The British Horseracing Board Summer Triple Crown and Grand Slam, offering the largest bonus prize in the history of world racing, was launched by Racin?_x0019_s governing authority in London today.
This ground-breaking initiative is designed to provide a strong narrative around seven of the most prestigious races of the British Flat racing season. By linking them together in an easily understandable way, BHB intends to generate interest amongst those whom already have a love of horseracing and those people who are less familiar with the sport.
The substantial prizes available will also provide a powerful incentive for owners, trainers and jockeys, at home and abroad, to contest as many of the races in the series as possible.
Full details of the race series are shown on the following page.
BHB Chairman Peter Savill said: “I believe passionately in the need to promote our top class races and raise their profile even higher. This is the first in a series of such initiatives that the British Horseracing Board will be recommending, both on the Flat and over Jumps.”
The BHB Summer Triple Crown and Grand Slam also has the support of leading owners Coolmore and Godolphin.
Aidan O’Brien, champion trainer of 2002, commented: “We would love to have a horse that becomes the first to win the Summer Triple Crown and Grand Slam. Any initiative which can raise the profile of horseracing is to be encouraged, and linking such prestigious middle-distance races with substantial bonuses should certainly capture the imagination of racing fans around the world.”
Simon Crisford, Godolphin Racing Manager, said: “Godolphin has always been involved in international racing and the Summer Triple Crown and Grand Slam is an exciting innovation. Hopefully, we will have a horse who is good enough to attempt it.”
Further information on the BHB Summer Triple Crown and Grand Slam can be found on the dedicated website, from which full copies of the media pack accompanying the launch can be downloaded.
The BHB Summer Triple Crown and Grand Slam
Any winner of one of the following races:
The Vodafone Coronation Cup (Epsom Downs, 6th June)
The Vodafone Oaks (Epsom Downs, 6th June)
The Vodafone Derby Stakes (Epsom Downs, 7th June)
The Prince of Wales Stakes (Royal Ascot, 18th June)
who then goes on to win both ….
The Coral-Eclipse Stakes (Sandown Park, 5th July) and
The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes (Ascot, 26th July)
…wins the BHB Summer Triple Crown and £1,000,000.
If the BHB Summer Triple Crown winner then goes on to win….
The Juddmonte International Stakes (York, 19th August)
….they win the BHB Grand Slam and £5,000,000.
The BHB Middle Distance Championship
If no horse wins the BHB Summer Triple Crown or Grand Slam, BHB will recognise the most outstanding contestant with ‘The BHB Middle Distance Championship’ worth £250,000.
This will be awarded to the owner of the horse collecting the most “points” earned in the seven races in the series. In each of the seven races, the first six horses home will be awarded points according to their placings, as follows:
Position Points
First 10
Second 6
Third 4
Fourth 3
Fifth 2
Sixth 1
The BHB Middle Distance Championship, a highly valuable prize in its own right, will maintain interest and competition in the series right to its conclusion.
