Champions Day: What you need to know

The highly anticipated 2024 British Champions Day will finally get underway in October.

The 2024 QIPCO British Champions Day is one of the most anticipated events on the horse racing calendar, with this year’s racing at the iconic Ascot Racecourse taking place on Saturday 19th October 2024. It is the richest day in British racing, with prize money of over £4 million available to competitors throughout the day.

In 2011, the QIPCO British Champions Day took place for the first time. There were a number of races that day, which were the QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup (Winner: Fame And Glory), the QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes (Winner: Deacon Blues), the QIPCO British Champions Filles’ And Mares’ Stakes (Winner: Dancing Rain), the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Winner: Frankel), and finally the QIPCO Champion Stakes (Winner: Cirrus des Aigles).

In 2012, Frankel marked his final race start at that year’s Champions Day. He took part in the Champion Stakes that year, winning the race by just under two lengths ahead of Cirrus Des Aigles in second, with Nathaniel in third. It was an enthralling and tense race, but Frankel was able to finish his career unbeaten.

Now, we fast forward to the 2024 QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot, where no less than 6 races will be taking place: QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup, QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes, QIPCO British Champions Fillies’ & Mares’ Stakes, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, QIPCO Champion Stakes and finally the Balmoral Handicap.

2023’s Champions Day saw the legendary jockey Frankie Dettori participate in the event for the final time in his illustrious career. The Italian enjoyed plenty of success at the British Champions Day, he has won the Sprint Stakes 5 times (1989, 1996, 2000, 2003 & 2022), the Fillies’ and Mares’ Stakes 3 times (2016, 2019 & 2022) and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes 6 times (1990, 1996, 1999, 2007, 2010 & 2017).

Here is all you need to know about the races at Ascot on Saturday, starting with the Champions Long Distance Cup, which opens proceedings for the day of enthralling racing action.

The field for these races are yet to be confirmed, but this page will be updated once they are.

Fans worldwide will be counting down the hours until the racing finally gets underway at Ascot on 19th October 2024.

There is no better way to enjoy the enthralling racing at this year’s QIPCO British Champions Day than with an Eventmasters VIP Hospitality Package. Book now to avoid disappointment.