The British Horseracing Authority’s Flat Pattern Committee (FPC) has today confirmed changes to the Flat Pattern and Listed race programme for 2025, following ratification by the European Pattern Committee (EPC).
Britain will stage two new Group 1 events in 2025, with both the City Of York Stakes (7f, 3yo+, York, August) and British Champions Long Distance Cup (2m, 3yo+, Ascot, October) being upgraded to the highest level. Both races will also see a significant increase in total prize money for this year.
A long-term ambition for Britain to stage an all-aged 7-furlong Group 1 race – the second of its kind in Europe alongside the Prix de la Forèt at ParisLongchamp in October – has been well publicised for a number of years, with the City Of York identified as the race most likely to achieve that goal. The FPC is pleased that the continued efforts of the committee and the investment in the race from York racecourse has been rewarded.
The British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot joins the other Group 1 races on British Champions Day to offer opportunities at the top level through the full range of distances.
Two permanent black type race transfers have also been approved by the FPC, with the Group 3 Criterion Stakes (7f, 3yo+, June) and Listed Fred Archer Stakes (12f, 3yo+, July) switching from Newmarket racecourse to York and Beverley respectively. The latter race will also be renamed as the Charlie Wood Stakes, Charlie Woods having been a contemporary of Fred Archer who finished second to him in the jockeys’ championship in seven consecutive years and was born in nearby Hull.
The FPC also confirmed the movement of both the Listed Churchill Stakes (10f, 3yo+, November) and Listed Golden Rose (6f, 3yo+, November), with both races transferring from Newcastle to Southwell and being run approximately one week later in 2025, owing to changes in the British fixture list. Related to this, Kempton Park’s Listed Wild Flower Stakes (12f, 3yo+, December) will also move later by two weeks to ensure an optimum gap with the Churchill is maintained, and the FPC is grateful to all those involved for facilitating this.
Finally, the Listed Rothesay Stakes (10f, 4yo+ fillies and mares, May) was handed back to the FPC by the previous host racecourse, Ayr. After inviting applications from other racecourses, the FPC selected Haydock Park as the new venue for the Rothesay from 2025, with the race to be run this year on Saturday 24 May.
In 2026, two of Britain’s black type races could be at potential risk of downgrade depending on their performance in 2025. Those races are the Group 2 Mill Reef at Newbury (6f, 2yo, September), which could be subject to a majority vote, and the Listed National Stakes at Sandown Park (5f, 2yo, May), which would be downgraded automatically if not reaching the required annual parameter.
Chairman of the York Race Committee, Bridget Guerin, said: “This is simply fantastic news and a real credit to everyone involved and especially our valued partners, Sky Bet, who have made a significant investment to help us build the prize fund and status of the City of York Stakes to now be Britain’s only all-age Group 1 race over seven furlongs. My thanks to the European Pattern Committee and to all the connections who have supported the race and so helped it achieve this new status. It means racing fans can look forward to a Group One race on all four days of the Sky Bet Ebor Festival, alongside our programme which features so many fabulous races such as the Sky Bet Ebor itself.”
William Derby, Chief Executive and Clerk of the Course at York Racecourse, said: “We are thrilled that all the hard work, support and investment in the Sky Bet City of York Stakes has been rewarded by its elevation to the highest level of racing, Group 1 status. I am delighted to confirm that Britain’s only all age Group 1 over 7 furlongs will be run for a record prize fund of £600,000 – a boost of £100,000 on last year’s renewal. The York Race Committee has repeatedly demonstrated its commitment to high quality racing, so we are thrilled to have a fourth Group One at the Sky Bet Ebor Festival for everyone to enjoy.
“Having both this Group One Sky Bet City of York Stakes and our most famous race, the Sky Bet Ebor, on the same afternoon on Saturday 23rd August should see it inked into the diaries of all connections and racefans as a fabulous day of action. The recent news that the Juddmonte International has been rated the Longines World’s Best Race, shows the global resonance of our Group One contests and that can only be amplified by the latest addition to their ranks. Following on from the honour of being named Showcase Champions at the RCA awards, there is much to look forward to at York for the 2025 season.”
Rod Street, Chief Executive of British Champions Series, said: “We are delighted with the upgrade of the Long Distance Cup to Group 1 status, which has been our longstanding aspiration. We are grateful for the BHA’s consistent support. For QIPCO British Champions Day to stage five Group 1 races across every category for three-year-olds and upwards is a tremendous achievement and further cements its status as one of the best days of racing in the world.”
BHA’s Director of International Racing and Development, Ruth Quinn, said: “A very different picture to this time last year, with the outcome of the EPC meeting an encouraging demonstration of what can be achieved when we work together. It really is a significant achievement to see the City of York upgraded to Group 1, with this having been our long-term and ambitious plan as the race gradually climbed through the ranks from Listed status. York has been a patient and consistent supporter of the long-term strategy to develop this race into Britain’s 7-furlong Group 1 race, only the second of its kind in Europe. Similarly, it’s wonderful to now be in a position to reward the Long Distance Cup on Qipco’s British Champions Day and see that too become a long-awaited and much-deserved Group 1 event. The overall progress for the stayers’ project across Europe is extremely heartening; we must continue to add fuel to the upward momentum being experienced.”
Notes to editors:
The BHA’s Flat Pattern Committee advises and makes recommendations to the BHA Board on matters relating to improving the programme of Flat Pattern and Listed races.
Flat Pattern Committee members:
Lydia Hislop (C)
Emma Berry
Gina Bryce
Simon Crisford
William Haggas
Richard Norris
Rishi Persad
Ruth Quinn
Julian Richmond-Watson
Nick Smith
Nicholas Wrigley
For more information, see the Committees page of the BHA website.
