Qatar Racing takes over British Champions Day sponsorship in three-year deal
The racing operation of Sheikh Fahad bin Abdullah Al Thani assumes title sponsorship of Ascot's season-ending showpiece from fellow family entity QIPCO.
Qatar Racing will become the new title sponsor of British Champions Day at Ascot for the next three years, taking over from QIPCO which has backed the meeting since its launch in 2011. The switch keeps the sponsorship within the same Qatari royal family: Qatar Racing is a subsidiary of QIPCO, chaired by HH Sheikh Hamad Al Thani, while Qatar Racing is led by his brother Sheikh Fahad bin Abdullah Al Thani.
The day, scheduled for 17 October, remains the richest in the British flat calendar with £4.4m in prize money across five Group 1 contests, including the showpiece Champion Stakes. It also decides the champion jockey title. Sheikh Fahad said the change "reflects the continued commitment of my brothers to British racing" and that the family's ambition to support the sport's highest level "remains as strong as ever".
Entries shaping up for October showpiece
Early declarations for the renamed Qatar Racing Champion Stakes include last year's winner Calandagan, runner-up Ombudsman, and high-class performers Constitution River and Diamond Necklace. Other Group 1 winners engaged across the card include Kalpana, fresh from victory in the King George, plus Trawlerman, Scandinavia and a sprint division headed by Almeraq, Comanche Brave, Mission Central and Venetian Sun.
We are hugely grateful to HH Sheikh Hamad Al Thani and HH Sheikh Fahad Al Thani for their longstanding support of the day, which staged the world's joint top rated race last year. We look forward to building on the success of British Champions Day under its new brand name.
Nick Smith, co-chair of British Champions Series Ltd and Ascot's director of racing, welcomed the continuity. The meeting comes a week after Ascot hosts the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup this Saturday, where Ryan Moore will chase his 100th victory at the Berkshire track.
Stability in a shifting sponsorship landscape
British racing has seen several high-profile sponsorship changes in recent years, with betting restrictions and economic headwinds making long-term partners harder to secure. The Al Thani family's decision to extend their involvement through a different vehicle suggests confidence in the Champions Day product and its international broadcast reach. The three-year term also aligns with the British Champions Series' current broadcast cycle, giving both sides a clear runway to 2027.
