Royal Ascot Racecourse

Royal Ascot Racecourse underwent a major eighteen month redevelopment programme which finished in June 2006.

The redevelopment was the most extensive project of its type ever seen in Europe, and the final result is quite spectacular new grandstand and track that represents one of the most impressive sports stadium structures not only in the UK but in all of the world.

The new Grandstand itself formed the focal point of the redevelopment. The distinctive design is defined by the spectacular parasol roof suspended on ‘structural trees’. The stand is flooded with natural light, making use of glass and aluminium materials.

Running parallel with the innovative design of the new grandstand are the values that Ascot Racecourse’s reputation has been built upon; history, heritage, tradition and pageantry. As the racecourse nears its 300 year anniversary it is apparent how easily the old and the new sit side by side at the world’s most famous racecourse.

Royal Ascot Racecourse Facts

Below you will find a number of facts relating to Royal Ascot Racecourse

• Has been in operation since 1711 when Queen Anne rode out from Windsor Castle and declared this area of East Cote, the perfect place for her horses to run full stretch.
• The first Royal Meeting at Ascot took place in 1768. The meeting was extended to five days in 2002 for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.
• Ascot Racecourse is visited by over 500,000 racegoers a year, accounting for 10% of all UK racegoers.  Ascot was the first racecourse in Europe to reach the 500,000 racegoer milestone in December 2001.
• Royal Ascot is Britain’s most popular race meeting, welcoming over 275,000 visitors over the five days of Royal Ascot.
• Royal Ascot is the most valuable race meeting in Europe with £3.5 million in prize money on offer in 2006, featuring a Group One race on each of the five days and seventeen group races in total.
• There are two tracks – Flat, Chase and Hurdle (first jump fixture in 1965), allowing us to race throughout the year with both flat & jump meetings.
• It is a Right handed course, slightly in excess of 1 mile 6 furlongs.
• Famed for being a tough course, especially over fences – 73 foot climb from the lowest to highest point (Swinley Bottom up to the Winning Post)
• The Racecourse covers 179 acres, plus exterior car / coach parks.
• The ground is looked after impeccably by the 12 regular ground staff .
• Grass is cut to a regulation 4” height for flat racing and 5” for jump racing.
• The reservoirs on site in the middle of the track collect rain water from the grandstand roof and the Winkfield and Heath tunnels. This is a good example of our ‘green’ policies in operation.
• There are currently 70 full-time staff at Ascot Racecourse. The workforce increases by over 6,000 temporary staff during Royal Ascot.
• Ascot Racecourse is leased from the Crown Estate, adjacent to Windsor Great Park.
• Ascot’s facilities are available for hire throughout the year for a variety of different purposes, including conferences, banqueting, exhibitions, diner dances, product launches and weddings.