With a total prize money of more than £13 million, the series will feature 35 races – including British racing’s key festivals – staged at ten of the UK’s leading racecourses and culminating with the British Champions’ Day at the Ascot Racecourse, the country’s richest-ever day of racing offering £3 million of prize money.
Launching on April 30, 2011, the British Champions’ Series will comprise five categories – sprint, mile, middle distance, long distance, and fillies and mares – featuring the six highest-rated races in each championship category.
The advent of the series was a combined effort led by the Racing for Change (RfC) industry group and the racecourses, supported by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), the Racecourse Association (RCA) and The Horsemen’s Group, representing owners, trainers, breeders, jockeys and stable staff.
A company called British Champions’ Series Limited (BCS Ltd) was formed to run the series and oversee its marketing, commercial and broadcast rights. Karl Oliver, project director for Premier Racing at Racing Enterprises Ltd (REL), was appointed chief executive of BCS Ltd.
Oliver explained that the ambition for the British Champions’ Day, which will take place on October 15, 2011, is to match the importance of race festivals like the Breeder’s Cup in the US and the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe in France.
