Horse Racing

Ascot - Horse Racing: Champions Day all you need to know

bet365 News Team Updated: 06 Jun 23 09:10

Ascot's Champions Day is the end-of-season highlight for the stars of the Flat and is billed as the 'Ultimate Raceday' with a star-studded line-up to satisfy both racing enthusiasts and newcomers to the sport.

(Article originally published 02.10.2022)

Featuring a host of Group 1 contests, Champions Day is designed to crown the kingpins of the season on the Flat and attracts the best talents from Britain, Ireland, France and sometimes further afield to the famous Berkshire circuit.

When is Champions Day?

Qipco British Champions Day takes place this year on Saturday 15th October, a one-day event featuring a host of the best performers across the Flat season.

Where is Champions Day?

The meeting takes place at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire, the venue that is host to more than one third of Britain's Group 1 races annually and known to attract more than half-a-million racegoers per year.

Where can I watch Champions Day?

Fans in Britain can watch the meeting live on both ITV Racing and Sky Sports Racing, while you can also catch it on our Sports Live Streaming platform, along with all the UK and Irish racing action throughout the season.

When was Champions Day first staged?

Champions Day was first held in 2011, after British racing's authorities came together to plan a definitive end-of-season showpiece for the stars of the Flat.

It is the culmination of the British Champions Series and features the finals of the five divisions of the series, together with a valuable one-mile handicap race, and it has become one of the richest days in British racing, with more than £4m in prize-money in 2022.

What are the races held on Champions Day?

Champions Day is an elite six-race programme, bringing together the crème de la crème of the season. The races staged on Champions Day are:

Time	Race	Grade	Distance
1:25	British Champions Long Distance Cup	Group 2	2m
2:00	British Champions Sprint Stakes	Group 1	6f
2:35	British Champions Fillies' and Mares' Stakes	Group 1	1m 4f
3:10	Queen Elizabeth II Stakes	Group 1	1m
3:50	British Champion Stakes	Group 1	1m 2f
4:30	Balmoral Handicap	Handicap	1m

Which big names have won on Champions Day?

The biggest name on the roll of honour remains that of Frankel - the unbeaten superstar who won twice at this meeting.

Sir Henry Cecil's charge won the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at the inaugural 2011 meeting and a year later signed off his racing career with victory in the Champion Stakes despite worries that soft ground had gone against him.

Alan King's Trueshan has won the last two renewals of the Long Distance Cup and is set to bid for his hat-trick in 2022.

The likes of Muhaarar, The Tin Man, Glen Shiel and Creative Force have all bagged the Champions Sprint, while Simple Verse, Magical, Star Catcher and Eshaada have scored in the Fillies' and Mares' Stakes.

The QEII has been landed by the stars such as Excelebration, Minding, Roaring Lion and the unbeaten Baaeed since Frankel's win of 2011, with Fascinating Rock, Almanzor, Magical and Addeybb joining two-time winner Cracksman on the recent honours' list in the Champion Stakes.

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What else happens on Champions Day?

Ascot takes pride in providing a showcase for British racing on this special day.

Before racing there is a Jockey Masterclass featuring demonstrations and lessons from some of the UKs leading jockeys, while the public are invited to the Jockey Hub at midday for a chance to meet and greet some of the sports' leading riders.

After racing, the Bandstand Lawn provides entertainment for racegoers, with the likes of George Ezra, Jax Jones, Ella Eyre and Basement Jaxx all appearing in recent years.

Which horses are due to appear at Champions Day?

While final declarations won't be due until Thursday 13th October, the magnitude of Champions Day ensures we already know many of the big names plotting to be at Ascot for this meeting.

Standing tall amongst them is the William Haggas-trained Baaeed, still unbeaten and so impressive in the Juddmonte International at York in August.

This will be the final run of his career and, in a season where he has often been compared to Frankel, he's 1/4 to sign off his career like the great horse by winning the Champion Stakes.

Trueshan, meanwhile, is 2/1 to complete that Long Distance Cup hat-trick and Alan King will be hoping he can rebound from a shock defeat last month at Doncaster.

Art Power was impressive in Ireland recently and Tim Easterby's challenger is 8/1 to take out the Champions Sprint, while Creative Force is 7/2 in the same market.

Inspiral has enjoyed a fine season including Group 1 wins here at the Royal Meeting in June and at Deauville in August in the Jacque Le Marois - John and Thady Gosden's impressive filly is 15/8 for glory in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.