BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIP DAY OCTOBER 15, 2011
06-06-2011 --
BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIP DAY OCTOBER 15, 2011
Twenty-five years after the inaugural running of the Breeders’ Cup at Hollywood Park, England is putting on their day for the best flat racing in Europe. The race-day is called the QIPCO British Champion’s Day to be held at Royal Ascot Race Course on Saturday October 15, 2011. QIPCO stands for Qatar Investment & Projects Development Holding Company and is the prime sponsor of the race day. It is sure to be a marvelous occasion and an extravagancy of Thoroughbred racing.
Three million pounds or 4.92 million dollars will be awarded for the final series of the five British Champions Racing Series. They are the Sprint (5-6 furlongs), the Mile, the Middle Distance (1 ¼ -1 ½ miles) ), the long Distance ( 1 ¾ - 2 ½ miles) and the Fillies and Mares (1 ½ miles).
Although only 3 weeks before this year’s Breeders’ Cup at Churchill Downs, it should be a wonderful day of racing and an historic event. If the day and journey is in your plans, consider purchasing tickets for the day and hotel accommodations early. It is likely that European race goers will be absolutely giddy over the event.
Getting there may be complicated for the novice European traveler, but packages to the big day of racing will likely be available through English travel agents or Europe Racing Tours. If you plan to go it alone, Royal Ascot has suggested the following hotels:
Hotels in the Ascot, Berkshire Area
Macdonald Berystede Hotel & Spa – 4*
Sunninghill
Ascot
Berkshire
SL5 9JH
Contact Number - 0844 879 9104
Website - http://www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/berystede
Brockenhurst Hotel
Brockenhurst Road
Ascot
Berkshire
SL5 9HA
Contact Number - (01344) 621 912
Email - info@brockenhurst.com
Website - http://www.brockenhurst.com
Highclere Hotel
Kings Road
Sunninghill
Berkshire
SL5 9AD
Contact Number - 01344 625220
Email - info@highclerehotel.com
Website - http://www.highclerehotel.com
Ramada Ascot – 4*
London Road
Sunninghill
Ascot
SL5 0PP
Berkshire
Contact Number - 0844 815 9109
Website - http://www.ramadajarvis.co.uk/hotels/ascot
Hotels in the Windsor, Berkshire Area
Sir Christopher Wren’s House Hotel and Spa
Thames Street
Windsor
Berkshire
SL4 1PX
Contact Number - 01753 861354
Website - http://www.sarova.com /christopherwren
The Royal Adelaide Hotel – 4*
46 Kings Road
Windsor
Berkshire
SL4 2AG
Contact Number - 01753 863 916
Email - info@theroyaladelaide.com
Website - http://www.theroyaladelaide.com
The Christopher – 3*
110 High Street
Eton, Windsor
Berkshire
SL4 6AN
Contact Number - 01753 852359
Website -reservations@thechristopher.co.uk
The Harte and Garter Hotel – 4*
High Street
Windsor
Berkshire
SL4 1PH
Contact Number - 0844 855 9131
Website - http://www.foliohotels.com/harteandgarter
Travelodge Windsor Central
34 King Edward Court
Windsor
Berkshire
SL4 1TG
Contact Number - 0871 984 6331
Website – www.travelodge.co.uk
Hotels in Bracknell, Berkshire Area
Hilton Bracknell
Bagshot Road
Bracknell
Berkshire
RG12 0QJ
Contact Number - 01344 424 801
Website - http://www.hilton.co.uk/bracknell
Travelodge Bracknell
London Road
Binfield
Nr. Bracknell
RG42 4AA
Contact Number - 0871 984 6015
Website – www.travelodge.co.uk
Travelodge Bracknell Central
London Road
Bracknell
Berkshire
RG12 2UT
Contact Number - 0871 984 6367
Website – www.travelodge.co.uk
The Grange Hotel
Charles Square
Bracknell
Berkshire
RG12 1DF
Contact Number - 01344 474000
The Coppid Beech Hotel – 4*
John Nike Way
Bracknell
Berkshire
RG12 8TF
England
Contact Number - 01344 303 333
Hotels in the Reading, Berkshire Area
Hotel Ibis
25 A. Friar Street
Reading Town Centre
Berkshire
RG1 1DP
Contact Number – 01189 533500
Website - http://www.accorhotels.com
Hotel Novotel
25b Friar Street
Reading Town Centre
Berkshire
RG1 1DP
Contact Number – 0118 9522600
Website - http://www.accorhotels.com
Travelodge Reading Centre
Oxthorn House
60 Oxford Road
Reading
RG1 7LT
Contact Number - 0871 984 6211
Website – www.travelodge.co.uk
The Forbury Hotel
26 The Forbury
Reading
Berkshire
RG1 3EJ
Reservations: 08000 789 789 reservations@theforburyhotel.co.uk
Reception: 0118 958 1234 reception@theforburyhotel.co.uk
Hilton Reading
Drake Way
Reading
RG2 0GQ
Contact Number – 01189 169000
Website - http://www.hilton.co.uk/reading
Malmaison
Great Western House
18 - 20 Station Road
Reading
RG1 1JX
Contact Number – 01189 562300
Email - reading@malmaison.com
Website - http://www.malmaison-reading.com
For more hotels or information please visit the Royal Windsor Information Centre:
Contact Number – 01753 743907
Fax – 01753 743911
Website - windsor.accommodation@rbwm.gov.uk
Email – www.windsor.gov.uk
Like the Breeders’ Cup access to the grounds on the Championship day will be costly. Admission ranges from approximately $31 to $77 (£19 pounds to £47 pounds) depending on level of access desired. The lower price is access to the ground floor of the grandstand, only. The highest price includes a complete party package and may require a more formal or fancy/smart dress, as the British call it. This package includes grandstand admission, a £2 ($3.28) bet and 3 pints of beer or 2 glasses of wine. There are extras that can be added if you wish to spend more, like breakfast or afternoon Champagne and Strawberries.
ThoroFan’s Jeremy Edge, a native Brit, will be there covering the race for HRTV and has agreed to help us host a trip fans. If you are interested in joining a group of fans for a weeklong trip to see English racing and attend their premier day let us know at info@thorofan.com. If we receive enough interest by July 15, 2011 we will move forward on organizing a package trip. If not we will continue to provide information for anyone interested about the trip on our site. Also, we surely will find a way for those ThoroFans who do go, to congregate at Royal Ascot Race Course and perhaps visit some local farms.
Lets go racing.
