Qatar Racing takes over sponsorship of £4.4m British Champions Day
Qatar Racing has replaced QIPCO as title sponsor of British Champions Day at Ascot for its next three editions, starting this year.
The racing empire of Qatari royal Sheikh Fahad bin Abdullah Al Thani is a subsidiary of QIPCO, which has sponsored the most lucrative day in the British racing calendar, worth £4.4m in prize money, since its inception in 2011.
“Whilst the title sponsorship will transfer to Qatar Racing for the next three years, this reflects the continued commitment of my brothers to British racing and in particular that of QIPCO chairman HH Sheikh Hamad Al Thani,” said Sheikh Fahad.
“Since the inaugural QIPCO British Champions Day in 2011, our family’s ambition has been to support the very best of British racing and that commitment remains as strong as ever.”
British Champions Day, on 17 October, is the culmination of the Flat racing season and features five Group 1 races. It also sees the crowning of the Champion Jockey.
Top entries for British Champions Day at Ascot
Nick Smith, co-chair of British Champions Series Ltd and Director of Racing and Public Affairs at Ascot Racecourse, added: “We are hugely grateful to HH Sheikh Hamad Al Thani and HH Sheikh Fahad Al Thani for their longstanding support of the day, which staged the world’s joint top rated race last year. We look forward to building on the success of British Champions Day under its new brand name.”
Last year’s winner Calandagan, runner-up Ombudsman and highly-rated Constitution River and Diamond Necklace are among the entries for the day’s highlight, the Qatar Racing Champion Stakes.
Other horses set to feature on British Champions Day include recent King George winner Kalpana, Trawlerman, Scandinavia and speedsters Almeraq, Comanche Brave, Mission Central and Venetian Sun.
It comes as Ascot prepares to host the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup this Saturday, when jockey Ryan Moore will attempt to add to his 99 wins at the course.