Ascot Racecourse: Royal Ascot, Big Races and Betting Guide
Founded by Queen Anne in 1711, Ascot stages Royal Ascot, the King George and British Champions Day, plus top-class jump racing in winter. Here are the big races, the history, how to get there and how betting works on course.
Biggest races at Ascot
Ascot races all year, with the Flat in summer and autumn and the jumps in winter.
Royal Ascot
- Five days, Tuesday to Saturday, usually in the third week of June
- Gold Cup (Group 1, about 2m 4f) on Thursday
- St James’s Palace, Prince of Wales’s, Coronation and Commonwealth Cup
- The Royal Procession opens each day
King George and Champions Day
- King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Group 1, 1m 4f) in July
- British Champions Day in October, the finale of the Flat season
- Champion Stakes and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Champions Day
Jumps season
- Long Walk Hurdle (Grade 1), December
- Clarence House Chase (Grade 1), January
- Ascot Chase (Grade 1), February
Ascot facts and history
Three centuries of royal racing.
The track
The Flat course is a right-handed triangle of 14 furlongs with a run-in of about 2½ furlongs, plus a straight mile. The Old Mile joins the round course at Swinley Bottom. Jockeys say the straight course is more about pace than the draw.
The jumps course is a right-handed triangle of about 1m 5f inside the Flat track. It climbs 73 feet from Swinley Bottom to the winning post, with stiff fences, and suits front-runners.
Getting to Ascot
By train
Ascot station is under half a mile away, about a 10-minute walk up the High Street. Direct trains run on the Reading to Waterloo line: about 55 minutes from London Waterloo and about 20 minutes from Reading.
By road
Leave the M25 at junction 13 and follow the A30 and A329, or use M3 J3 or M4 J6.
Parking must be booked in advance for Royal Ascot and other major fixtures.
Betting at Ascot
You can bet at Ascot with the course’s own pool betting, or on your phone.
On your phone
Your usual app works on course just as it does at home. On big days, set your account up, verify it and add funds before you travel, so you can bet straight away.
Compare the odds in the app with the boards in the ring before you bet. The best price is not always in the same place.
On course
Ascot runs its own pool betting under the “Bet with Ascot” brand, through an agreement with the Tote signed in 2024.
There are cash machines on site, but expect queues on big days. Most bars and food outlets take cards. Read our guide to betting at the racecourse for how pool betting works.
Betting on your phone at the track?
Compare UK racing apps by their real App Store and Google Play ratings.
Ascot FAQs
Where is Ascot Racecourse?
Ascot Racecourse is on the High Street, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7JX, about 25 miles west of London.
When is Royal Ascot?
Royal Ascot runs for five days, Tuesday to Saturday, usually in the third week of June. In 2026 it ran from 16 to 20 June.
Who won the 2026 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot?
Scandinavia won the 2026 Gold Cup, ridden by Ryan Moore and trained by Aidan O’Brien.
How far is Ascot Racecourse from the station?
Ascot station is under half a mile away, about a 10-minute walk up the High Street.
Who founded Ascot Racecourse?
Queen Anne founded Ascot in 1711. The first meeting was on 11 August 1711.
Are there cash machines at Ascot?
Yes. There are cash machines on site, but expect queues on busy days. Most bars and food outlets take cards.
Sources: Wikipedia: Ascot Racecourse · Wikipedia: Royal Ascot · ROA: Ascot and Tote agreement · Great British Racing: Ascot. Facts checked October 2026; fixtures and travel details can change, so check with the course before you go.
18+ only. Please gamble responsibly. BeGambleAware.org