Ascot racecourse confirmed on Thursday morning that prize-money for the Royal meeting on June 16-20 has been amended to a total fund of £3,680,000 from the intended £8,095,000 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
This year’s edition of the spectacle will take place behind closed and all of the eight Group 1s set to be run will have a prize purse of £250,000. All of the 36 races in 2020 will be worth a minimum £35,000.
No early closing races are operating this year which means all contests will close at the six-day stage and entry fees will be as normal, beginning at 1.25% for Group 1 races.
Guy Henderson, Chief Executive at Ascot, said: “2020 was set to be a landmark year for Royal Ascot prize-money. However, these unprecedented times have intervened.
“We have sought to respond by producing an enhanced programme of racing this year to maximise opportunities to participate and which in its own way will deliver an exciting and memorable Royal Meeting.
“Some 70% of our annual income comes from public admissions, including hospitality, and producing in excess of three and a half million pounds in prize-money in the current circumstances would not have been possible without the support and commitment of our wonderful official partners QIPCO and Longines, for which we are all deeply grateful and express our sincere thanks on behalf of everyone involved.”
