Royal Ascot 2026: Ascot Racecourse unveils state-of-the-art jockey facilities

Ascot Racecourse have announced they have completed a £2 million project to redevelop and refurbish the jockey facilities.

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The refurbishment has delivered world-class upgrades to the facilities in place.

For jockeys across the changing rooms, physio rooms, gym area, valet space and lounge suite. 

The changing rooms have been rebuilt from the ground up.

This is to meet modern standards in safeguarding, ergonomics, and operational flexibility with the existing facilities stripped out entirely.

The project was shaped significantly by safeguarding mandates issued by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA).

Which now apply across every racecourse in the UK. 

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Upgraded facilities

A shared central zone for valets to operate between the male and female changing areas has been designed.

This allows the female facilities to expand when required, with different configurations available depending on the day’s racing programme.

Dedicated under-18 cubicles have been incorporated, alongside carefully considered segregation and privacy measures throughout.

New ice baths have been installed across both male and female changing rooms.

This is alongside two dedicated physio rooms and a gym area that opens directly onto the valet tables.

This will be keeping jockeys and valets connected throughout raceday. 

Saddle racks, wall-mounted hooks, additional benching and washing and drying equipment give the valets everything they need close to hand.

The new Lounge and Kitchen café-style area provides a quiet space for jockeys to rest throughout the day.

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Making a difference

Nick Attenborough, Chair of the Professional Jockeys Association, said: “I’d like to thank the Trustees and Directors of Ascot for the superb new weighing room and changing facilities at the racecourse. 

“These will make such a difference to the working lives of both our male and female jockeys.

“We understand that this upgrade came at very considerable cost when the sport is under financial pressure, so we greatly appreciate what’s been achieved.”

Hollie Doyle, one of British racing’s leading jockeys, said: “The new jockey changing rooms are really outstanding.

“They are the best I’ve seen in the UK.”

Fellow rider Tom Marquand was equally positive, saying: “Ascot has done what they’ve always done – put jockeys in world-class changing facilities, as you’d expect at a racecourse of this calibre.”

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