Shergar Cup

The Shergar Cup is an annual horse racing event held at the prestigious Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire, UK. Named in honor of the legendary racehorse Shergar, who won the 1981 Derby before meeting a tragic end in an IRA kidnapping, the event is a unique celebration of the sport, attracting around 30,000 spectators each year.

The Shergar Cup was first held in 1999 at Goodwood Racecourse, before moving to Ascot the following year. The event was initially conceived as a competition between European and Middle Eastern horse owners, but it has since evolved to feature teams divided by their presenting countries or regions, or their gender. The event is currently sponsored by Dubai Duty Free, and it is known for its team-based format, where jockeys from different nations or regions compete against each other in a series of six races.

The Shergar Cup is a unique event in the horse racing calendar, as it is one of the few races where the jockeys, rather than the horses, are the stars of the show. Each jockey rides in five races, and the team with the highest points at the end of the day is declared the winner. The event has been described as "racing's most popular event", attracting families and new spectators beyond the usual race-going demographic.

The event offers a full day of entertainment, with a lively post-racing concert featuring music presented by The Cambridge Club. Corporate hospitality packages are also available, offering private balcony views, complimentary drinks, and food.