The Queen presenting John Ferguson with owner of the year for Godolphin
Ascot 17.10.15
Pic Dan Abraham-racingfotos.com
THIS IMAGE IS SOURCED FROM AND MUST BE BYLINED "RACINGFOTOS.COM"
With record prize-money, a huge crowd, champions being crowned and much more, Ascot racecourse hosted a fitting finale to the Flat seaon (17 October)
1. £4.1million prize-money
It was the fifth year this prestigious raceday has been held and 2015 broke records for prize-money offered in Britain on a single day.
2. A crowd of 30,697
Attendance on the day at Ascot racecourse was up by nearly 2,000 on last year’s figure (28,741) — it was the best attendance since Frankel won in 2012 (32,000).
3. A champion is crowned
Silvestre De Sousa (below) was presented with his 2015 Stobart champion Flat jockey title in front of a packed crowd.
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Silvestre De Sousa Champion Jockey 2015 with a guard of honour
Ascot 17.10.15
Pic Dan Abraham-racingfotos.com
THIS IMAGE IS SOURCED FROM AND MUST BE BYLINED "RACINGFOTOS.COM"
(Image credit: RACINGFOTOS.COM)
Continued below…
4. A Royal day
Winning jockeys, owners and trainers received their trophies from The Queen and the Household Cavalry led the winners in (below).
Leading in the winner 17-10-15
(Image credit: Bill Selwyn)
5. Curtain closes on 2015 season
It was a fitting finale to the European Flat racing season, with four Group One races out of the six on the racecard — the richest raceday in the British calendar.
6. Champion horses
Two of the races were won by outright champions; Solow (below), in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes ridden by Maxime Guyon, and Muhaarar, in Sprint Stakes ridden by Paul Hanagan.
Solow wins and has a well earned drink with a delighted Freddy Head (right) 17-10-15
(Image credit: Bill Selwyn)
7. A battle to the finish
Simple Verse and Journey provided a thrilling finish to the Fillies and Mares Stakes. The eventual winner Simple Verse delighted owner Sheikk Fahad Al Thani — the raceday’s sponsor.
8. Flying Frankie
The first race of the day, the Long Distance Cup, went the way of Frankie Dettori and Flying Officer. The jockey didn’t disappoint the crowd following the race by doing his trademark flying dismount in the winners’ enclosure.
9. Rocking the grandstand
Paloma Faith closed the day’s proceeding with her performance after racing in front of the 30,000-strong crowd — along with Radio 1 DJ Matt Edmondson and Rick Parfitt Jnr.
Don’t miss the full report from QIPCO British Champions Day in the 22 October issue of Horse & Hound magazine
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