Royal Ascot punter tried to put £370k bet on big race favourite Field Of Gold
According to a report, the punter asked to put the extraordinary wager and pay with their bank card on the eventual St James's Palace Stakes but was turned down in the betting ring
A Royal Ascot punter tried to put a colossal bet on a big race favourite at the track. Outside the Cheltenham Festival, the five-day royal meeting is the biggest betting event of the year.
Sums of up to six figures are traded with bookmakers in the Royal Ascot betting ring, but stakes exceeding £100,000 are rare. Last year Royal Ascot bookie Ben Keith's Star Sports, a firm known for standing big bets, twice had to pay out £200,000 each after accepting a pair of winning wagers worth £100,000.
On day one of this year's meeting Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Field Of Gold was one of the hotpots of the week for the St James's Palace Stakes for which he was the 8-11 favourite.
Not surprisingly, many punters were prepared to cash in on the John and Thady Gosden-trained colt and put their money down before Field Of Gold romped to an emphatic victory. But, according to one report, one significant bet was turned away by a bookmaker.
Simon Knott, who compiles a daily report from the ring on behalf of Star Sports, said in a post on X: 'I'm told someone asked a bookmaker on the lower rail for $500,000 (around £370,000) bet Field Of Gold on his card, yes that is dollars and card.
'Luckily they didn't ask Star Sports. It was a bad enough day as it was.'
Knott went on to detail how much damage was done to Star Sports' bank balance by backers of Field Of Gold.
'The punters had evidently been waiting for Field of Gold, having bets of £20,000 – £22,000, £10,000 – £11,000 £10,000 – £11,000 and £1000 – £1100 plus the double should the first leg cop, fair bets to lay before cutting the price.
'A trade bet of £10,000 – £12,000 followed swiftly after but stayed 5/6 which it did on most other joints too.'
He continued: 'A further grand and two grand at 10/11 the jolly topped things up, back to 5/6 it was again, and a punter had £600 to win £500. By the time the field headed for the stalls, the jolly was 8/11.
'Punters were walking past trying to blag 5/6 and 4/5 but that ship had sailed, you can't stand back and hope they get bigger, then beg the price when you miss it. No sir.
'Well, what can you say, even the world 's top train stopper couldn't put the kibosh on the impressive winner Field Of Gold. The book lost £58,155, Ben quietly and stealthily, probably quite sensibly, left the building and Tony and Emily to pay pay pay.
'It got worse, Lofty's team blew £6700 and the massive queue waiting to draw were crowing.'
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