Sell out confirmed – arrive early is the message!

The Ascot grandstand will be at its maximum autumn capacity on QIPCO British Champions Day. Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

The complete sell-out of QIPCO British Champions Day was confirmed this morning as the final Grandstand tickets freed up when existing ticket holders upgraded to the Champions Bar last week were snapped up.

A crowd of 32,000, a modern day record for a Flat autumn raceday in this country, will descend upon Ascot on Saturday 20 October for the most valuable raceday of the year, when the mighty Frankel is expected to have his last ever race in the £1.3m QIPCO Champion Stakes.

In all five championship races will be run – the finales in each of the QIPCO British Champions Series categories – plus the most valuable race ever staged in Europe for the aspiring champion jockeys of the future, the £50,000 QIPCO Future Stars Apprentices Handicap.

Rod Street, Chief Executive of British Champions Series, said: “In only its second year, we’re delighted that QIPCO British Champions Day is a total sell-out.

“Our focus is now on providing a superb day of top-class racing, supported by some truly interesting and relevant attractions.

“Come early and bring your kids – all under 18s get in free when accompanied.”

Full details of the attractions will be announced soon, but suffice it to say that there will plenty of activities to keep racegoers entertained from the time the gates open at 11am until the first race is off at 1.45pm.

For those who missed out on tickets, do not despair! You can soak up the atmosphere and enjoy all the racing live on BBC TV as well as the dedicated racing channels At The Races and Racing UK, while BBC Radio 5 Live will be hosting their afternoon sports programme live from Ascot.