The Royal Ascot is one of the most prominent events in the world. You will find a combination of high fashion and horse racing, and it takes place just south of Windsor Castle.
It is also one of the most predictable places you will find Britain’s Royal Family in one place. Below, we will take a closer look at some Royal Ascot tips for every race, dress codes, and other important features of the event.
What is the Royal Ascot?
The Royal Ascot is a horse race, and it is a major event in the British calendar since it began back in 1911. The Royal Ascot brings all the royals in one place, so you will find good-looking hats and a specific dress code for the event.
Queen Elizabeth II anchored the race for decades, as she is known to be a horsewoman. Horses from her own private stables run for top honours every year. The Royal Ascot is a great experience, no matter whether you are into horse racing or not.
How to Get Tickets
Tickets for the whole five-day horse racing experience are available online with Ascot Racecourse. You are best advised to purchase your tickets well ahead of time, so you can get the best possible deals. Prices at the beginning start from $50 a person.
As for the best day, you can visit it, we could say Tuesday is arguably the top choice. You will find the most competitive races on Tuesday. The first day has all the Royal Family in one place, while Wednesday is less prestigious, thus less costly.
Thursday is the ladies’ day, so the fashion is full-on along with the Gold Cup race. Friday and Saturday see a lot of people in the crowd, and Saturday has the longest race in Britain which closes down the entire show.
Getting to the Racetracks
There are plenty of ways you can get to Ascot, but the best choice for you would be to stay in this small town and walk to the event. As you would expect, parking is limited, so you should leave your car where you stay and find a different way to go.
No matter the choice of transport, you are sure to find big crowds heading towards the event, so go as early as possible so you avoid waiting a long time to enter.
Seeing the Royal Family
Surely one of the most exciting aspects of the entire Royal Ascot event is the presence of the Royal Family, especially Queen Elizabeth II. Tuesday might be the best day to see all familiar faces, but you should know that the Queen has attended every day for decades.
This means that you are likely to see her no matter the day you visit the event, so you get the added bonus of enjoying some thrilling races.
Quick Guide to the Racing
Once you visit the Royal Ascot, it will surely be among your favourite track experiences. You have the chance to sit, chat and eat between the action of the races, and the whole set-up is quite classy. Everything looks clean and tasteful.
There are only 6 races a day, and there is the time between them to sit back, place a bet, and enjoy the time overall. The horses in Britain run in the opposite direction to what people are used to in the US. The crowd will pour onto the track as the race nears, so they all find a place to stand.
Betting also has a few differences from what people are used to in the US. In the States, if you place a bet on a certain horse, the odds will change until the betting for the race closes. In Britain, all odds freeze at the same time you make the bet.
Additionally, there are more options for betting in Britain. In the US, the same company controls all betting windows, but in Britain, there are tons of bookies with little stands, so everyone has different options. If you are a betting person, you will surely enjoy this, as you can visit bookie after bookie and see which one has the best odds and offer, so you enjoy the whole experience even more.