Ascot Racecourse celebrates 2021 Royal Ascot winning breeders

Ascot Racecourse was delighted to once again host many of the winning breeders from this year’s Royal Ascot at a specially arranged lunch on the Friday of the QIPCO King George Diamond Weekend.

The annual lunch is now in its sixth year and, having taken place on Zoom last year, Ascot Racecourse Chairman Sir Francis Brooke was thrilled to be able to welcome the successful breeders back to the Ascot Authority Room in 2021.

The lunch was well attended with 49 guests in total including representatives from Coolmore, Juddmonte, Shadwell and many other breeding operations of varying sizes.

One of those smaller breeders in attendance was Steve Piper, representing the team of Homecroft Wealth Racing that bred Oxted, winner of the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes.

Steve Piper, breeder and part owner of Oxted, said: “It is a wonderful thrill to breed and own a Royal Ascot winner. For Ascot Racecourse to recognise this and extend such generous hospitality is very special. It is a very welcome initiative for which I thank Ascot Racecourse warmly.”

All Royal Ascot winning breeders received an individual commemorative Garrard Strawberry Dish with their winning horse’s name engraved on and were invited down to the parade ring for a photograph.

Guy Henderson, Chief Executive at Ascot Racecourse, said: “We were so pleased to be able to welcome many of the breeders from this year’s Royal Meeting back to Ascot for a celebration of their success at the weekend.

“It goes without saying that breeders are the foundation of the industry and often their stories go untold or unrecognised so it was a real pleasure for us to be able to celebrate their achievements.”