Record prize-money levels announced by Ascot: 'record figure' of £1.65 million increase Ascot Racecourse has announced record prize-money of £19.4 million for 2026, an increase of £1.65 million from this year, with the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes becoming Britain's first £2 million race. Ascot Announces Record £19.4m Prize-Money for 2026 Ascot Racecourse has announced record prize-money of £19.4 million for 2026, an increase of £1.65 million from this year. Of Ascot's 169 races across 25 racedays, 88 will have a higher total prize fund than in 2025, with all races on the Flat worth £25,000 or more. Royal Ascot will be worth £10.65 million, up from £10.05 million, while Ascot's executive contribution to prize-money will go up from £9.97 million in 2025 to a budgeted £10.7 million in 2026. The figures exclude the industry-owned Qipco British Champions Day. Barnard Highlights Investment in British Racing Felicity Barnard, Chief Executive Officer at Ascot, said: "We are delighted to be making these increases in prize-money for 2026, demonstrating our commitment to the sport and focus on rewarding participants." She continued: "We are 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." Barnard added: "In announcing this record figure, an increase of £1.65 million, whilst making an international statement with the King George (increase of £500,000 to £2 million), we have also focused on improvements across the programme." She concluded: "Over 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 are aligning many of our increases with an agreed industry focus on developmental races." Royal Ascot and King George Headline Increases Increases to Royal Ascot have been made across the programme, with all eight Group One races now worth a minimum of £700,000 (two at £1 million), while all races at the Royal Meeting will be run for £120,000 or more, up from £110,000. In all, 26 of the 35 races across the week will be run for more than they were in 2025. In July, it was announced that the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes will become Britain's first £2 million race next year, up from £1.5 million. This year's running of the race saw the world's current top-rated horse, Calandagan, triumph in another top-class renewal of Europe's midsummer all-aged highlight. Total prize money on the day will now be in excess of £2.5 million. Over jumps, the Ladbrokes 1965 Chase will be increased to £100,000, having been £80,000 this year, which delivers three £100,000 races on the Saturday of the Ladbrokes November Racing Weekend. Nick Smith, Director of Racing and Public Affairs at Ascot, added: "Prize-money is the most important investment tool that we have in attracting horses to run from home and abroad, at all levels of racing that we stage." He continued: "We've seen some world-class racing at Ascot in 2025, with runners travelling here from four continents. It is 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."
