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| Staff Writer |
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In an unexpected but happy outcome of the Coronavirus Pandemic, Royal Ascot will be permanently expanded with the introduction of seven-race cards each day after its revised schedule proved popular with bookmakers and connections last year.
The five-day meeting, which begins on June 15, was expanded last season to facilitate extra runners, whose campaigns were severely interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic before the resumption of racing in England on June 1.
This led to revised running order and the creation of the Copper Horse Stakes, Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes and the Golden Gates Stakes, as well as the restoration of the Buckingham Palace Stakes which had been scrapped in 2015 after the introduction of the Commonwealth Cup.
Approved by the Queen, these four races have been permanently added alongside the Kensington Palace Stakes, a new handicap for four-year-old and upwards fillies and mares on the Old Mile course.
The consolation contests for the Royal Hunt Cup and Wokingham Stakes, added in 2020, have not been retained. The new races will be run as the final races on each day, excluding Saturday, which will end with the traditional finale of the Queen Alexandra Stakes.
Prize-money will be confirmed in advance of the early closing races in April and have been listed withholding values based on 2020.
The running order this year will be based on 2019 rather than 2020 when the schedule reflected the late start to the Flat season and rescheduling of the Newmarket and Epsom Classics. The Queen Anne Stakes, run as the second race last year, will open the meeting.
In a statement on Monday, Smith added: "At this time, more than ever, the increased opportunity to win prize-money and to generate more levy and domestic and overseas betting income is crucial.