Three Must-Know Facts About Ascot Racecourse

Royal Ascot is one of the most famous British race meetings, steeped in history. In its tenure, it has attracted some of the biggest and best horses, jockeys, and trainers. Here are three must-know facts about Ascot Racecourse:

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1. It Has a 300 Year Royal History

One of the most famous races at Royal Ascot is the Queen Anne Stakes, named after the monarch as she founded the course in 1711.

Running over a distance of one mile, it is a fast-paced event with a £600,000 purse held at the Royal Ascot meeting. Modern Games, trained by Charlie Appleby, is this year’s favorite at odds of +175 in the Ascot betting. Close in contention is the John & Thady Gosden horse Inspiral, fancied slightly less due to a lackluster performance in its last outing, it has racing betting odds of +300. Behind that, Erevann (+500), Maljoon (+700), and Native Trail (+900) make up the rest of the top five favorites. The race attracts the best group 1 horses four years and over, so by no means are these the only contenders.

A jockey to watch in the race will be Frankie Dettori, though his horse has still yet to be announced. He is the leading jockey in the race with 7 wins to his name. In his last season before retirement, he is sure to want to go out in style after a sensational career.

2. It Also Holds Jump Racing

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While Royal Ascot is known for its flat racing, it does also hold national hunt events. These races were first held in 1965, and take part between October and March. The course is notoriously difficult, and tough for horses and riders, due to a 73-foot climb from its lowest to highest points.
There are 8 jump events each year. Hurdle and steeple chase events are included, with 50 races in total. These include events like the Ascot and Clarence House Chase.

3. The Venue Has Undergone Serious Renovations

There have only been a few years when Ascot has not held its royal meeting. The area was used by the armed forces between 1940 and 1943. Other than this, its other major closure was in 2004. This time, it shut for serious renovations which cost £220 million. At the time, this was the biggest investment that had ever been made in British horse racing. Most of this went to adding a parasol roof on the main grandstand.

However, the Royal Ascot event itself was not truly abandoned. Instead, it moved north to York Racecourse until its return in 2006. Further development was made in the same year, though this was after the main season.

All of these made it much more enjoyable for spectators, and the course attracts thousands of visitors each year. Check the website and see if you can make one of its days, for the racing experience of a lifetime.