Goodwood Racecourse today announce an alteration to their 2025 flat season schedule which will see two of their highlight Group races move from their traditional Saturday slot to Sunday of the August Bank Holiday fixture at the Sussex track [22 – 24 August].
The Group 3 Prestige Stakes and Group 2 Celebration Mile are two of Goodwood Racecourse’s pinnacle contests outside of the Qatar Goodwood Festival presented by Visit Qatar. Both headline races will be staged on Sunday of the August Bank Holiday fixture for the first time, in a bid to spread the weekend’s top-class racing action at Britain’s premier courses.
The change has been implemented by Goodwood, with the assistance of the BHA Flat Pattern Committee, due to the clash with the concluding day of York’s Ebor Festival. Goodwood Racecourse are also hoping the change can assist with enhancing the overall offering of Sunday flat racing across the Summer with the addition of a quality dual Group race card.
Goodwood Racecourse hopes the change will also be welcomed by racing’s followers, as it will make way for two days of high-class racing action to look forward to on the August Bank Holiday Weekend.
Both Group race contests will revert to the Saturday in future years where there is no fixture clash with the York Ebor Festival - highlighting the continued collaboration between both Goodwood and York Racecourses.
Commenting on the change, William Derby, Chief Executive and Clerk of the Course at York Racecourse, said: “York and Goodwood have a long and deep relationship and continue to work together across a number of areas. The move of the Group 2 Celebration Mile and the Prestige Stakes to the televised card on Sunday 24 August, 24 hours after the finale of the Ebor Festival on the Saturday continues to demonstrate a collaborative and partnership approach between Goodwood and York. This should make for a wonderful August Bank Holiday weekend of racing action and hopefully improve the sport on offer for race fans, connections and broadcasters.”
The date alteration has already received backing from several industry stakeholders including ITV Racing and The Racecourse Media Group.
Paul Cooper, Producer at ITV Racing, said: “It’s great that Goodwood have been willing to show such flexibility in order to make the Sunday such a strong day of racing, after four days at York.
The Celebration Mile is always an excellent contest and will give us a great showpiece on that day. Another example of what can happen when racecourses work together with partners for the benefit of the sport and the terrestrial coverage”.
The British Horseracing Authority’s Director of International Racing and Development, Ruth Quinn, added: “Goodwood is to be commended for this sensible and pragmatic approach, which our Flat Pattern Committee was happy to support, with the expectation that both York and Goodwood will be rewarded with more competitive fields.”
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