Royal Ascot prizepot boosted by £1m

Prize-money at Royal Ascot this year has been increased by £1m, meaning a record £6,580,000 will be on offer over the five days.

For the first time, there will be at least £1m up for grabs every day of the meeting that runs from June 14 to 18.

None of the 30 races will be run for less than £80,000 compared to £60,000 in 2015.

With an overall increase of 18% on last year, among the Group One races to benefit are the Prince of Wales’s Stakes (up to £750,000 from £525,000), the Queen Anne Stakes (£600,000 from £375,000) and the Diamond Jubilee Stakes (£600,000 from £525,000).

Ascot has also unveiled are plans for a new purpose-built unsaddling enclosure that will be in operation in time for the 2016 Flat season.

The £700,000 project is designed to accommodate the number of horses that run in races like the Wokingham and Royal Hunt Cup more comfortably.

Ascot chief executive Guy Henderson said: “In making £1m more prizemoney available at Royal Ascot, over and above last year’s total prizefund, we are acting to remain as competitive as we can both at home and overseas.”