Have a royal time at Royal Ascot

Have a royal time at Royal Ascot

With 5 days of top quality racing, Royal Ascot is the pinnacle of the British horse racing calendar. As Britain’s most valuable horse racing meeting, with millions of pounds of prize money for owners, it welcomes racehorses, jockeys and trainers from every corner of the globe.

Taking place at Ascot Racecourse in the heart of Berkshire, ideally situated in spectacular wooded countryside adjoining Windsor Great Park, the annual meeting in mid-June mixes sartorial elegance, with incredible heritage, gallantry and tradition. Royal Ascot is revered the world over and will take place from Tuesday 18 June until Saturday 22 June 2019.

30 races are spread across the 5 days of Royal Ascot, including 18 Group races, of which 8 are Group 1 – the highest level in racing. Having welcomed competitors from as far afield as Australia, Japan, the USA and the Middle East in the past, racegoers can expect to see the finest horses that the world has to offer.

Different enclosure options

For Royal Ascot, the racecourse is divided up into 4 enclosures, each with its own individual character, alongside a host of private boxes and hospitality offerings.

With its origins dating back to 1807, the Royal Enclosure was once a space exclusively reserved for the guests of King George III. It has maintained that exclusivity to this day, as membership is strictly by invitation only. It’s here that visitors can expect to see top hats and coat tails, as well as the best of this season’s designer fashion.

Taking pride of place at the epicentre of Royal Ascot is the Queen Anne Enclosure, named in honour of the racecourse’s founding monarch. As well as unparalleled views of the racing from the raised terracing, this enclosure also hosts the Parade Ring and Winners’ Enclosure, meaning visitors find themselves right at the heart of the action. As well as an array of dining options, it’s also home to the Bandstand, where every day of racing culminates in a traditional sing-along.

In the centre of the racecourse, and with the Ascot Grandstand as the backdrop, is the Village Enclosure, providing a unique viewpoint on the racing and Royal Procession. Alongside boutique restaurants, al-fresco dining and a host of pop-up stalls, live DJs and bands perform into the early evening.

Alternatively, join the thousands of racegoers who want to be close to the rails in the Windsor Enclosure as the thoroughbred racehorses thunder past. Providing the first glimpses of the Royal Procession as it progresses down the straight mile, including what colour hat the Queen is wearing, the enclosure is home to an abundance of artisan food stalls, while visitors can also take in a picnic provided it adheres to the racecourse’s policy.

The Royal Procession

Before the racing on each day of Royal Ascot, the Queen and other accompanying members of the Royal Family arrive along the track in horse-drawn landaus, led by 4 spectacular Windsor Grey horses. This Royal Procession has signalled the start of the royal meeting since 1825, when King George IV led four other coaches with members of the Royal Family up the straight mile part of the course.

Getting to Royal Ascot

As well as being close to motorway links and Heathrow Airport, Ascot Racecourse is around a 50-minute train journey from London Waterloo or 30 minutes from Reading. Alternatively, the racecourse has partnered with Fresh Air Helicopters to provide a fast route into Royal Ascot. International visitors can also take advantage of Private Jet Charter from Victor to fly into private airport terminals at Farnborough, Luton, Oxford, Biggin Hill or Blackbush, before then completing the journey to the course via helicopter.

Horse racing around Britain

Horseracing is incredibly popular across Britain and race meetings attract thousands of people on a regular basis. With racecourses in all corners of the UK offering both jump and flat racing, here are some of the main picks from the horseracing calendar.

Racing at Goodwood

Featuring 5 days of exhilarating racing, the Qatar Goodwood Festival – popularly known as Glorious Goodwood – mixes top quality flat racing with elegant fashion, all set against the spectacular backdrop of rolling Sussex countryside. This feast of elite racing gets underway on Tuesday 30 July 2019 and, like Royal Ascot, offers a range of enclosures to pick from.

When? 30 July – 3 August

Racing at York

Mixing racing excellence with high-end fashion, the Yorkshire Ebor Festival features Britain’s oldest, fastest and richest races, spread over 4 incredible days from Wednesday 21 August 2019. With £1 million of prize money on offer to the winners of both the Juddmonte International Stakes and the Ebor Heritage Handicap, it’s easy to see why the meeting is popular with British and international trainers, jockeys and racing fans alike.

When? 21-24 August

Racing at Kempton

With 2 days of iconic jump racing, the 32Red Winter Festival is the jewel in Kempton Park’s crown. Held on 26 and 27 December, Boxing Day includes 3 Grade 1 races and often welcomes the best horses and trainers in the business. It might be colder at this time of year, but the quality of the jump racing shows no sign of reducing.

When?

26-27 December

Racing at Cheltenham

An essential part of the horse racing calendar and the pinnacle of global jump racing, the Cheltenham Festival attracts mainly British and Irish trainers to the Prestbury Park course, near Cheltenham. Taking place in mid-March, and often coinciding with St Patrick’s Day, the Irish celebration of the Patron Saint of Ireland, half of the Festival’s 28 races are at Grade One level. Listen out for the renowned ‘Cheltenham Roar’ when the first race of the day gets underway, while the Gold Cup on the Friday of the meeting is the most prestigious race in the National Hunt Calendar. More than 260,000 people regularly attend the 4 days of the Festival, making it Britain’s most popular jump meeting.

When?

March

Racing at Aintree

Famed for the Grand National, the Randox Health Grand National Festival hosts an array of top quality across 3 days in April. Racing gets underway on Thursday and culminates on Grand National Saturday, when 40 runners and riders battle it out for the ultimate prize in the world’s most iconic handicap race. With 8 Group 1 races during the first 2 days of the event, the Friday is renowned for its colour, style and fashion – with a big car prize on offer for the winner of the Style Award.

When?

April

Racing at Epsom

A weekend of heart-pounding action at the Investec Derby Festival at Epsom racecourse features what is widely considered to the ‘greatest flat race in the world’ – the Investec Derby. Alongside the racing, a host of entertainment including skydiving and live DJs is on offer, while Ladies Day is a celebration of fashion and includes the highly contested Style Awards. With enclosures to suit everyone at the meeting – typically held in late May or early June – there is also an array of hospitality options to suit all budgets.

When?

May or June

Racing at Newmarket

Mixing incredible racing with fantastic entertainment and an unbeatable atmosphere, the QIPCO Guineas Festival in early May features the first two Classics of the season – the 2000 Guineas on Saturday and the 1000 Guineas on Sunday. Both races can trace their roots back to the early 1800s and as well as live music and Après Racing parties, there is plenty more to keep racegoers entertained across the weekend.

When?

May