Ascot Racecourse

Ascot Racecourse stands in Berkshire, about 25 miles west of London. It is a dual-purpose track used for thoroughbred horse racing, hosting 13 of Britain’s 36 annual Flat Group 1 races and three Grade 1 Jumps races. The site covers 179 acres leased from the Crown Estate and has close ties to the British royal family. Queen Anne founded the course in 1711 after spotting an open heath near Windsor Castle ideal for galloping. The first meeting took place on 11 August 1711 with a seven-horse £50 plate, won by the Duke of St Albans’ horse Doctor. The racecourse draws around 600,000 visitors a year, about 10% of all UK racegoers. Royal Ascot, held each June, remains the highlight of the British summer social calendar, attracting over 350,000 spectators for the week. The prestigious King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes is run here in July. The course stages 26 days of racing annually, with 18 flat meetings from April to October and eight jump meetings from October to March. Queen Elizabeth II attended the Royal Meeting every year from her coronation in 1953 until 2021. Visitors find a modern grandstand completed in 2006, seating 30,000 under a lightweight parasol roof. The Members’ Stand dates from 1964, while earlier structures include the Iron Stand rebuilt in 1926 and the Tote Stand from 1929. The track itself features a straight mile moved in 1954 to improve racing space. The Royal Enclosure retains its historic role, with the Queen Anne Stakes opening Royal Ascot each year. The surroundings include Berkshire’s open heathland, linking the course to its royal origins.