Ascot Racecourse, an outstanding twin-reason venue nestled in Ascot, Berkshire, England, stands about 25 miles west of London. This eminent racecourse, renowned for thoroughbred racing, hosts 13 of Britain’s 36 annual Flat Group 1 races and three Grade 1 Jump races.
Drawing around 600,000 traffic yearly, Ascot money owed for the kind of 10% of the United Kingdom's racing lovers. Spanning 179 acres (72 hectares) leased from the Crown Estate, Ascot boasts a deep-rooted connection with the British Royal Family. Established in 1711 by using Queen Anne, it lies approximately 6 miles (nine.7 km) from Windsor Castle. Queen Elizabeth II changed into regarded for her common patronage of Ascot.
Ascot Racecourse orchestrates 26 days of racing throughout the 12 months, presenting 18 flat meetings from April to October and 8 bounce conferences from October to March. The Royal Meeting, held every June, epitomizes the British summer social calendar. The illustrious King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes take location right here each July.
With a legacy spanning over three centuries, Ascot has cemented its fame as a countrywide logo, with Royal Ascot serving as the zenith of the British summertime social scene and a top-of-the-line arena for the arena’s greatest racehorses.
History:
Founded in 1711 through Queen Anne, the racecourse originated when the Queen, whilst using from Windsor Castle, discovered an expanse of open heath she deemed 'perfect for horses to gallop at full stretch.' Her purpose to inaugurate a new racing event became formally introduced in The London Gazette on 12 July 1711.
"Her Majesty's Plate of a hundred guineas will be contested around the new heath on Ascot Common, near Windsor, on Tuesday, 7 August next, by any horse, mare, or gelding, no older than six years as licensed by the breeder, carrying 12 stone, throughout 3 heats. Entries ought to be submitted with the aid of the last day of July at Mr. Hancock's, Fern Hill, near the Starting Post."
The inaugural occasion occurred on 11 August 1711, as the authentic date (6 August) turned into postponed for unspecified reasons, likely due to the direction's unprepared nation. The Queen and her "top-notch retinue" traveled from Windsor Castle to wait, with the first race being a £50 plate gained by way of a horse named Doctor, owned with the aid of the Duke of St Albans.
Queen Anne’s contribution to racing, the founding of the Royal Racecourse, is venerated using the tradition of commencing Royal Ascot with The Queen Anne Stakes, contested over a direct mile.
The first permanent edifice was erected in 1793 by way of nearby Windsor builder George Slingsby. This shape, accommodating 1,650 individuals, served its reason for nearly fifty years. In 1813, an Act of Parliament was enacted to make certain that Ascot Heath could remain a public racecourse, securing the destiny of racing at Ascot. A new grandstand, constructed for £10,000, was unveiled in 1839.
