Year: 2023

Royal Ascot Boasts New individual World Pool Race Turnover Record

Suzanne Ashton
Frankie Dettori wins the Gold Cup on Courage Mon Ami at Royal Ascot in 2023 (credit: Focus On Racing)

Royal Ascot Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes breaks record for World Pool turnover in a single race; Huge Tote pools offer exceptional value with Tote+ Win beating SP in 29 of the 35 races World Pool, the globe’s largest commingled horse racing pools, developed and run by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), delivered value for customers around the world like never before, with Tote+ Win beating SP in 83% of the 35 races across the five-day Royal Ascot meeting.  Saturday’s highlight, the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, broke the…

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Update: Going on Day 5 of Royal Ascot

Suzanne Ashton
Royal Ascot Day5 Going image of race course showing good to firm ground around the course

The going for day five of Royal Ascot, Saturday 24th June, is: Good to Firm GoingStick readings at 8am: Stands side: 7.9 Centre: 7.9 Far side: 7.8 Round: 7.0 Stalls: Straight Course: centre Round Course: inside Watering: Watered 5mm on the Straight Course and 4mm on the Round Course after racing on Friday. Weather: Dry overnight to 6.30am Saturday. Today is forecast to be dry and warm with temperatures getting up to 27c.  For access to the live weather station and for the latest Going info please go to Ascot |…

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A Speechless’ Frankie Dettori Triumphs in Final Race at Ascot

Suzanne Ashton
Franki Dettori and Courage Mon Ami after winning the Gold Cup. Image credit Megan Ridgwell

Frankie Dettori sparked incredible scenes at Royal Ascot as he celebrated a ninth Gold Cup win on his final ride in the race with unexposed four-year-old Courage Mon Ami (15/2) reports Race News. The John & Thady Gosden-trained horse defied convention by winning the blue-riband contest on just his fourth career start, having not even contested a Group race until today. However, the unbeaten son of Frankel took the sharp rise through the class in his stride by coming from well off the pace to collar Coltrane and score by…

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The interesting life of Frankie Dettori

Stuart Burns
Franki Dettori and Courage Mon Ami after winning the Gold Cup. Image credit Megan Ridgwell

As any horse racing fan is no doubt aware, Frankie Dettori’s last race happened at Ascot this week. To have a final win on such hallowed ground in a last race is something most jockeys can only dream of. Frankie Dettori was a highly accomplished and renowned jockey in the sport of horse racing. Born on December 15, 1970, in Milan, Italy, Dettori has had a remarkable career spanning several decades. His professional horse racing career began over three decades ago, in 1986 as an apprentice jockey in Italy. He…

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UPDATE: Going on Day 4 of Royal Ascot

Suzanne Ashton
Going day 4 royal ascot track good to firm all the way around

The going for day 4 of Royal Ascot, Friday 23rd June, is: Good to Firm. GoingStick readings at 8am Stands side: 7.9 Centre: 7.8 Far side: 7.7 Round: 7.1  Stalls Straight Course: centre Round Course: inside  Watering Watered 5mm on the Straight Course and 4mm on the Round Course after racing on Thursday.  Weather Dry overnight to 6.30 am Friday. Both today and Saturday are forecast to be dry with temperatures getting up to 27c.   For access to the live weather station and for the latest Going info please go to…

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Top Class Entries Announced for Qatar International Stakes at Goodwood

Suzanne Ashton
Lady Princess and Jim Crowley win the 2022 Qatar International Stakes (Gr1PA) at the Qatar Goodwood Festival © Debbie Burt

The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) welcomed 14 entries for the Qatar International Stakes, a Group 1PA run over a mile as part of the Qatar Goodwood Festival on Wednesday, 2 August. The £400,000 race is the most valuable Arabian race in the UK and the most valuable race over a mile for Arabians in Europe. The race has seen many of the highest-rated Arabians in the world compete and win, such as Al Mourtajez, Muraaqib, Tayf, dual winner Ebraz and the returning Lady Princess, who is seeking a hattrick in the…

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Update: Going on day 3 of Royal Ascot

Suzanne Ashton
Royal Ascot Day 3 Going image of race course and different types of ground

The going for day 3 of Royal Ascot, Thursday 22nd June, is: Good to Firm on the Straight Course and Good, Good to Firm in places on the Round Course.  GoingStick readings at 8am on day 3 of Royal Ascot Stands side: 7.5 Centre: 7.7 Far side: 7.4 Round: 7.2 Stalls Straight Course: centre Round Course: inside  Weather: Dry overnight to 6.30am Thursday. We are forecast a generally dry, warm day, with temperatures of up to 26c. An odd scattered shower is possible. Friday and Saturday are forecast to be dry, with temperatures getting…

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Update: Going for day two of Royal Ascot

Suzanne Ashton
Going news on day two of Royal Ascot image of track using dark green and light green for different types of going.

The going for day two of Royal Ascot, Wednesday 21st June, is: Good on the Straight Course and Good, Good to Soft in places on the Round Course.  Royal Ascot GoingStick readings at 8am Stands side: 7.7 Centre: 7.5 Far side: 7.5 Round: 6.6 Stalls Straight Course: centre Round Course: inside Rail movements The rail on the Round Course is positioned approximately four yards out from approximately nine furlongs out to the home straight. This will remain in place until after racing on Wednesday. This adds the following to today’s races: 15:05 +7 yards…

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Ryan Moore previews his day two rides at Royal Ascot

Suzanne Ashton
Royal Ascot image courtesy of Ascot Racecourse AI study reveals Frankie Dettori’s ride Emily Upjohn will win ‘race of the season’ King George at Ascot

Ryan Moore previews his day two rides at Royal Ascot – including a big chance in a “top-notch” Prince of Wales’s Stakes As Royal Ascot Day Two begins to gather momentum, so does Betfair Ambassador Ryan Moore’s thoughts on the day. Moore had a superb day one at Ascot, picking up a treble of wins. He won the Coventry Stakes on River Tiber, the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes aboard Paddington and the Copper Horse Handicap with Vauban. 2.30 – Balsam I obviously haven’t ridden her [Balsam] before, but it…

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Wet weather and racing. It’s messy.

Stuart Burns
Wet weather puddle

Anyone in the UK right now knows that the weather has been rather wet these last few days after several days of fine racing weather. Wet weather racing impacts racegoers, jockeys, horses and even the outcome. Simply put, the track conditions and the performance of the horses can be significantly impacted. Here are some of the effects of wet weather on horse racing: Track conditions: Wet weather and heavy rain can result in a soft or heavy track surface. The increased moisture can make the track muddy, boggy, or waterlogged. This…

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