope that the policy, combined with record prize money, would attract larger fields, which are especially important in the era of the World Pool. Smith also noted that the adjustments to race entries at the Royal Meeting would provide owners and trainers with additional time to finalize their decisions, ensuring no race at Ascot would offer less prize money than in the previous year.

Have you read?
Best Fashion Schools.
Best Universities.
Best Medical Schools.
Best International High Schools.
Countries: Most Female Billionaires.