Ascot Racecourse

Ascot Racecourse ("ascot" pronounced /ˈæskət/, often pronounced /ˈæskɒt/) is a British racecourse, located in Ascot, Berkshire, England, which is used for thoroughbred horse racing. It is one of the leading racecourses in the United Kingdom, hosting 13 of Britain's 36 annual Group 1 horse races.

For other uses, see Ascot Racecourse (disambiguation).
For the private housing development named Royal Ascot in Hong Kong, see Royal Ascot, Hong Kong.

Ascot Racecourse


LocationAscot, Berkshire, England
Coordinates51°24′58″N 0°40′37″W
Owned byAscot Racecourse Ltd
Date opened11 August 1711
Screened onSky Sports Racing
Course typeFlat
National Hunt
Notable racesThe Gold Cup
Official website

The course, owned by Ascot Racecourse Ltd,[1] enjoys close associations with the British Royal Family, being approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) from Windsor Castle.

Ascot currently stages 26 days of racing over the course of the year, comprising 18 flat meetings held between the months of May and October inclusive. It also stages important jump racing throughout the winter months. The Royal Meeting held each June, remains a major draw, its highlight being The Gold Cup. The most prestigious race is the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes run over the course in July.

History
The Royal Enclosure on Cup Day, 1907

Ascot Racecourse was founded in 1711 by Queen Anne. The first race, "Her Majesty's Plate", with a purse of 100 guineas, was held on 11 August 1711. Seven horses competed. This first race comprised three separate four-mile (6437 m) heats. Handicap races started at Ascot, the first one being the Oatlands Handicap in 1791.[2]

In 1813 Parliament passed an Act to ensure that the grounds would remain a public racecourse. A new grandstand was opened in 1839 at a cost of £10000.[3] A further Act of Parliament of 1913[4] established the Ascot Authority which entity manages the racecourse to this day. From its creation until 1945 the only racing that took place at Ascot was the Royal Meeting, a four-day event. Since that date, more fixtures have been introduced to the grounds, notably National Hunt racing in 1965. The National Hunt course was established using turf from Hurst Park Racecourse, which closed in 1962.[5]

Ascot's pre-2006 grandstand

Ascot Racecourse closed for a period of twenty months on 26 September 2004, for a £185 million redevelopment funded by Allied Irish Bank and designed by Populous and Buro Happold. As owner of the Ascot estate, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth reopened the racecourse on Tuesday 20 June 2006.

Upon re-opening the new grandstand attracted criticism for failing to provide sufficiently raised viewing for patrons to watch the racing, and devoting too much space to restaurants, bars and corporate hospitality facilities. At the end of 2006 a £10 million programme of further alterations was announced to improve the viewing from lower levels of the grandstand using an innovative steel composite product ("SPS" sandwich plate system) to reprofile the existing concrete terraces. However, the upper levels provide far less accommodation for the everyday racegoer than was present in the former stand.[6]

In March 2009 it was confirmed that the main sponsors of Ascot, William Hill would be ceasing their sponsorship deal, citing that the decision by the BBC to reduce live race coverage as the main reason in its decision making process.[7]

In July 2009 Ascot Racecourse also hosted the third round of the UAE President's Cup.[8]

Royal Ascot
The Royal carriages depart after The Queen's arrival at the races.
Edward Beckett, 5th Baron Grimthorpe, and others at Royal Ascot (2012), wearing morning dress with top hats.
Horse crossing road with handlers wearing face masks during Royal Ascot 2020 held behind closed doors

Royal Ascot is the centrepiece of Ascot's year and dates back to 1911 when the week of races in the third week of June became a Royal Week. Every year Royal Ascot is attended by Elizabeth II and other 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 Royal Standard and the playing of the National Anthem. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also attend, as well as the Earl and Countess of Wessex.[9] It is a major event in the British social calendar, and press coverage of the attendees and their attire often exceeds coverage of the actual racing. There are three enclosures attended by guests on Royal Ascot week. In 2005, whilst Ascot was closed for redevelopment, the Royal meeting was held at York Racecourse.

The Royal Enclosure is the most prestigious of the three enclosures, with recent visits from the Queen and Royal Family members. Access to the Royal Enclosure is restricted, with high security on the day. First-time applicants must apply to the Royal Enclosure Office and gain membership from someone who has attended the enclosure for at least four years. For existing badgeholders, an invitation is sent out by Her Majesty's Representative[10] to request badges. The badgeholder's name is written onto the badge and can be used only by that person. The colours of the badges vary each day for one-day applicants. Those in the Royal Enclosure have the options of fine dining and hospitality, and a selection of bars. The dress code is strictly enforced. For women, only a day dress with a hat is acceptable, with rules applying to the length and style of the dress. In addition, women must not show bare midriffs or shoulders. For men, black or grey morning dress with top hat is required.

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. The Gold Cup is on Ladies' Day on the Thursday.

In 2012, the Golden Jubilee Stakes was renamed the Diamond Jubilee Stakes, to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee.[11]

In 2013, the Windsor Forest Stakes was renamed the Duke of Cambridge Stakes, with the Queen’s consent, recognising the new title given to Prince William.[12]

In 2015, the newly-created Commonwealth Cup became the eighth Group One race at Royal Ascot, replacing the Buckingham Palace Stakes.[13]

In 2016, total prize money across the five days of Royal Ascot was £6,580,000.[14] This was £1,000,000 more than the prize money on offer at the meeting in 2015, representing an overall increase of 18%. Races with notable prize money increases for 2016 included the Prince of Wales's Stakes (£750,000 from £525,000), the Queen Anne Stakes (£600,000 from £375,000) and the Diamond Jubilee Stakes (£600,000 from £525,000), while the other Group One races all had their prize money increased to £400,000. The Gold Cup in 2016 was run as "The Gold Cup in Honour of The Queen's 90th Birthday".

The 2020 meeting will be held behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[15]

Month DOW Race Name Grade Distance Age/Sex
June Tuesday Queen Anne Stakes Group 1 1m 4yo +
June Tuesday Coventry Stakes Group 2 6f 2yo only
June Tuesday King's Stand Stakes Group 1 5f 3yo +
June Tuesday St James's Palace Stakes Group 1 1m 3yo C only
June Tuesday Ascot Stakes Handicap 2m 4f 4yo +
June Tuesday Wolferton Stakes Listed 1m 2f 4yo +
June Tuesday Buckingham Palace Stakes Handicap 7f 3yo +
June Wednesday Jersey Stakes Group 3 7f 3yo only
June Wednesday Queen Mary Stakes Group 2 5f 2yo F only
June Wednesday Duke of Cambridge Stakes Group 2 1m 4yo + FM
June Wednesday Prince of Wales's Stakes Group 1 1m 2f 4yo +
June Wednesday Royal Hunt Cup Handicap 1m 3yo +
June Wednesday Sandringham Stakes Handicap 1m 3yo F only
June Thursday Norfolk Stakes Group 2 5f 2yo only
June Thursday Hampton Court Stakes Group 3 1m 2f 3yo only
June Thursday Ribblesdale Stakes Group 2 1m 4f 3yo F only
June Thursday Gold Cup Group 1 2m 4f 4yo +
June Thursday Britannia Stakes Handicap 1m 3yo CG only
June Thursday King George V Stakes Handicap 1m 4f 3yo only
June Friday Albany Stakes Group 3 6f 2yo F only
June Friday King Edward VII Stakes Group 2 1m 4f 3yo CG only
June Friday Commonwealth Cup Group 1 6f 3yo only
June Friday Coronation Stakes Group 1 1m 3yo F only
June Friday Duke of Edinburgh Stakes Handicap 1m 4f 3yo +
June Friday Queen's Vase Group 2 1m 6f 3yo only
June Saturday Chesham Stakes Listed 7f 2yo only
June Saturday Windsor Castle Stakes Listed 5f 2yo only
June Saturday Hardwicke Stakes Group 2 1m 4f 4yo +
June Saturday Diamond Jubilee Stakes Group 1 6f 4yo +
June Saturday Wokingham Stakes Handicap 6f 3yo +
June Saturday Queen Alexandra Stakes Conditions 2m 5f 159y 4yo +

British Champions Day
Main article: British Champions Day

Since 2011, Ascot has staged British Champions Day, the climax to the British Champions Series, an event designed to increase the sport's public profile and to rival Arc weekend and the Breeders' Cup in terms of attracting the best horses.[16] The first event was staged on 15 October 2011 and was generally regarded as a success, though overshadowed by controversy regarding new regulations on the use of the whip. Winners on British Champions Day have included Frankel, who won the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in 2011, and in the final race of his unbeaten career, the Champion Stakes in 2012.

Family day at Ascot Racecourse
Month DOW Race Name Grade Distance Age/Sex
October Saturday British Champions Sprint Stakes Group 1 6f 3yo +
October Saturday British Champions Long Distance Cup Group 2 2m 3yo +
October Saturday British Champions Fillies' and Mares' Stakes Group 1 1m 4f 3yo + fm
October Saturday Queen Elizabeth II Stakes Group 1 1m 3yo +
October Saturday Champion Stakes Group 1 1m 2f 3yo +

Notable races
Month DOW Race Name Type Grade Distance Age/Sex
January Saturday Holloway's Hurdle Hurdle Grade 2 2m 3f 110y 4yo +
January Saturday Clarence House Chase Chase Grade 1 2m 1f 5yo +
January Saturday Warfield Mares' Hurdle Hurdle Grade 2 3m 4yo + m
February Saturday Reynoldstown Novices' Chase Chase Grade 2 3m 5yo +
February Saturday Ascot Chase Chase Grade 1 2m 5f 110y 5yo +
February Saturday Weatherbys Chase Chase Handicap 3m 5yo +
April Wednesday Sagaro Stakes Flat Group 3 2m 4yo +
April Wednesday Pavilion Stakes Flat Group 3 6f 3yo only
April Wednesday Paradise Stakes Flat Listed 1m 4yo +
May Saturday Victoria Cup Flat Handicap 7f 4yo +
July Saturday Summer Mile Stakes Flat Group 2 1m 4yo +
July Saturday Princess Margaret Stakes Flat Group 3 6f 2yo only f
July Saturday King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes Flat Group 1 1m 4f 3yo +
July Saturday Pat Eddery Stakes Flat Listed 7f 2yo only
October Friday Noel Murless Stakes Flat Listed 1m 6f 3yo
October Saturday Bengough Stakes Flat Group 3 6f 3yo +
October Saturday Cumberland Lodge Stakes Flat Group 3 1m 4f 3yo +
October Saturday Cornwallis Stakes Flat Group 3 5f 2yo only
Oct / Nov Saturday Sodexo Gold Cup Chase Grade 3 3m 4yo +
November Saturday Ascot Hurdle Hurdle Grade 2 2m 3f 110y 4yo +
November Saturday Amlin 1965 Chase Chase Grade 2 2m 3f 4yo +
December Friday Championship Standard Open NH Flat Race N H Flat Listed 2m 4yo-6yo
December Friday Noel Novices' Chase Chase Grade 2 2m 3f 4yo +
December Friday Kennel Gate Novices' Hurdle Hurdle Grade 2 2m 4yo +
December Saturday Betfair Exchange Trophy Handicap Hurdle Hurdle Grade 3 2m 4yo +
December Saturday Ascot Silver Cup Chase Handicap 3m 4yo +
December Saturday Long Walk Hurdle Hurdle Grade 1 3m 1f 4yo +

Shergar Cup

The Shergar Cup is an annual horse racing event held at Ascot, usually during early August. The event is named in honour of Shergar, the horse that won the 1981 Epsom Derby, and was originally sponsored by Shergar's owner, the Aga Khan. The event is currently sponsored by Dubai Duty Free.

Royal Ascot Cricket Club and Ascot United

The racecourse is also home to Royal Ascot Cricket Club, which was founded in 1883. The club's ground is situated in the middle of the racecourse. Ascot United F.C. is located towards the eastern side of the site.[17] A new clubhouse, stand and floodlighting have recently been erected.

The racecourse is the setting for a scene in the musical My Fair Lady and the subject for the song "Ascot Gavotte".

The racecourse was used as a filming location in the James Bond film A View to a Kill (1985), where Bond (played for the last time by Roger Moore) was beginning his mission to defeat the villainous Max Zorin (Christopher Walken), whose horse was racing there.

The James Bond production crew returned to Ascot Racecourse for GoldenEye (1995), where the entrance stood in for St. Petersburg Airport, and Skyfall (2012), where it stood in for Shanghai Pudong International Airport.[18]

The stand, completed in 2006 and designed by architects Populous and engineers Buro Happold and built by Laing O'Rourke
  • Main straight
  • Front entrance to the 2006 Ascot Stands
  • The redeveloped stand
  • The redeveloped stand from inside
  • Dress and conduct rules for racegoers at Ascot – see at full size.
  • AscotStand from north west
gollark: People probably *are* saying "horse dewormer" derogatorily, but I doubt it actually affects people's views on it very much.
gollark: You're not being very clear about what argument you're trying to make.
gollark: I see.
gollark: If by "the barber" you mean the definitely good Merck/Pfizer treatments, I don't think production of them has been ramped up enough for them to be readily accessible yet.
gollark: It's kind of a horrible mess.

References
  1. "About Ascot Racecourse".
  2. Barrett, Norman, ed. (1995). The Daily Telegraph Chronicle of Horse Racing. Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Publishing. p. 10.
  3. Whyte, James Christie (1840). History of the British turf, from the earliest period to the present day, Volume I. London: H. Colburn. pp. 199–200. OL 6544990M.
  4. Ascot Authority Act 1913 c.lxxxiv
  5. Dennis, Steve (24 November 2017). "Desert Orchid thriller the highlight of 50 years of jump racing at Ascot". Racing Post.
  6. www.ascot.co.uk
  7. "Hills to end backing for jump racing at Ascot". Racing Post. 15 March 2009. Retrieved 29 April 2009.
  8. Ascot Racecourse hosts UAE President's cup in England Archived 6 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine, wam.org.ae, 26 July 2009, accessed 6 August 2009.
  9. "Royal Family enjoy the sun on day one at Ascot". BBC. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  10. Mosley, Charles (ed.) (2003). Burke's Peerage & Baronetage, 107th edn. London: Burke's Peerage & Gentry Ltd. p. 1332 (ERNE, E). ISBN 0-9711966-2-1.
  11. "Royal Ascot prepares for star names at Diamond Jubilee festival". BBC. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  12. "Prize money for Royal Ascot hits £5 million". Racing Post. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  13. "New Group One sprint at Royal Ascot to be named the Commonwealth Cup". ascot.co.uk. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  14. "£1m boost to Royal Ascot prize fund". ascot.co.uk. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  15. "Royal Ascot 2020: Meeting ready to start without the Queen and spectators". BBC Sport. 15 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  16. "2011 British Champions Series unveiled". Jockey Club. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  17. "Ascot United". Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  18. Mathieson, Amy. "Ascot racecourse to star in James Bond film". Horse and Hound. Archived from the original on 12 October 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2012.

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