Royal Ascot

Located in the picturesque countryside next to Windsor Park, the famous Ascot racecourse is home to one of the most prestigious annual events on the horse racing calendar - Royal Ascot. The course is one of British horse racing's most popular destinations, with the Royal Ascot meeting attracting a 70,000 capacity crowd every summer.

The racecourse was constructed back in 1711, after being founded by Queen Anne. Its royal links have been maintained ever since and the five-day-event welcomes horse racing fan Queen Elizabeth II and other members of the royal family.

History of Royal Ascot

Royal Ascot 2018 begins on Tuesday 19th June. It is described as being unlike any other meeting. Apart from the attraction of watching the world's top racehorses in action, there's also a chance to soak up the event's spectacular heritage.

The Royal Ascot race meeting was founded in 1711, the year the race course first opened. The inaugural race was "Her Majesty's Plate", with prize money of 100 guineas. The first race meeting started a tradition that has continued for more than 300 years.

In 1813, an Act of Parliament was passed to guarantee that the grounds at Ascot would always remain a public race course. Ascot has enjoyed many refurbishments over the past three centuries, but in essence, it is the same historic venue that was launched by Queen Anne back in the early 18th century.

Top prize money

Through its rich heritage, Royal Ascot is greatly anticipated and revered all over the world. It is the United Kingdom's most valuable race meeting, offering more than £7.3 million in prize money. There are 18 Group races, with eight of them categorised as Group One.

Previous winners at Royal Ascot have become household names - such as Black Caviar, winner of the 2012 Diamond Jubilee Stakes; the Queen Anne Stakes winner of 2012 Frankel; and the 2009 Royal Ascot Gold Cup winner Yeats. Every year, the meeting is broadcast to viewers all over the world.

Things to do

Being there in person is an experience described as "very special" by those racing fans who have had the pleasure. In addition to the races, visitors to the course can witness the colourful spectacle of the royal procession arriving at 2pm on the opening day. There is also the chance to participate in communal singing around the traditional bandstand.

The race meeting features six world-class races, and visitors can choose between four enclosures and numerous hospitality packages to tailor the event to their individual preference. The course boasts 12 exclusive restaurants, with top-quality cuisine to suit all tastes.

Royal race-goers

The members of the royal family who are expected to attend this year's event include Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Although the newly-weds have just returned from honeymoon (and Meghan has a number of royal engagements already) she is expected to join her husband Prince Harry at the racetrack, making her debut as a member of the royal family to enjoy the "sport of kings".

Other members of the royal family who are regular spectators at the event include the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie. Royal Ascot is certainly a meeting where everyone dresses to impress, so all eyes will be on the royal ladies to lead the way in the fashion stakes.

Main contenders

Among the top horses and jockeys lining up for Royal Ascot 2018 are the legendary Frankie Dettori and Cracksman, who will be competing in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes. The Italian jockey is looking forward to the meeting, after sitting out last year's event due to an injury.

He has given a glowing report of Cracksman, claiming the horse is in great shape. He says Royal Ascot "means everything", describing it as the "Olympics" of the horse racing calendar. He thinks of Royal Ascot as "his" track after he rode all seven winners in 1996.

Top jockey odds

Dettori will be battling it out this year with fellow leading jockeys Ryan Moore and James Doyle to become the meeting's top jockey. Dettori's odds at the start of the meeting were 5-1 but at 4-6, Ryan Moore is the clear favourite this year. He is hoping to get off to a flying start with Rhododendron in the Queen Anne.

James Doyle is 10-1 to win the top jockey accolade, with his main hopes being on Give And Take, Addeybb and Mildenberger.

Gates open at 10.30am, with the first race taking place at 3.20pm. It runs from Tuesday 19th June until Saturday 23rd June.

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