Ascot and Newbury reveal prize-money increases for end-of-year jumps highlights

Prize-money at Ascot and Newbury, two of Britain's major independent racecourses, is set to increase for the final months of the year and resemble totals prior to the coronavirus pandemic, officials at the tracks revealed on Tuesday.

The news follows the Jockey Club's decision to return prize-money from October until the end of 2021 at its 15 tracks to what it was before Covid-19, which drew praise from the sport's top trainers.

Ascot is also taking steps to redress the situation and Nick Smith, its director of racing and public affairs, said: "We are making some targeted increases to our forthcoming 2021 jumps meetings, including returning the 1965 Chase, Kennel Gate, Noel Novices' Chase and Long Walk to pre-Covid levels. In tandem, we are working on our full 2022 prize-money plans.

"In 2021, we ran Royal Ascot at £6 million, 75 per cent of what had been planned for 2020 against a backdrop of the cost of running the event with small crowds as racing's participants in the Government's Events Research Programme.

"We are absorbing an eight-figure loss in 2021 but have every intention, as full crowds begin to return, of continuing our pre-pandemic prize-money trajectory next year."

Ladbrokes Trophy will again be worth £250,000Credit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Newbury has also been able to raise prize-money for the final three months of the year and its jumps jewel – the Ladbrokes Trophy – will again be worth £250,000, up £50,000 from when Cloth Cap stormed to victory in November.

Keith Ottesen, clerk of the course, said: "Total prize-money across our fixtures from October 1 to year end will be five per cent ahead of 2019 levels and similarly to others, the introduction of the Winter Support package has enabled us to unlock additional match funding to get back to pre-Covid levels.

"While currently publicised at a lower level, our flagship Ladbrokes Winter Carnival will see the Ladbrokes Trophy return to its pre-Covid level of £250,000."

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