Ascot Racecourse Guide
Ascot racecourse is, arguably, the most famous dual-purpose racecourse in all of horse racing.
26 racing fixtures are scheduled at Ascot throughout the calendar year. National Hunt racing takes place on the hurdles and chase tracks during the autumn and winter months, with flat racing taking over during the spring and summer. Royal Ascot is the most famous meeting staged at Ascot races during the flat season.
British Champions Day
Ascot Major Meetings
The most famous meeting staged at Ascot is Royal Ascot. For five days during June, many of the sport's most famous races will be take place Ascot racecourse, including the King's Stand Stakes, Prince Of Wales's Stakes, Diamond Jubilee Stakes and the Ascot Gold Cup.
A month after Royal Ascot has finished, the famous King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes will be run at Ascot. During the National Hunt season, the most lucrative contests staged at Ascot are the Clarence House Chase and Ascot Chase, which take place at the start of the calendar year.
Ascot Track Characteristics
The flat track at Ascot is right-handed and laid out in a triangle shape. There's a one-mile straight course, which joins the home straight of the round course at the five-furlong marker.
While the round course is fairly straight, the first half of the straight mile track is quite undulating. The final two furlongs climb steadily uphill towards the finishing line, meaning stamina is often vital around Ascot.
The hurdle and chase tracks are both right-handed and suit galloping sorts. The fences at Ascot are fairly stiff, which will favour the more accurate jumpers in the field.
Ascot Draw Bias
In big handicaps staged on the straight one-mile track at Ascot, it's favourable to be drawn high, as the ground towards the inside rail can be a little slower.
On the round course, it often pays to be drawn wide. Horses drawn on the inside can find themselves boxed against the rail if they aren't up with the pace, and it's hard to find a clear path to the post from an inside position down the home straight.
Ascot Leading Trainers
John Gosden is usually the man to follow at Ascot. Over the last five years, Gosden has amassed an impressive 20% strike rate and his runners tend to enjoy the galloping nature of the track.
Charlie Appleby is the second most successful flat trainer at Ascot, closely followed by Roger Varian, William Haggas and Sir Michael Stoute.
Over jumps, Nicky Henderson bosts the best strike rate, winning with almost 25% of his runners in the last five years. Four-time Ascot Chase winner Paul Nicholls, Dan Skelton and Nigel Twiston-Davies are often worth following. As is Venetia Williams, whose recent strike rate at Ascot is very impressive.
Ascot Leading Jockeys
Nico De Boinville is the most successful rider around Ascot in recent years, winning with almost 30% of his rides at the venue since 2017. Harry Skelton, Charlie Deutsch and Harry Cobden also ride the National Hunt track at Ascot particularly well.
On the level, Frankie Dettori is the man to follow, having won with 21% of his rides in the last five years. Since 2020, the most profitable jockey to follow has been Jim Crowley, followed by William Buick and Ryan Moore.
Ascot Track History
Situated in the heart of Berkshire, England, Ascot racecourse is one of the world's oldest racing venues. The racecourse was founded in 1711 by Queen Anne, and the Royal Ascot meeting quickly became an unmissable sporting event on the British summer calendar.
During its 300-year history, Ascot racecourse has been subject to plenty of developments. The most recent of which took place between 2004 and 2006. It's reported that over £230m was spent on the racecourse during that time period, the single biggest investment in British Racing history.
Ascot hosts 13 of Britain's 36 Group One flat horse races, eight of which take place at Royal Ascot. Three Grade One jumps races are also run at Ascot during the winter.
Ascot Racecourse Address
Ascot Racecourse
Ascot
Berkshire
SL5 7JX
Ascot Racecourse Directions
By Road - The racecourse is well signposted and easy to get to from A332, A329(M) or A404, depending on what part of the country you're travelling from.
By Rail - South Western Railway sends trains directly to Ascot from Reading, Guildford and London Waterloo. The closest railway station is a seven-minute walk from the racecourse.
By Air - The nearest airport to Ascot racecourse is London Heathrow. You can take a train from London Gatwick to Ascot Racecourse via Clapham Junction and Ascot in around 1h 51m.