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September 4, 2026
17 October 2026 · Ascot Racecourse
Qatar Racing
BRITISH CHAMPIONS
DAY
The Ultimate Raceday
British Racing's
Grand Finale
The curtain comes down on the British Flat season at Ascot with one of the most prestigious racedays on the international calendar.
Qatar Racing British Champions Day brings together leading horses across the sport’s major divisions, from elite sprinters and milers to stayers and middle-distance stars, for one final championship showdown.
With five Group 1 contests and £4.35 million (approximately S$7.43 million) in prize money across seven races, Britain’s richest raceday offers a fitting finale to the season.
2011
Inaugural Year
7
Races
5
Group 1 Races
£4.35M
Prize Money
1200–3200m
Race Distances
The Championship Races
Five Races.
Five Champions.
Speed. Stamina. The mile. Middle distance. The best fillies and mares. Five Group 1 races crown champions across British Flat racing’s key divisions, making Champions Day unique among Britain’s major fixtures.
3200m
Long Distance Cup
2 MILES
G2
The ultimate test of stamina, bringing together the season’s leading stayers.
1200m
Champions Sprint
6 FURLONGS
G1
Pure speed down Ascot’s straight course as Britain’s leading sprinters clash.
2400m
Fillies & Mare Stakes
1 MILE 4 FURLONGS
G1
A championship contest for leading fillies and mares over a demanding distance.
1600m
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
1 MILE
G1
One of Europe’s defining mile contests, staged over Ascot’s famous straight mile.
2000m
Champion Stakes
1 MILE 2 FURLONGS
G1
Feature race of Champions Day — a showdown of outstanding middle-distance performers.
+
TWO MORE RACES COMPLETE THE CARD
Two-Year-Old Conditions Stakes
1200m · 6 furlongs
Balmoral Handicap
1600m · 1 mile
Know Your Ascot
One Racecourse.
Different Tests.
Founded by Queen Anne in 1711, Ascot is one of the world’s most famous racecourses. Yet racing at Ascot does not follow a single course configuration.
British Champions Day puts different parts of the racecourse to the test, from the straight course used for the 1,200m (6 furlongs) sprint and 1,600m (1 mile) contests to longer races that incorporate Ascot’s sweeping round course.
Each distance presents its own challenge — placing different demands on speed, stamina, positioning and timing.
The Straight Course
Ascot’s straight course hosts races over 1,200m (6 furlongs) and 1,600m (1 mile) on British Champions Day. With no bends to negotiate, the emphasis falls on pace, positioning and when to make the decisive move.
1200m
6 furlongs
1600m
1 mile
The Round Course
Longer contests incorporate Ascot’s round course before joining the home straight, adding bends, changes in position and a greater emphasis on stamina and race tactics.
2000m
1 mile 2 furlongs
2400m
1 mile 4 furlongs
3200m
2 miles
1711
Founded by Queen Anne
Straight + Round
Course configuration
1200–3200M
CHAMPIONS DAY DISTANCES
2026 Contenders
Ones to
Watch
Meet the leading names on the road to Qatar Racing British Champions Day, with contenders set to take aim at Ascot’s championship races.
Champion Stakes · 2000M
Calandagan
A leading middle-distance contender returning to Ascot after capturing the Champion Stakes in 2025.
Champion Stakes · 2000M
Calandagan
A leading middle-distance contender returning to Ascot after capturing the Champion Stakes in 2025.
Champion Stakes · 2000M
Calandagan
A leading middle-distance contender returning to Ascot after capturing the Champion Stakes in 2025.
Champions through the Years
Where Champions
Are Crowned
Since British Champions Day was established in 2011, Ascot has provided the stage for some of the defining performances of the British Flat season, with champions from across Europe meeting for one final showdown.
2025
Calandagan
Champion Stakes
A World-Class Finale.
A year after finishing second in the Champion Stakes, Calandagan returned to Ascot in 2025 and went one better, defeating Ombudsman in a memorable season finale.
In the same season, he also captured the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, becoming the first horse since Brigadier Gerard in 1972 to win both races in a single year.
More Champions. More Memorable Moments.
From modern-day stars to historic legends, British Champions Day has showcased some of the greatest horses in racing.
2012
Frankel
Champion Stakes
2018
Stradivarius
Long Distance Cup
2019
Magical
Champion Stakes
2021
Baaeed
Queen Elizabeth II
2024
Kalpana
Fillies & Mares Stakes
Latest from Ascot
News Highlights
Are Crowned