Record £2.5M prize money locked in for 2027 King George as Ascot posts strong 2025 financial growth

Right as Ascot prepares to host its first-ever £2 million King George this week-drawing an elite field from Britain, Japan, France, and Ireland-the racecourse has just raised the bar again. On Monday 20th July, officials announced that next year’s renewal (2027) will shoot up to a British record £2.5 million.

This landmark boost is just the headline act.

With more prize money increases slated for December, the news comes on the heels of a highly successful set of financial results for the 12 months ending December 31, 2025, which were also released today.

Leading the charge, Ascot Authority (Holdings) Limited (AAHL) reported an impressive pre-tax profit of £10,550,000.

Inside the 2025 Numbers: A Business Breakdown

Simply put, 2025 was a standout year for Ascot. The track pulled in record revenues and wrapped up the year comfortably in a positive net cash position.

Turnover climbed 4.8% to a record-breaking £118.6 million, fueled by excellent performances across the board-from hospitality and retail catering to ticket sales and sponsorships.

Gross profit naturally followed that upward trend, heavily driven by strong financial returns from Royal Ascot.

Overall, pre-tax profit jumped by £2.1 million. Meanwhile, EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization) rose by 14.2%-a £2.3 million increase.

This boost included a £1.2 million business rates refund following a successful valuation appeal.

On the balance sheet, Ascot took care of its mandatory £3 million loan repayment for 2025.

This follows the £5 million paid off in 2024, which included a voluntary early repayment of £2 million.

Thanks to this aggressive tackling of debt, Ascot swung from a net debt of £4.6 million at the end of 2024 to a healthy net cash position of £10.4 million by December 31, 2025.

Growing Crowds and Strategic Investments

The grandstands were packed, too. Attendance saw a strong 3.7% bump, with 532,956 racegoers passing through the gates in 2025 compared to 513,869 the previous year.

To keep pace with that growth, capital investment hit £4.8 million over the year.

This funded the opening phase of the new weighing room project, crucial technology upgrades, stabling improvements, and a variety of racegoer experience enhancements tailored to Ascot’s long-term strategy.

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A Truly Global Stage

Ascot’s international drawing power was on full display in 2025.

The track welcomed eight of the top 21 horses in the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, headlined by the world’s top-rated superstar, Calandagan.

All told, the turf saw runners travel in from Ireland, France, Germany, Norway, Japan, Qatar, Australia, and the United States.

This stellar financial health means Ascot has been able to program a record £19.4 million in total prize money for 2026 (excluding the industry-owned QIPCO British Champions Day).

Later this week, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes will run for a historic £2 million, cementing it as Britain’s joint-most valuable race in 2025.

But the rewards are being felt across the entire calendar: prize money has been lifted across the fixture list, with 52% of all scheduled races worth more than they were last year.

From the Ascot Leadership Team

Felicity Barnard, Chief Executive Officer at Ascot Racecourse, said:

“Sustainable growth, both here at home and through our international partnerships, is the absolute bedrock of our long-term success. It’s what allows us to invest back into the venue, elevate the customer experience, and continuously strengthen the quality of our racing.”

“We were thrilled to welcome over 286,000 guests to Royal Ascot in 2025, and seeing our attendance climb again this summer for the third year running proves that our focus on sharpening the Ascot brand and listening to what our guests truly value is paying off.”

Nick Smith, Director of Racing and Public Affairs, added:

“This week’s King George has drawn an incredible field—including two of the absolute best horses from Japan and France, Irish Derby winner Benvenuto Cellini, and eight Group One winners in total. Seeing how the recent prize money boost drove that quality, we are absolutely delighted to keep that momentum rolling by confirming £2.5 million for Britain’s premier all-aged race next year.”

“In a fiercely competitive global market, it is vital that Britain’s flagship midsummer races remain incredibly attractive to the connections of the world’s best horses. The Elite Races Scheme, backed by the Levy Board and BHA in 2026, has been a massive help here. We’re proud to continue working alongside our colleagues at the Jockey Club, Goodwood, and York to champion the real highlights of the British summer: the July Cup, the King George, the Sussex Stakes, and the International Stakes.”

“Of course, our entire program matters deeply to us. That’s why 52% of our races are running for more money this year than in 2025, and we look forward to announcing our full prize money plans for 2027 this coming December.”