City of York Stakes and Long Distance Cup both upgraded to Group One status

The City of York Stakes and the Long Distance Cup at Ascot on Champions Day have been upgraded to Group One status.

The European Pattern Committee announced the new gradings meaning Champions Day in October will become the first British raceday to stage five Group One races, one of a host of changes to the European calendar.

York has long been campaigning for the City of York to be run as a Group One due to the lack of such a race in Britain and Ireland and along with another cash injection from the course and sponsors Sky Bet, meaning there is now £600,000 up for grabs, the race becomes just the second Group One seven-furlong race in Europe along with the Prix de la Foret.

The upgrade means there will now be a Group One race on all four days of York’s Ebor Festival in August.

Chairman of the York Race Committee, Bridget Guerin, said: “This is simply fantastic news and a real credit to everyone involved, 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.

“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.”

York will also be the new venue for the Group Three Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Criterion Stakes, transferred from Newmarket and run on June 28.

The Listed Fred Archer Stakes will also move from Newmarket to Beverley and will be renamed the Charlie Wood Stakes, honouring the jockey from nearby Hull who finished second seven times to Archer in the championship.

Ascot’s Champions Day fixture will also stage a new £250,000 race for two-year-olds over six furlongs.

However, the British Champions Series, brought in to promote all the major Flat races throughout the season, will no discontinued.

Rod Street, chief executive of British Champions Series Limited, the company responsible for Qipco British Champions Day, said: “It’s fantastic to now have five Group One races on the day and our thanks go to the BHA for securing the promotion of the Long Distance Cup.

“A valuable two-year-old race has long been an aspiration of ours and our sponsor. We are delighted to have created a new race and one we can develop in the years to come. Our intention is to secure Pattern status for the race as soon as possible and we will be working with the BHA to achieve that.

“The Series was helpful in creating focus on the road that led to Qipco British Champions Day, especially in the early years, but its profile and purpose have been superseded by two newer assets: Club 26 and The Hall of Fame.”

Other changes announced by the EPC include a promotion to Group One level for the Vicomtesse Vigier at ParisLongchamp in May, with the Golden Fleece for juveniles on Irish Champions Weekend at Leopardstown in September elevated to the same status in 2026. It will also increase in distance from eight to nine furlongs.

Other key amendments include a change in date for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe trials meeting, which will take place one week earlier, on a card that also features the Prix du Moulin.

In Ireland, the Group Two Railway Stakes and Group Three Anglesey Stakes, both at the Curragh, will swap dates allowing for better progression through the Pattern for juveniles.

Two Listed races, the Churchill Stakes and the Golden Rose, will move from Newcastle to Southwell and the Rothesay Stakes will move from Ayr to Haydock in May.