Everything You Need to Know About Royal Ascot

Hats, bets, horses – Royal Ascot is one of the biggest events in the world’s racing calendar. It’s anticipated that more than 300,000 punters will descend on Berkshire between Tuesday 14th June and the prestigious final Saturday on the 18th June.

Royal Ascot in Statistics:

Over the weekend, punters at Ascot are expected to consume…

  • 160,000 rounds of drinks
  • 174,000 pints of beer
  • 160,000 glasses of Pimms
  • 30,000 afternoon teas
  • 35,000 sandwiches
  • 51,000 bottles of champagne
  • 1000kg of clotted cream
  • 89,000 bottles of mineral water
  • 2,900 lobsters
  • 7,000 cornish crabs

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400 helicopters and 1,000 limos will visit the event and it will be viewed in over 200 countries across the world.

Last year, there were 100,000 tweets sent using the #RoyalAscot hashtag. Including a few by us…

For more cool stats about Royal Ascot, check out our infographic below:

Infographic: Royal Ascot in Numbers 

A guide to Royal Ascot Infographic

Etiquette at Royal Ascot

The great and the good of British society, including of course HM The Queen, attend Royal Ascot.

The Queen at Ascot(Image: David Jones under CC BY 2.0)

Royal Ascot is synonymous with The Queen, and every year bets are taken on the colour of Her Majesty’s hat. The favourite this year, for what it’s worth, is blue at 2/1.

Dress Code: Ensure You’re Dressed Right

Heading to Ascot? You won’t get in without the right outfit. Make sure you’re wearing all the right stuff with our essential sartorial guide:

Dress Code: What to Wear to Royal Ascot

Behaviour: How to Behave at Royal Ascot

There’s no set etiquette that you need to stick rigidly to at Royal Ascot – although with champagne bars opening at 1030AM, it’s important not to have too much fun too early…

Royal Ascot

Races to Watch Out for at Royal Ascot

With 30 races happening over 5 days, Royal Ascot offers punters a number of opportunities to make (and – if you’re unlucky – lose) good money.

Haven’t got a ticket? Fear not, all 30 races will be shown live on Channel 4.

Some of the most famous events at Royal Ascot include:

The Queen Anne Stakes – Tuesday:

The race that kicks the week off, The Queen Anne Stakes commemorates the monarch who first introduced horse racing to Ascot more than 300 years ago.

Restricted to horses aged four or over, the 1 mile dash attracts some of the world’s finest thoroughbreds, while race organisers say that the meeting will be on good/fast ground.

The Prince of Wales Stakes – Wednesday:

It’s the world’s most expensive race with prize money of £525,000 and as a result the race features some renowned runners.

Winners from The Prince of Wales stakes typically come from near the top of the betting – although recent winners, The Fugue and Al Kazeem, were both second-favourites.

The Gold Cup – Thursday:

The big one. The 2-mile+ Gold Cup is one of the longest races of the flat season and Britain’s most famous event for gutsy ‘stayers’.

The Coronation Stakes – Friday:

This mile-long dash is always a competitive field and provides an opportunity for three year olds to prove their mettle.

Runners in The Coronation Stakes usually also compete in the 1000 Guineas, French 1000 Guineas or the Irish 1000 Guineas, which often inform which horses are bang in form.

The Diamond Jubilee Stakes – Saturday:

The highlight of the final day, this six-furlong sprint has been won by Johnny Murtagh four times in the last 13 years.

Track Conditions at Royal Ascot

You can visit Royal Ascot’s latest going report to get an up-to-date analysis of how the ground will be. At the time of writing, weather looks set to be dry and warm, with extended periods of sunshine on the Thursday, so expect the ground to be good or good to firm.

Heading to Royal Ascot? Or Just Watching on TV?

Either way, ensure you’re fully clued-up on the best naps, NBs and tips for all 30 races with our free Royal Ascot tips page. Detailed write-ups and must-follow tips, all absolutely free!

Test your horse racing knowledge with this fun, interactive quiz here.

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