Ascot eager to 'encourage investment' in British racing after announcing record prize-money for 2026

Ascot's prize-money will rise to a record £19.4 million next year in a move the track hopes will help to encourage greater investment in British racing at a challenging time for the sport's finances. 

Total prize-money, excluding the industry-owned British Champions Day, will increase by £1.65m from this year, while the track's executive contribution will rise from £9.97m to a budgeted £10.7m. 

Royal Ascot will be worth £10.65m (from £10.05m), with all eight Group 1 races worth a minimum of £700,000 and every race at the meeting run for £120,000 or more, up from £110,000 in June.

It is welcome news for the sport just days after the government revealed hefty tax rises for gambling operators, which threaten to have a significant knock-on effect for racing at a time of declining betting turnover. 

Speaking exclusively to the Racing Post, Ascot's chief executive Felicity Barnard said: "We're delighted to be making these increases in prize-money for 2026, demonstrating our commitment to the sport and focus on rewarding participants.

"We're of course conscious of the macro-economic factors currently at play, which make taking a long-term view on prize-money investment even more important. We hope that these uplifts will play a part in encouraging investment in British racing."

Excluding the two years impacted by the pandemic, the £1.65m increase is the single biggest uplift in actual terms in the last ten years and the investment is at all levels with 88 of the track's 169 races (52 per cent) set to have a bigger prize than this year and all Flat races worth £25,000 or more.

The Group 2 Summer Mile will be worth £165,000 (up from £140,000), while the Shergar Cup races will be run for £85,000 (from £80,000). Earlier this year, the track also announced that the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes will become Britain's richest race in 2026 with prize-money of £2m. 

Over jumps, the Ladbrokes 1965 Chase will be worth £100,000 (from £80,000) and all weight-for-age novice and maiden hurdles will be run for a minimum of £25,000.

“In announcing this record figure, an increase of £1.65 million, while making an international statement with the King George, we have also focused on improvements across the programme," added Barnard.

“More than half of our races across both codes have seen increases and, through £25,000 minimum Flat values and a focus on the novice hurdle programme, we're aligning many of our increases with an agreed industry focus on developmental races.”

Nick Smith: "It's vital in an increasingly competitive international market that we keep Ascot at the forefront"Credit: Edward Whitaker

Nick Smith, the track's director of racing and public affairs, described prize-money as "the most important investment tool" in attracting international runners, such as this summer's King George winner Calandagan, who followed up his Ascot victory in the Japan Cup.

He said: "We’ve seen some world-class racing at Ascot in 2025, with runners from four continents. It's vital in an increasingly competitive international market that we keep Ascot at the forefront, and the flagship £2 million King George is key to this alongside the royal meeting. 

“We'll be promoting the King George alongside our fellow tracks in the Large Independent Racecourse Group and Jockey Club colleagues, under the Midsummer Elite Races banner. The July Cup, Sussex Stakes, International and King George are Britain’s historic, defining, all-aged summer races over their respective trips, and we hope that promoting them together, with increased prize-money all round, will gain traction."

In August, the BHA confirmed that more than £5m would be pumped into prize-money next year in an attempt to reverse an alarming trend of declining racehorse numbers, with an emphasis on higher purses for the best contests on the Flat and a focus on developmental races across the sport.

Read more:

King George to become Britain's richest race after further prize-money boost 

Extra millions to be pumped into British racing as BHA attempts to address horse population trends 'heading in the wrong direction' 

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