Ascot to leave Racecourse Association

Ascot Racecourse to leave the Racecourse Association at the end of the year

For immediate release, Monday 4th May 2026

After considerable consultation and consideration, Ascot Racecourse today announces that it is giving notice to leave the Racecourse Association (RCA) at the end of the year. This follows the request made in early March, alongside other parties, for the RCA to present a solution to address structural governance concerns by 30th April.

Specifically, we requested measures that would deliver:

• A board and voting representation that is balanced and credible,
• an environment where significant views from key racecourses can influence outcomes,
• an organisation that can act decisively on matters affecting the wider industry.

The discussions on this issue since March have been extensive and good natured. It was hoped these would result in changes to the RCA member voting structure and board representation. However, whilst the efforts made are appreciated, unfortunately this has not been delivered.

Felicity Barnard, Ascot Racecourse Chief Executive, said:

“The decision to move away from the RCA was not taken lightly and was guided by our view that this is in the interests of the long-term health of the sport.

“In the period since 3rd March, we have engaged constructively with the RCA and remained clear and consistent with our request for governance reform; reform that we believe is necessary to reflect the evolving needs of our sport and its stakeholders.

“Regrettably, sufficient progress has not been made. We remain committed to working collaboratively within the industry to enable Ascot to continue to contribute to the shared success of the sport.”

ENDS

For more information, please contact:

Nick Smith – Director of Racing and Public Affairs, Ascot Racecourse

nick.smith@ascot.com / +44 (0) 7771 791 449

About Ascot Racecourse

Ascot Racecourse was founded in 1711 by Queen Anne, who identified the land as being ideal for horseracing when riding out from Windsor Castle. The first four day meeting at Ascot took place in 1768 and at some point in time, the race programme started being referred to as Royal Ascot.

The two tracks, Flat and Jumps, now provide racing all year round and Ascot hosts 26 days of racing each year, including the five days of Royal Ascot. It is Europe’s premier Flat racing meeting, featuring eight Group 1 races and 19 Group races in total. Typically, 300,000 racegoers attend across the five days while the event is broadcast in more than 200 territories with a reach of 650 million households.

As well as world-class racing, Ascot Racecourse is also used as a film and TV filming location and as a venue for conferences, banquets, exhibitions, product launches and weddings, with 300 non-racing events annually. The land on which Ascot Racecourse sits is leased from the Crown Estate, adjacent to Windsor Great Park, covering 179 acres.

For more information please visit www.ascot.com