One of British flat racing’s summer highlights, the Qatar Goodwood Festival, which runs from 27 – 31 July 2021, is set to offer a total prize fund of over £4.8 million. It marks a significant boost to owners and the horseracing industry following the reduced purses available in 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Three stellar Group 1 races across the five days all see their 2019 prize money contributions reinstated, with the headline being the Qatar Sussex Stakes returning to its former level of £1 million. Tuesday’s Qatar Goodwood Cup, which has been won in the last four years by the staying superstar Stradivarius, sees its prize fund return to the pre-Covid level of £500,000, while Thursday’s feature will be the £600,000 Qatar Nassau Stakes.
Much anticipation surrounds the return of spectators to pre-pandemic capacities, with Goodwood’s flagship meeting set to be one of the first major racing festivals to welcome back significant numbers following the lifting of restrictions published in the Government’s road map.
Adam Waterworth, Events Managing Director at The Goodwood Group, added, “Prize money is incredibly important for our owners whose commitment and support we value tremendously. They are vital to the livelihood of the sport, and we’re delighted to be able to return our feature races to the levels we ran them in 2019.
“The last 12 months have been extremely challenging for the business as a whole with severe financial hardships. However, despite revenues remaining challenging in 2020, and the uncertainty around crowd numbers at some of our fixtures, investment in prize money has always been a priority for Goodwood, and we accept our role in trying to ensure the higher rated horses remain in training in this country, whilst also striving to attract some of the best thoroughbreds from further afield.
“We are incredibly grateful to our official title partner, the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club, without whose support we would not have been able to offer these levels of prize money, and our other sponsors, broadcast, and betting media partners.”
Waterworth continued, “Goodwood is very much looking forward getting racing underway this season. We will be welcoming limited spectators to the racecourse across May and June, when admission is likely to be limited to Members, although hospitality experiences will be open to all.
“Ticket sales have been phenomenal for the Qatar Goodwood Festival. It’s one of the best on sales we have known, and all being well, we anticipate hosting racegoers at pre-pandemic capacities come the end of July.”
Tickets, dining, and hospitality are now on sale for the Qatar Goodwood Festival. Visit Goodwood.com or call 01243 755055 to find out more.
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About the Qatar Goodwood Festival:
The Qatar Goodwood Festival is one of the undisputed highlights of the British flat racing season.
Steeped in racing history, the first public race meeting took place at Goodwood Racecourse in 1802, and over the decades, the meeting has attracted the very best equine athletes from the UK and around the world.
Affectionately known as ‘Glorious Goodwood’, the world-famous five-day festival is a sporting and social occasion like no other, unrivalled style, superb racing, and hospitality experiences to savour mean it’s not to be missed.
The 2021 event takes place from Tuesday 27 July to Saturday 31 July, and Qatar continues its generous title sponsorship. The week is headed by three Group 1 races, including the £500,000 Qatar Goodwood Cup, the £1 million Qatar Sussex Stakes, and the £600,000 Qatar Nassau Stakes.
Tickets, dining, and hospitality are now on sale for the Qatar Goodwood Festival. Visit Goodwood.com or call 01243 755055 to find out more.
For editorial enquiries please contact:
Lucy Snell Goodwood Press Office: 01243 755 000, lucy.snell@goodwood.com
