Bookies lose out, but charities enjoy fantastic Royal Ascot windfall

Prostate Cancer UK, Marie Curie, The Care Workers Charity and the Berkshire Community Foundation Coronavirus Fund will share £250,000 after Khaloosy romped to victory in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot last week.

The UK’s biggest betting operators had agreed to hand over all profits on win and each-way bets, after levy and duties were deducted, from the race to the worthy causes.

However, the second favourite’s comfortable win meant the bookies made a loss on the Heritage Handicap.

Nevertheless, the Betting and Gaming Council’s largest members have agreed to boost the charities’ coffers in recognition of the fantastic work that they do.

Michael Dugher, the BGC’s chief executive, said: “It was a great day for punters, though not such a good one for the bookies.

“However, it’s brilliant to see that despite bookmakers not making a profit in the race, they will still make a large donation of a quarter of a million pounds to four fantastic charities, who undoubtedly deserve every penny.I’d like to thank those BGC members for this wonderful gesture.”

Tracey Pritchard, Prostate Cancer UK’s Director of Fundraising & Supporter Engagement, added: “I would like to thank everyone at the Betting and Gaming Council and their betting operator members for this incredible donation to Prostate Cancer UK.

“Prostate cancer is now the most commonly diagnosed form of cancer in the UK, with around 400,000 men living with the disease, and we appreciate having the opportunity to raise awareness about this on such an iconic occasion.

“Money raised by this fantastic initiative will go towards lifesaving research into treatments and better tests to stop the disease being a killer, and men and their families accessing our support service during these challenging times.”