Ascot has made the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes the richest race in Britain from next year, lifting the prize fund to £2.5 million. The latest edition of the track’s signature middle distance prize will be worth £2 million when it is run at the royal racecourse on Saturday. But from next year the prize-money will rise again, hitting £2.5 million, making the all-aged race more valuable than the Epsom Derby. It will mean the prize fund has doubled since 2024.
International Appeal and Investment Payoff
With the first £2 million edition of the race having attracted two runners from Japan to take on last year’s world’s best horse, Calandagan from France, plus the winner of the Irish Derby, Ascot believes the extra investment in purses has paid off. Director of Racing Nick Smith said: “In a week where the significant prize money boost to this year’s King George has resulted in two of the best horses in Japan and France being set to run as well as Irish Derby winner Benvenuto Cellini, and eight Group One winners in total, we are delighted to confirm further significant momentum for Britain’s premier all-aged race with £2.5 million on offer next year.”
Elite Races Scheme and Future Plans
Smith added: “In a fiercely competitive international market, it is crucial that Britain’s flagship midsummer races are appealing to connections of the world’s best horses. The Elite Races Scheme, backed by the Levy Board and BHA in 2026, has played an important part in this venture as we continue to work with our racecourse colleagues at the Jockey Club, Goodwood and York to promote the midsummer highlights of British racing, namely the July Cup, the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, the Sussex Stakes and the International Stakes. “Our whole programme is important to us, of course, as demonstrated by 52% of our races this year being run for more than 2025, and a full prize money announcement for 2027 will be made in December.”
Star-Studded Field for 2026 Edition
Saturday’s race has drawn a star-studded cast of ten five day acceptors headed by Calandagan and Japan’s Masquerade Ball, who finished first and second in the Japan Cup. Calandagan’s stablemate Goliath, winner of the King George two years ago, is also included plus last year’s runner-up Kalpana. Aidan O’Brien’s quarter features Irish Derby winner Benvenuto Cellini, 2025 Derby winner Lambourn and Minnie Hauk, the triple Oaks winner who was runner-up in the Arc. Coronation Cup winner Bay City Roller needs rain to participate.
Trainer Reactions
Kalpana’s trainer Andrew Balding said: “She worked well on Saturday, I was very happy with her. She’s a very good horse on her day and loves Ascot – she’s not put in a bad turn there yet, so hopefully that will continue. I’m sure she’ll be there or thereabouts again. “Calandagan is obviously a very good horse and we couldn’t match him last year, but we’ll take him on again and who knows. I think she’s a little bit fitter than she was last year and we were always sort of struggling to get weight off her last year. This year she has come to hand and stayed in a good place. It just seems to have occurred that way, but we are very happy with her.” He added: “It’s one of the most important middle-distance races of the summer and has always been a main target for her.”
