Breeders’ Cup Expands International Reach With Four Ascot Qualifiers

[Wandering Eyes]

The Breeders’ Cup will continue to expand its Breeders’ Cup Challenge series through the addition of four qualifying events at Ascot Racecourse during the Royal Ascot meeting, held June 19-23. The winners of the G1 Prince of Wales’s S., G1 Queen Anne S., G2 Norfolk S. and G1 Diamond Jubilee S. will all be awarded automatic “Win and You’re In” berths into the 2018 Breeders’ Cup at Churchill Downs Nov. 2 and Nov. 3.

The June 19 Queen Anne, for older horses at a mile, is a qualifier for the GI Breeders’ Cup Mile; the June 20 Prince of Wales’s S., for older horses at 10 furlongs, is a qualifier for the GI Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf; the June 21 Norfolk, for 2-year-olds at five furlongs, will serve as a qualifier for the newly created Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint; and the June 23 Diamond Jubilee, a six-furlong dash for older horses, will be a qualifier for the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

These races join the 1 1/2-mile G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S., run July 28, which will award an automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Turf, as the fifth “Win and You’re In” races to be run at Ascot Racecourse this year. The King George has been a part of the international Breeders’ Cup Challenge since 2011. Throughout 2018, the Challenge includes over 80 graded/group races internationally.

“There is nothing quite like the excellence, tradition and prestige of the Royal Ascot meeting, and we are so proud and delighted that the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, Queen Anne, Norfolk and the Diamond Jubilee will be a part of the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Challenge series as we continue to encourage international participation for the World Championships,” said Craig Fravel, Breeders’ Cup President and CEO. “We thank our partners at Ascot for working with us in accomplishing this goal, and look forward to the outstanding coverage from the NBC Sports Group of these fixtures, and extensive coverage of the Royal Ascot races in June.”

All four races will be televised live and streamed in the U.S. as a part of NBC Sports Group’s live coverage of the Royal Ascot meet.

“We’re delighted to be participating in the Breeders’ Cup ‘Win and You’re In’ program with races from Royal Ascot for the first time,” said Nick Smith, Ascot Director of Racing and Communications. “These are pivotal race meets in our respective jurisdictions and natural targets for the very best racehorses in the world. It’s particularly pleasing to be involved from the start with the development of the new Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. It’ll provide an excellent new opportunity for European juveniles.”

The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series “Win and You’re In” NBC Sports Group television schedule will be announced Tuesday, and the full 2018 Breeders’ Cup Challenge series schedule of races will be released Wednesday.

 

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