Virgin Bet has today been announced as the new sponsor of the Group One Sun Chariot Stakes on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket, which takes place on Saturday 7th October.
In addition to the Group One Sun Chariot Stakes, Virgin Bet will also sponsor a further three contests on the day, expanding its portfolio of sponsorship across The Jockey Club which already includes races staged at Exeter, Kempton Park, Sandown Park and Wincanton.
The Virgin Bet Sun Chariot Stakes was established in 1966 and commemorates the outstanding filly Sun Chariot, who was bred by The National Stud and owned by King George VI. Sun Chariot won the Fillies’ Triple Crown (1000 Guineas, Oaks, and St Leger) in 1942 as part of a stellar racing career.
The race has become a marquee contest for older fillies and mares since it became a Group One in 2004, with former 1000 Guineas winners Attraction and Billesdon Brook, as well as globetrotting star Saffron Beach amongst recent winners. It forms part of the QIPCO British Champions Series and represents Virgin Bet’s first Group One sponsorship on the Flat.
Virgin Bet Marketing Director, Ric Leask, said: “We are hugely excited to expand our partnership with The Jockey Club and support this prestigious contest through the sponsorship of the Group One Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket's Rowley Mile.
“The Sun Chariot Stakes, with its rich history and exceptional line-up of past winners, perfectly aligns with Virgin Bet's commitment to top-tier horseracing. We look forward to an incredible day of racing and seeing the best fillies and mares compete in this marquee event."
Sophie Able, Newmarket Racecourses and International Director at The Jockey Club, said: “We are delighted to welcome Virgin Bet to Newmarket and are thrilled to be strengthening our partnership with them with such a prestigious contest, which will be worth a record £275,000 in 2023.
“The Sun Chariot boasts a fabulous history and this year’s renewal looks set to be well up to standard with last year’s 1000 Guineas heroine Cachet and multiple-Group One winner Inspiral amongst a top-class group of entries.”
About Virgin Bet
Virgin Bet was launched in the UK in May 2019. With access to a huge range of betting markets across all the top sports, as well as the nation’s most popular casino products, Virgin Bet delivers a top-quality experience for its customers and has the perfect line-up to disrupt the sportsbook industry. www.virginbet.com
VIRGIN and the Virgin Signature logo are trademarks of Virgin Enterprises Limited and are used under licence.
About Newmarket Racecourses
Newmarket’s two racecourses - the Rowley Mile and the July Course – host some of the finest Flat racing on the planet, across 39 fixtures and including nine Group One contests.
Headlined by the first two Classics of the season, the QIPCO 2000 and QIPCO 1000 Guineas, other highlights include The Boodles July Festival and the Dubai Future Champions Festival.
Outside of the racing the July Course plays host to some of the exciting live music acts via the hugely popular Newmarket Nights series, as well as a series of great value family days.
Newmarket is a truly special place. It is a town with a rich, royal history where the thoroughbred racehorse is king. It is the town where horseracing, the "Sport of Kings", was born some three and a half centuries ago and from where it was exported around the world.
