QIPCO extends investment in British racing with sponsorship of QIPCO British Champions Day to 2026

QIPCO has extended its investment in British racing to 2026, including the headline sponsorship of British Champions Day and as an Official Partner of Ascot Racecourse.

QIPCO was the inaugural sponsor of British Champions Day in 2011 and this new commitment will extend that support to 16 years for one of the best days of racing in the world.

During that time £47 million in prize money has been paid out on the day while the quality of racing has seen the number of Group 1 races grow from two to four.

Rod Street, Chief Executive of British Champions Series Limited, which owns British Champions Day said: “Since 2011, QIPCO has provided a significant financial contribution to British racing, helping us to pay out £47m in prize money since the inception of QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot each October. We are delighted QIPCO has chosen to continue to support this important day, reflecting our shared belief that Britain is home to the best racing in the world and merits a world-class season finale. We must never underestimate the importance of long-standing partnerships like these and the enormous generosity of sponsors, without whom top-class racing could not thrive. We look forward to continuing to work with them over the next two years.”

David Redvers, Qatar Racing’s Manager, and the sponsor’s representative said: “Their Royal Highnesses Sheikhs Hamad and Fahad al Thani’s earliest involvement in British Racing came with the commitment to helping promote the top-tier of the sport. They remain proud of the success of QIPCO British Champions Day – which is a rare innovation in racing. In addition to cementing the day’s status in the world horseracing calendar, we are thrilled to have grown a new, younger audience to attend the races that day, showcasing the sport we have to offer to the fans of the future.”

QIPCO British Champions Day will be worth £4m when it takes place on Saturday 19^th October this year. Last year, the 13^th renewal of the fixture at Ascot, saw the highest crowd for a decade with 30,412 in attendance to enjoy Frankie Dettori’s last day in the saddle in the UK.

British Champions Day is owned by British Champions Series Limited which has shareholders from across British racing including The Jockey Club, Ascot Racecourse, Great British Racing, Arena Racing Company and Goodwood, Newbury and York Racecourses.

QIPCO will relinquish its sponsorship of the Guineas Festival at Newmarket in May, King George weekend at Ascot in July and British Champions Series as from 2025. Explaining the decision, David Redvers added:

“We wish to concentrate our focus on developing British Champions Day, along with our partnership with Ascot at the Royal meeting. We feel we have helped to develop the Series in the last fourteen years and are proud that it has over one million followers on social media platforms and has delivered The Hall of Fame and Club 26, which recently celebrated its 10,000^th member in just over a year since it was launched. We will continue to be huge advocates British Champions Series. We are also proud to have helped Newmarket maintain the importance of the Guineas Festival during our involvement, which includes record prize money for the two Classic races.”

Amy Starkey, Managing Director at Jockey Club Racecourses, the largest shareholder in British Champions Series Ltd, said: “On behalf of everyone at Newmarket Racecourses and The Jockey Club, I would like to thank QIPCO for their sustained support and passion for the 2000 and 1000 Guineas across the last 14 years.

“The growth of the Guineas Festival since 2011 is testament to QIPCO’s continued investment in British Racing and it has been a pleasure to work with a partner who is so committed to our sport and the Classics which remain its pinnacle.

“As the largest shareholder in British Champions Series and by extension British Champions Day we look forward to continuing to support both initiatives as they embark on their next chapter.”

Rod Street added: “We will be seeking new partners for British Champions Series from 2025. QIPCO has helped us to build a valuable asset, which enables partners to be associated with the very best of British racing from the first Classic race of the season, through the summer and up to Champions Day – 26 Group 1 fixtures in all.”