Royal Ascot Expansion to Stay

Bookmakers in the UK are thrilled with the decision to permanently expand the Royal Ascot cards from six races per day to seven, reports racingpost.com. The Copper Horse Stakes, the Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes and the Golden Gates Stakes debuted at the meeting last year, when the Covid-19 pandemic created a space for extra races. "It's massive," said Betfair's Barry Orr. "Having 35 races instead of 30 is like having an extra day and, from a bookmaking perspective, it's such a significant move in terms of growing the event. For example, from an exchange point of view I think we average £1.5 million to £2m pre-race at Royal Ascot, and the meeting is well able to take an extra race; six was probably on the shy side anyway. It's a really positive move for racing and the levy." Ladbrokes Coral's PR Director Simon Clare agreed, saying, "Ascot's decision to continue with seven-race cards at the royal meeting is to be applauded as our experience from last summer shows it will deliver incremental growth to turnover over the week, and generate increased revenues from betting to racing." Australian horses have an excellent record in the Gr1 Golden Jubilee Stakes; 2018 with Merchant Navy (Fastnet Rock-Legally Bay, by Snippets), Black Caviar (Bel Esprit-Helsinge, by Desert Sun), Starspangledbanner (Choisir-Gold Anthem, by Made of Gold), and Choisir (Danehill Dancer-Great Selection, by Lunchtime). The other major sprint race is the Gr1 King's Stand Stakes won by NZ bred Little Bridge (Faltaat-Golden Rose, by Gold Brose) in 2006, and Australian-breds Scenic Blast (Scenic-Daughter's Charm, by Delgado) in 2009, Miss Andretti (Ihtiram-Peggie's Bid, by Marooned) in 2007, Takeover Target (Celtic Swing-Shady Stream, by Archregent) in 2006, and Choisir in 2003. Other major wins at the carnival include 2012 Prince of Wales's Stakes winner So You Think (High Chaparral-Triassic, by Tights), and the 2008 Queen Anne Stakes win of Haradasun (Fusaichi Pegasus-Circles of Gold, by Marscay).