The centrepiece of Ascot`s year, Royal Ascot is one of the world`s most famous race meetings, and dates back to 1711 when it was founded by Queen Anne.
Every year Royal Ascot is attended by HM Elizabeth II and various members of the British Royal Family such as The Prince of Wales, arriving each day in a horse-drawn carriage with the Royal procession taking place at the start of each race day and the raising of the Queens royal Standard. It is a major event in the British social calendar, and press coverage of the attendees and what they are wearing often exceeds coverage of the actual racing. There are 3 enclosures attended by guests on Royal Ascot week.
Over 300,000 people make the annual visit to Berkshire during Royal Ascot week, making this Europe`s best-attended race meeting. This leads to a split among racing fans, some of whom are glad to see racing in the spotlight, and getting more attention, while others do not like the meeting despite the quality of racing.
There are 16 Group races on offer, with at least one Group One event on each of the five days. The Ascot Gold Cup is on Ladies` Day on the Thursday. There is over £3,000,000 of prize money on offer.
Notable races:
- The Queen Anne Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open tothoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.
The race was created in 1840, and for the first part of its history it was called the Trial Stakes. In its original form it was contested by horses aged three or older. The title was changed in 1930 to commemorate Queen Anne, the monarch who established racing at Ascot in the early 18th century.
When the current system of race grading was introduced in 1971, the Queen Anne Stakes was classed at Group 3 level, and it was subsequently promoted to Group 2 in 1984. It was given Group 1 status in 2003, and simultaneously the minimum age was raised to four. It is presently the first race on the opening day of the Royal Ascot meeting.
- The King`s Stand Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 5 furlongs (1,006 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.
The event was created as a result of bad weather at Royal Ascot in 1860. Heavy rain made it impossible to run the Royal Stand Plate over its usual distance of 2 miles, and so it was shortened to the only raceable part of the course, 5 furlongs. The amended race was titled the Queen`s Stand Plate, and in time it became the most important sprint at the Royal meeting. During its early years the event was open to horses aged two or older. Its name was changed to the King`s Stand Stakes in 1901, following the death of Queen Victoria and the accession of King Edward VII.
The current system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and the King`s Stand Stakes was given Group 1 status in 1973. It was downgraded to Group 2 level in 1988 so that another event, the Haydock Sprint Cup, could be promoted.
- The St. James`s Palace Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.
The event is named after St. James`s Palace, a royal residence during the Tudor period. It was established in 1834, although with only one entrant the inaugural race was a walkover.
The present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and the St. James`s Palace Stakes was subsequently given Group 2 status. It was promoted to the highest level, Group 1, in 1988. The event usually features horses which ran previously in the 2,000 Guineas, the Poule d`Essai des Poulains or the Irish 2,000 Guineas. It is presently contested on the opening day of the Royal Ascot meeting.
- The Coronation Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.
The event was established in 1840, and its title commemorates the coronation of a new British monarch, Queen Victoria, two years earlier. The present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and the Coronation Stakes was subsequently given Group 2 status. It was promoted to the highest level, Group 1, in 1988. The event usually features fillies which ran previously in the 1,000 Guineas, the Poule d`Essai des Pouliches or the Irish 1,000 Guineas. It is presently contested on day four of the five-day Royal Ascot meeting.
