QIPCO-sponsored Newmarket Classics hit £1 million mark

Gleneagles routs his rivals to win the QIPCO 2000 Guineas. Image courtesy of Racingfotos.com.

One million pounds will be on offer this year for the QIPCO 2000 Guineas and QIPCO 1000 Guineas – the first two races in the 2016 QIPCO British Champions Series.

The British Classics, which have seen the likes of Series stars Frankel, Gleneagles and Blue Bunting grace the Rowley Mile’s winners’ enclosure in recent years, will be worth £500,000 each from this year.

Increases in prize money mean that connections of the winners will receive the same amount for the fillies’ contest as the colts’ race, the first time in the races’ history.

The boost is thanks to a new deal which will see QIPCO extend their sponsorship of both the QIPCO British Champions Series and the QIPCO Guineas Festival until 2024.