5 Facts about Royal Ascot

Royal Ascot is one of the biggest events in the British sporting calendar, combining world-class horse racing with centuries of tradition, fashion and royal heritage.

Held every year at Ascot Racecourse, the five-day meeting attracts the best horses, trainers and jockeys from around the world, alongside thousands of racegoers eager to experience one of the highlights of the racing season.

Royal Ascot 2027 will take place from Tuesday 15 June to Saturday 19 June 2027, with five days of top-class racing set to take place at Ascot Racecourse.

The meeting features some of the most famous races in the sport, including the Queen Anne Stakes, Prince of Wales’s Stakes, Commonwealth Cup and the historic Ascot Gold Cup, which remains one of the biggest tests of stamina in flat racing.

Horse racing has taken place at Ascot since it was founded by Queen Anne in 1711. The first race, known as Her Majesty’s Plate, was held that same year and featured horses competing over four-mile heats, with the winner receiving a prize of 100 guineas.

The first official Royal Meeting took place in 1768, while the Ascot Gold Cup was introduced in 1807 and remains the oldest surviving race at the course.

Royal Ascot has grown from a royal tradition into a global sporting occasion, but its connection with the monarchy remains one of its defining features. The famous Royal Procession, where members of the Royal family arrive by horse-drawn carriage, continues to be one of the most recognisable moments of the week.

Queen Elizabeth II also enjoyed remarkable success at Royal Ascot as an owner. In 2013, her horse Estimate, ridden by Ryan Moore, became the first horse owned by a reigning monarch to win the Ascot Gold Cup.

Ahead of Royal Ascot 2027, we take a look at five fascinating facts about one of horse racing’s most celebrated meetings.

5: Yeats holds the record for most Ascot Gold Cup victories by a horse:

The Ascot Gold Cup is one of the most demanding races in the world, requiring horses to combine exceptional stamina, speed and tactical ability over two and a half miles.

No horse has dominated the race quite like Yeats, who made history by winning the Gold Cup on four consecutive occasions between 2006 and 2009.

Trained by Aidan O’Brien, Yeats claimed his first victory in 2006 when ridden by Kieren Fallon, defeating Reefscape by four lengths.

A year later, Mick Kinane guided Yeats to another Gold Cup success, with Geordieland finishing second after a closely fought contest.

In 2008, Yeats produced another dominant performance under Johnny Murtagh, winning by five lengths and becoming only the second horse in history to win the race three times.

His fourth and final victory came in 2009, when he once again partnered with Murtagh to defeat Patkai by three and a half lengths.

Yeats’ achievement remains unmatched, making him the most successful horse in Ascot Gold Cup history.

4: Royal Ascot is one of the richest race meetings in the world

Royal Ascot attracts the finest horses from across the globe, with significant prize money helping to make it one of the most competitive meetings in international racing.

The five-day event offers millions of pounds in prize money, with some of the sport’s biggest races taking place throughout the week.

The meeting’s Group 1 contests provide some of the biggest rewards, including the Queen Anne Stakes, Prince of Wales’s Stakes, Ascot Gold Cup, Commonwealth Cup, Coronation Stakes and Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.

Beyond the financial rewards, success at Royal Ascot can define the careers of horses, trainers and jockeys, with victories at the meeting regarded among the most valuable achievements in racing.

3: Lester Piggott holds the record for the most wins as a jockey in the Ascot Gold Cup

Lester Piggott is widely regarded as one of the greatest jockeys in the history of horse racing and enjoyed extraordinary success throughout his career.

Piggott holds the record for the most Ascot Gold Cup victories by a jockey, winning the famous race 11 times.

His first success came aboard Zarathustra in 1957, before further victories followed with Gladness (1958), Pandofell (1961), Twilight Alley (1963), Fighting Charlie (1965), Sagaro (1975, 1976 and 1977), Le Moss (1979), and Ardross (1981 and 1982).

The legendary jockey also enjoyed huge success at Royal Ascot overall, recording more than 100 winners at the meeting during his career.

2: Aidan O’Brien is the most successful trainer in Ascot Gold Cup history

Aidan O’Brien has become one of the most successful trainers ever to compete at Royal Ascot, with the Irishman enjoying a record-breaking run in the Ascot Gold Cup.

O’Brien has trained nine winners of the famous race, with his first victory coming with Yeats in 2006.

He then guided Yeats to four consecutive Gold Cup victories between 2006 and 2009, before adding further wins with Fame And Glory (2011), Leading Light (2014), Order Of St George (2016), Kyprios (2022 and 2024), and Illinois (2025).

Owner Sue Magnier has also enjoyed nine Ascot Gold Cup victories, with many of those successes coming through the powerful Coolmore operation alongside O’Brien.

Their achievements have helped shape the modern history of Royal Ascot.

1: Hundreds of thousands attend Royal Ascot every year

Royal Ascot remains one of the most popular sporting events in the UK, welcoming hundreds of thousands of spectators across the five-day meeting.

Racegoers travel from across the world to experience the unique atmosphere, combining elite-level racing with the traditions that have made Royal Ascot famous.

Each day offers a different experience, from the opening day’s Group 1 action to the excitement of Ladies Day and the final day’s competitive racing.

The combination of sporting excellence, history and occasion makes Royal Ascot unlike any other event in the racing calendar.

With anticipation already building ahead of Royal Ascot 2027, there is no better way to experience this exceptional meeting than with an Eventmasters VIP Hospitality Package. Enjoy premium facilities, first-class dining and a memorable day at one of the biggest events in horse racing.

Enquire now to secure your Royal Ascot hospitality experience.