INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPATION
Britain's major racing festivals are known for exhilarating sporting competition set against a backdrop of sartorial elegance and summer socialising.
In 2024, 20 of Britain's Group 1 races featured in the World's Top 100, a higher ratio than Australia, France, Ireland, Japan and the USA. Moreover, nine of Britain's Group 1 races have been in the World's Top 100 since 2019, more than any other country.
Between the global appeal of Royal Ascot and the British Midsummer Bonus, there are plenty of opportunities for international participation in Britain during the summertime.
British racing festivals are the global gold standard and Great British Racing International (GBRI) look forward to seeing many familiar faces and also welcoming those having their first visit to Britain. We are confident that you will walk away with memories to last a lifetime.
If GBRI can assist with any part of your visit to Britain, we would be delighted to help at any time, so please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Jockey Club Racecourses
The Jockey Club operates 15 racecourses staging around a third of the UK’s Flat Pattern and Listed Races, 14 of the 36 Group 1s and four of the five Classics. Prize money for 2025 across our 319 fixtures totals close to £60 million. Many of racing’s most historic and prestigious prizes are staged at the likes of Epsom Downs, Newmarket’s two racecourses – The Rowley Mile and The July Course – Sandown Park and Haydock Park. The Jockey Club host the 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas, The Derby and The Oaks, The July Cup, The Eclipse and The Sprint Cup – all races with significant history, prize money and international pedigree.
Wherever you choose to run, you can be guaranteed a fantastic welcome and an unforgettable owners’ and trainers’ experience, supported by the International Racing Bureau and Great British Racing International. Enquiries on potential contributions from the Jockey Club towards the cost of transport and entry fees are welcomed and can be directed to the Jockey Club's international representatives, Matt Woolston and Sophie Able. Details for all appear in this brochure.
ASCOT RACECOURSE
Royal Ascot will be worth £10m in prize money in 2025 with all Group 1 races run for a minimum of £650,000. Internationally-trained horses have a rich history of success at Royal Ascot, including most recently Asfoora winning the King Charles III Stakes for Australia last year. Ascot Racecourse welcomes all enquiries concerning potential contributions towards the cost of transport. Ascot will contribute towards the cost of transport for 115+ rated horses travelling to the UK from outside of Europe to compete specifically in Group One races at Ascot. More information can be found in the International Races brochure.
Prize money for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes has been increased to a record £1.5 million in 2025, meaning it will be the most valuable race ever run at Ascot. Britain's midsummer highlight was the fourth best race in the world in 2024 and attracts a world-class field every year.
The Flat season at Ascot finishes with QIPCO British Champions Day, featuring four Group 1 races and one Group 2 over a variety of distances from sprint trips to staying contests, there's no better stage to crown a champion than QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot.
YORK RACECOURSE
The Sky Bet Ebor Festival, run over four days at York Racecourse Wednesday 20th to Saturday 23rd August 2025, will be worth a record of over £7 million in 2025, with every race worth at least £100,000. The Group 1 Juddmonte International, the Longines World’s Best Race in 2024 and 2020, will be the richest race ever staged at York worth £1,250,000 in 2025. The Sky Bet Ebor continues as the UK’s richest flat handicap offering £500,000.
You are guaranteed a warm welcome to the Knavesmire, and all overseas enquiries and arrangements can be made through Adrian Beaumont of the International Racing Bureau.
GOODWOOD RACECOURSE
The Qatar Goodwood Festival presented by Visit Qatar, runs over five days from Tuesday 29 July – Saturday 2 August 2025. The festival is the highlight of Goodwood’s season featuring three Group 1 races, The Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup (2miles/3200m), The Qatar Sussex Stakes (1mile/1600m) and The Qatar Nassau Stakes (Fillies, 1mile 2f/2000m) along with a host of other Group races.
The meeting has a history of attracting international runners from all around the World. We welcome any enquiries from international connections and are happy to discuss contributions to travel for horses travelling from outside Europe to run at The Qatar Goodwood Festival. Our international brochure, with full contact details included, is available in English, French and Japanese here.
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