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Right as Ascot prepares to stage its first-ever £2 million King George this week-attracting an elite field from Britain, Japan, France and Ireland-the racecourse has already raised the stakes again.
On Monday, 20 July, officials confirmed that next year’s renewal in 2027 will be worth a British record £2.5 million.
But that’s only part of the story.
The prize money announcement comes alongside the release of Ascot’s financial results for the 12 months ending 31 December 2025. With further increases to the racecourse’s prize money programme set to be announced in December.
Leading the way, Ascot Authority (Holdings) Limited (AAHL) posted an impressive pre-tax profit of £10,550,000.
Inside the 2025 Numbers: A Business Breakdown
Simply put, 2025 was another outstanding year for Ascot. The racecourse generated record revenues and finished the year with a strong net cash position.
Turnover rose by 4.8% to a record £118.6 million. All driven by excellent performances across hospitality, retail catering, ticket sales and sponsorship.
That growth naturally filtered through to the bottom line, with gross profit boosted by another successful Royal Ascot.
Overall, pre-tax profit increased by £2.1 million,. While EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization) climbed 14.2%-an increase of £2.3 million.
The figures also include a £1.2 million business rates refund following a successful valuation appeal.
On the balance sheet, Ascot completed its scheduled £3 million loan repayment during 2025.
That followed the £5 million repaid in 2024, which included a voluntary early repayment of £2 million.
Thanks to that continued reduction in debt, Ascot moved from a net debt position of £4.6 million at the end of 2024 to a healthy net cash position of £10.4 million by 31 December 2025.
Ascot Racecourse Financial Overview Table
Attendance also continued to move in the right direction, with 532,956 racegoers passing through the gates in 2025 compared to 513,869 the previous year. Which was a healthy increase of 3.7%.
To support that growth, Ascot invested £4.8 million in capital projects during the year.
That spending funded the opening phase of the new weighing room development and key technology upgrades. Plus improvements to the stabling facilities and a range of enhancements designed to improve the racegoer experience as part of Ascot’s long-term strategy.
A Truly Global Stage
Ascot’s international appeal was on full display throughout 2025.
The racecourse welcomed eight of the world’s top 21 horses in the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, led by the world’s highest-rated horse, Calandagan.
Across the season, runners travelled from Ireland, France, Germany, Norway, Japan, Qatar, Australia and the United States to compete at the Berkshire venue.
That strong financial position has enabled Ascot to programme a record £19.4 million in prize money for 2026. But excluding the industry-owned QIPCO British Champions Day.
Later this week, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes will be run for a historic £2 million, making it Britain’s joint-most valuable race in 2026.
The increased investment isn’t limited to the feature races, either. Prize money has risen across the fixture list, with 52% of all scheduled races worth more than they were the previous year.
The Ascot Leadership Team Said
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 standout races of the British summer—the July Cup, the King George, the Sussex Stakes and the International Stakes.”
“Of course, our entire programme 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.”
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