C H A I R M A N ’ S W E L C O M E

Welcome to the second day of the Summer Mile Racing Weekend.

Today’s feature race is the Fred Cowley MBE Memorial Summer Mile, a Group 2 contest run over the Old Mile on the round course. It is always an intriguing contest, often filled with a combination of progressive horses coming through the ranks and those that have already competed at Group 1 level. Among the recent winners is Mohaather who went on to win the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood in 2020

We are thrilled that the Cowley family is once again sponsoring the race in memory of Fred, who passed away in 2013, and we are delighted to welcome them to Ascot today.

Our grateful thanks also go to raceday sponsors, Magnum and Village Hotels, as well as Juddmonte for their support of the wider British developmental race programme including today’s seven furlong two-year-old novice stakes.

Off the track, we have a huge amount on offer at what is one of our dedicated family racedays From fairground rides to face painting and soft play to segways, there is something for all ages to enjoy. A full list of activities is available in these pages.

The fourth race on today’s card is The Ascot Racecourse Supports Children Heard and Seen Handicap Stakes, helping to promote the work the Oxfordshire-based charity does to support children, young people and their families who are impacted by parental imprisonment.

Ascot Racecourse Supports recently funded an activity in partnership with the charity ‘Give a Book’, that has culminated in the children creating artwork which you can see in the Grandstand Concourse today. We have also invited 20 families to enjoy the day with us in a dedicated picnic area. Tomorrow, we will host the annual Sebastian’s Action Trust Christmas in July event, with nearly 700 family members due to visit the racecourse. It is always a fantastic event and everybody at Ascot is excited to be able to facilitate and play a part in such a joyous and important occasion. Our final race today is named in support of the charity

Our next meeting is the QIPCO King George Weekend, Ascot’s midsummer highlight. We hope to see you then.

Yours sincerely,

Sir Francis Brooke Bt.

His Majesty’s Representative & Chairman

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Racing Pages

Your guide to all of today’s races

Pony Racing Authority Racecourse Series:

12.15pm - The Dragon TV and Film Studios

Pony Race 138 cm & Under (6f)

12.45pm - The Dragon TV and Film Studios 148cm & Under (Mile)

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1st Race 1. 45pm

The Ascot/1711 Learning To Work

Bake-Off Competition

Heritage Handicap Stakes

Today’s opener is a five furlongs handicap race for three-year-olds and upwards. The majority of handicaps are designed for horses from within a specific ratings band, but this particular race has no rating restrictions attached to it which allows horses with a higher rating to take part. Despite having no rating restrictions attached to it the higher rated horses must still concede weight to their lower rated rivals, which tend to make open handicaps very competitive races

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2nd Race 2.20pm

The Fred Cowley MBE Memorial

Summer Mile Stakes (Group 2)

The feature race of the day, this one mile race for four-year-olds and upwards is a Group 2 contest and will attract some high-class horses. Unlike in a handicap when a horse’s official rating reflects the weight that they must carry, in a Group 2 all runners carry the same weight regardless of any previous form. In this case colts and geldings carry 9st 3lb and fillies 9st, although any runner which has already won a Group 2 race after 2022 will be issued with a 3lb penalty while Group 1 winners will incur a 5lb penalty

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3rd Race 2.55pm

The Juddmonte British EBF Restricted Novice Stakes

This seven furlong novice stakes is restricted to two-year-olds which are E.B.F eligible, but in order to take part all of the runners must meet certain conditions. Unlike a maiden, which is restricted to horses yet to record a victory, winning horses which have run in a maximum of six races are eligible to run. Weights are set according to sex before previous winners are allocated penalties for each race won.

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4th Race 3.30pm

The Ascot Racecourse Supports Children Heard And Seen Handicap Stakes

This is a one mile and six furlongs handicap race for three-year-olds and upwards which have been rated from 76 to 95 In a handicap the weight that each of the runners carries is determined by their official handicap rating which is based on their level of form shown so far The aim is to ensure competitive racing by asking the higher rated horses to carry more weight than a lower rated rival. As a guide, horses rated 40 tend to be at the lower end of the scale whilst the very best performers would be rated as high as 130.

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5th Race 4.05pm

The Magnum Classic Ice Cream Handicap Stakes

This is a one mile and four furlongs handicap race for three-year-olds and upwards which have been rated from 86 to 105 To qualify for a handicap rating horses must have run at least three times in a Flat race in Britain, or have run in no more than two Flat races run in Britain and won at least one of them. This rating then dictates the weight to be carried in a handicap In simple terms a horse rated 105 in this particular race would be required to carry 5lb more than a rival rated 100

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6th Race 4.40pm

The Village Hotels Fillies’ Handicap Stakes

Our penultimate race is a one mile handicap race for three-year-olds and upwards fillies and mares which have been rated from 69 to 88. Once a horse has qualified for a handicap rating this is regularly reassessed. A below-par effort could result in a reduced rating whilst a strong performance could see the rating increased. Occasionally, horses are entered to race before their handicap rating has been reviewed and so to avoid recent winners being un-penalised they are allotted a mandatory penalty – usually 6lb

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7th Race 5.15pm

The Ascot Racecourse Supports

Sebastian’s Action Trust Handicap Stakes

Our finale is a seven furlongs handicap race for three-year-olds and upwards which have been rated from 66 to 85 Like most handicaps on the flat this race is also open to horses that are rated below that particular band. However, all handicaps stipulate a minimum weight and no runner can carry less than that, irrespective of how low their rating is This is often described as ‘running from out of the handicap’ and is considered a disadvantage.

K E Y To Sy Mb Ol S

Entry Point

Cash Machine

Cloakroom & Left Luggage

Grandstand Entrances

First Aid Point

Toilets & Baby Changing

Parent & Baby Room

King Edward VII Enclosure racegoers are invited to enjoy facilities on Level 4 of the Grandstand.

Ascot Shop

LK Bennett Boutique

Taxi Drop Off Point

Sunflower Lawn

Picnic Lawns

Family Enclosure

(See off the track page for full list of activities and entertainment).

Wristbands

Lost Child/Person

Free wristbands are available from all entrances for children and vulnerable racegoers to aid with a lost child/person.

If this situation does arise, racegoers are encouraged to contact the nearest steward who will assist.

Over 18 Wristbands

Ascot operates a strict over 18+ policy for the purchase of alcohol. Racegoers over 18 can collect an 18+ wristband from any entrance or the information desk on the Grandstand Concourse with photographic proof of age.