Frankel wins 2012 Queen Anne Stakes Royal Ascot

5 Memorable Royal Ascot Moments

One of the most high profile, prestigious, and historic festivals of racing will return once more in June 2025. Here, we look through some of the most memorable moments from the past.

Royal Ascot is one of horse racing’s most prestigious events, and it is synonymous with memorable moments and world-class racing. The annual event, hosted at the iconic and historic Ascot racecourse, attracts spectators in the thousands each year, with the 2025 edition of this racing spectacular set to continue this spectacular trend.

The 2025 Royal Ascot is set to take place, as ever, over the course of five days, with this year’s racing festivities taking place from Tuesday, 17th June, to Saturday 21st June 2025.

It was back in 1711 when the first ever race at Ascot took place, which was known as ‘Her Majesty’s Plate’. The race took place on Saturday, 11th August 1711, with the reward for the winning jockey of this race being 100 guineas.

You do have to fast forward to 1807 for when the modern day Royal Ascot can find its origins. This year saw the first-ever Gold Cup take place, and to this day forms part of Ladies Day, one of the highlights of the event itself. The name of the winning horse that day was ‘Master Jockey’.

The most successful horse in the history of the Royal Ascot Gold Cup is Yeats, with four wins – they came in 2006, 2007, 2008 and in 2009. The trainer for each of these wins is the legendary Aidan O’Brien, who also happens to be the most successful trainer in this race with 9 wins. Following his 4 wins with Yeats, his other five wins to date have come with Fame and Glory (2011), Leading Light (2014), Order St George (2016) and with Kyprios in 2022 and 2024.

The most recent winner of the Gold Cup in 2024 was Kyprios, who was ridden to victory by Ryan Moore.

Let’s now take a look at some of the most memorable moments of Royal Ascot, not just the Gold Cup. We are spoilt for choice for which of the memorable and iconic moments to choose from over the years. These moments are in no particular order.

5: Queen Elizabeth II becomes the first reigning monarch to win the Gold Cup at Ascot (2013)

We start by rewinding back to the 2013 edition of the Royal Ascot Gold Cup. Following what was an enthralling and tense race, Estimate was the winner of the event’s most prestigious race after beating runner-up Simenon by a margin of just a neck. What made this horse special was that its owner was the late Queen Elizabeth II, and in this win, she became the first reigning monarch to win the Gold Cup.

The trainer of Estimate was Sir Michael Stoute, and this was his second win in this race. It came exactly 35 years after his maiden victory in the Ascot Gold Cup, which was with Shangamuzo back in 1978.

4: Frankel takes home stunning victory in the Queen Anne Stakes (2012)

Frankel is well known for going unbeaten throughout his prestigious career. It will come as no surprise then that the horse is at the centre of one of Royal Ascot’s most iconic and memorable moments.

This moment came back in 2012 in the Queen Anne Stakes. Two furlongs out from the finish, Frankel took the lead, and he would go on to put in a ruthless performance in the end, with him finishing a simply incredible 11 lengths ahead of the chasing pack on the day.

The late, great Sir Henry Cecil trained Frankel. This win with Frankel in 2012 was his fifth win in the Queen Anne Stakes. His maiden success in this race came with Belmont Bay in 1981, was then followed by Mr Fluorocarbon in 1982, Vliyar in 1983, Trojan Fen in 1984 and, of course then Frankel in 2012.

3: Brown Jack dominance in Queen Alexandra Stakes (1929 – 1934)

Brown Jack does have a bar and race named after him at Ascot racecourse, but the iconic horse is also a legend of Royal Ascot itself. After winning the Ascot Stakes in 1928 and then the Champion Hurdle a year later in 1929, Brown Jack won six renewals of the Queen Alexandra Stakes in succession between 1929 and 1934.

Brown Jack’s jockey on each of these six consecutive victories was Steve Donoghue. Incredibly, Donoghue remains the only jockey in the history of horse racing to have ever won the Triple Crown – twice.

Below is a video of Brown Jack making his final public appearance at a racecourse in 1935:

2: Big Orange wins Ascot Gold Cup by narrowest of margins (2017)

We now move back into the 21st Century, or more specifically, the Ascot Gold Cup in 2017. Big Orange took part in one of the Gold Cup’s greatest ever finishes, when the horse, trained by Michael Bell, was able to beat the 2016 winner Order of St George by barely a nose at the finish line. Big Orange has also been a double Goodwood Cup Champion.

1: Black Caviar edges competition in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes (2012)

The final memorable Royal Ascot moment that we will take a look at here is Black Caviar’s 2012 win in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes. Ahead of this race, she was in possession of an unbeaten record which was put on the line in this race.

In the final 50 yards of this race, Moonlight Cloud was closing in on jockey Luke Nolen and Black Caviar. In the end, Black Caviar emerged victorious by just a neck – this came after an increase in speed and drive in the final moments of the race.

Here, we have taken a look back down memory lane at just a mere handful of Royal Ascot’s most memorable moments from over the years, and excitement and anticipation are growing rapidly ahead of the 2025 renewal.

There is no better way to experience world-class horse racing at the 2025 Royal Ascot than with an Eventmasters VIP Hospitality Package. Book now to avoid disappointment!

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