Talking Horses: Royal Ascot expands schedule to seven races per day

Ascot will permanently expand the schedule at its showpiece Royal meeting in June to seven races per day from this year. Last year's change was made to allow for extra runners at the Royal. meeting. The new programme required the creation of three new handicaps. Two "Silver" handicap races have been discontinued. Saturday's card will also have seven, not eight, races. The Royal card ends with the Queen Alexandra Stakes. In 2019, the card may return to the six-race programme. It will have three Group One races on the first day and the meeting opening with Queen Anne Stake.