Charities share bumper £277,000 donation following Royal Ascot BGC pledge

SOME of the UK's top charities have secured vital funding after bookies handed over a huge £277,000 donation following Royal Ascot.

Several of the UK's leading bookmakers had pledged all profits from the flagship Britannia Stakes, which took place at Royal Ascot last Thursday.

But when the favourite made it a loss maker and Hayley Turner rode Docklands to victory, bookmakers instead honoured a pledge to make the bumper donation instead.

Betting and Gaming Council members Flutter (Paddy Power, Betfair, Sky Bet), bet365, Entain (Ladbrokes, Coral), 888 William Hill, Kindred (Unibet), Betway, Rank Group (Grosvenor Sport), Virgin Bet, LivescoreBet, Tote, Fitzdares and Bet with Ascot all signed up to the fundraising initiative.

And SportsAid, whose Patron is Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, will share the funds with the Holocaust Educational Trust, Cystic Fibrosis Trust, SAS Regimental Association (SASRA), Ascot Racecourse Supports and Together for Looked After Children.

BGC members have now raised £5.9million for charity since the BGC was formed in November 2019 through the Britannia Stakes and the virtual Grand National.