Royal Ascot is the premier flat race meeting in Great Britain. It is held at Ascot Racecourse, in the town of Ascot, Berkshire, England. Ascot was founded in 1711 by Queen Anne, and each year Royal Ascot is still attended by the British Royal Family.
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. Ladies Day at Royal Ascot is traditionally held on Gold Cup Day, and is known as the day to wear your best Royal Ascot hat, and your most elegant attire.
Over 300,000 people make the annual visit to Berkshire during Royal Ascot week, making this Europe’s best-attended race meeting. There are eighteen group races on offer, with at least one Group One event on each of the five days, ranging in distance from the five-furlong King’s Stand Stakes to the two and a half mile Gold Cup
Ascot Racecourse Features
Ascot Racecourse features a turf, triangular right-hand track with easy turns and a home straight of 2 ½ furlongs. There is also a straight mile course. The final stretch of Ascot’s round course is relatively short,so the racehorse’s position during the race is important. Experts agree that the post positions at Ascot have little effect, but outside posts are slightly favoured when the ground is soft.
Royal Ascot Results
Previous winners at Royal Ascot have become equine celebrities, including Frankel, Black Caviar, Yeats, and more familiar to Americans, Lady Aurelia, Miss Temple City and Tepin. Read up on the 2017 Royal Ascot Results.
Royal Ascot & Breeders’ Cup
This year The Breeders’ Cup and Ascot are teaming up to provide ‘Win and You’re In” Challenge races at the 2018 Royal Ascot meeting.
The Queen Anne Stakes, June 19, for 4-year-olds and older at one mile on turf, will give the winner an automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1).
The Prince of Wales’s Stakes, June 20, for 4-year-olds and older at 1 ¼ miles on turf, will give the winner an automatic berth into the 1 ½- mile Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1).
The Norfolk Stakes, June 21, for 2-year-old males and fillies at five furlongs. The winner will receive a free berth into the new Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, which will be run at 5 ½ furlongs.
The Diamond Jubilee Stakes, June 23, for 4-year-olds and older at six furlongs on turf, awards the winner with an automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1), which will be run at 5 1/2 furlongs.
How to Bet Royal Ascot?
Jockeys and trainers factor into betting strategies at Royal Ascot. Aiden O’Brien leads the trainer lists as a new world record holder, training 26+ Group or Grade 1 winners in one calendar year, and American Wesley Ward won the Leading Trainer title at the 2017 Royal Ascot meet. The jockey standings are topped by the 2017 Leading Jockey Ryan Moore, but jockeys William Buick, Frankie Dettori and James Doyle figure to attempt to dethrone Moore in 2018.
Horses to follow in the 2018 Royal Ascot meet include Battaash, who lines up in the King’s Stand Stakes against 2017 winner Lady Aurelia. Cracksman is unbeaten in his last five races and is the probable favorite for the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, while Order Of St George looks to rebound from last year's Gold Cup defeat for trainer Aidan O’Brien.
Xpressbet is providing Royal Ascot tip sheets, one of a kind analysis, and valuable insights to help you bet the 2018 Royal Ascot meet.
