Ascot Racecourse Guide
Ascot Racecourse Guide
The Royal Ascot festival is well known around the world. The world’s best horses meet at Ascot Racecourse for 5 full days of races. Regularly attended by the Queen, expect to see many of the royal family, with Meghan Markle even making her first appearance. Bet UK have put together a guide for everything you could possibly need to know about Ascot racecourse so you are prepared for the festival.
At Bet UK, you can find the latest horse racing betting odds for all Ascot races, as well as Royal Ascot betting tips over on our online blog.
Where is Ascot racecourse?
Ascot racecourse is in Berkshire in south east England. Founded in 1711 by Queen Anne, the racecourse is still commonly associated with the royal family. In 1813, a Parliamentary Act of Enclosure protected the grounds area as a racecourse. The royal family have visited the site yearly since then. The royal family visit used to be the only meeting of the year, but these days, Ascot holds 26 different race days each year. With Ascot being such a famous, well known racecourse, it actually sees 10% of all race course visitors each year. The majority of those 10% will surely be over the 5 day Royal Ascot event.
How to get to Ascot racecourse
Driving to Ascot Racecourse
If you’re driving from London or from the North of England, drive on the M4 until the A332 Windsor bypass, then follow the signs for Ascot. If coming from the West, still travel on the M4, leaving at Junction 10 and again, following the signs towards Ascot. From the South and South East, follow the M3 until Junction 3, taking you onto the A332 towards Bracknell. Ascot will be signposted all along this road. Travelling from the Midlands, take the M40 towards junction 4. Then follow the A404 onto the M4 towards London. Leave the M4 at Junction 6 and follow the signs all the way to Ascot.
Car Parking at Ascot Racecourse
There are 8,000 car parking spaces at Ascot Racecourse. Parking can get busy, so it is advised to prebook a space. Disabled parking is also available, but again it is advised that you prebook. If you booked a full restaurant package for your trip to Ascot, your parking space should be included.
Getting the train to Ascot Racecourse
If you are travelling by train during Royal Ascot, regular trains run from London Waterloo, Reading and Guildford. The train journey only takes just under an hour if coming from London, and just under 30 minutes from Reading. The station is also only about a 10 minute walk from the racecourse so it’s not far away at all.
What is the course like at Ascot racecourse?
The course at Ascot is a triangular, right handed circuit that is 14 furlong long, with the run in being 2 ½ furlongs long. The run in leading up the the finish line is also uphill, so a horse’s stamina will be vital coming into the home stretch. The whole course is hilly, with some parts being fully downhill then leading into a slight rise. There are 2 ‘1 Mile’ course, one is a straight run and the other has a curve toward the end before the home straight. For the curved mile, the corner has become a lot stepper after a redevelopment, making it a much harder run for some.
Racing Meetings At Ascot racecourse
Ascot is of course home to world famous Royal Ascot festival. Races take place over 5 days, with 6 races on each day. Some of the races are some of the oldest in the world, with Thursday’s Gold Cup taking place each year since 1807. The Gold Cup is also one of 3 races in which the trophy is presented by a member of the royal family. The other 2 are also both prestigious and historic races. The Queen’s Vase was first ran in 1838, with the Royal Hunt Cup running yearly since 1843.
