ASCOT IS TO become the home of Britain’s richest race from next season on, with a £3 million Champions’ Day  making it the richest race in British history.

On 15 October of next year, Ascot will stage six races in a bid to rival the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and the Breeders’ Cup. The British Horseracing Association also revealed that the Fixture List for 2011 is to be trimmed from 1,503 to 1,480.

“Constructing the 2011 fixture list has been a lengthy and, at times, very trying process. The outcome, though, is generally a positive one, especially bearing in mind the backdrop of the decimated central funding,” Ruth Quinn, director of racing for the BHA told Setanta Sports.

“There are still many aspirations for change that we would have for 2012 and beyond to produce a framework that best suits the long term health of this sport. That work starts here.”

Newmarket has lost Champions’ Day, but the managing director of the racecourse says the move to Ascot will be good for the sport.

“The reason we have done that [moved Champions' Day to Ascot] is for the future funding of the sport. Horse racing does get a lot of sponsorship but has an inherent problem in that it is a series of regional events that last for a weekend.”