Ascot
Date of Review: 10th July 2026
RCA Reviewers: Dave & Ray
Address: High St, Ascot SL5 7JX
Website: https://www.ascot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AscotRacecourse/ X: https://x.com/Ascot
Email: enquiries@ascot.com. Phone: 0344 346 3000
Accommodation: https://www.trivago.co.uk/en-GB/opr/hotels-near-ascot-racecourse?search=500-1573185
Course Information: There are effectively three courses at Ascot. The Straight Course. The Round Course and the National Hunt Course.
Aerial View – Ascot Racecourse (Image credited to Google Earth)
The straight course starts at the very far end of the track and comes down to the finishing post. It accommodates all races up to one mile, including all five-, six-, and seven-furlong sprint races. Due to having no turns or bends, the draw bias at this track is pronounced, and the statistics clearly show that horses in the low-numbered stalls, those from 1 to 5, have a distinct advantage. In the five-furlong sprints, the track is downhill for the first two furlongs and then a stiff uphill run home in the final two furlongs. In the six-furlong races, the downhill start and uphill finish is even more pronounced, and many horses that look to have the race in the bag are collared in the final half furlong.
The Round Course starts on a chute and is where races over ten furlongs are held. It is right-handed and suits long-striding, galloping-type horses. It has a short run-in of around two and a half furlongs from the final bend to the winning post.
The National Hunt (jumps) course is oval-shaped, right-handed, with no sharp bends or undulations. It has eight fences per circuit, coming in quick succession. The water jump immediately in front of the grandstand is not jumped on the final circuit, so there is a long run home from the final bend to the winning post, which invariably suits hold-up horses who like to come from behind.
In 2004, the racecourse was closed for two years for major redevelopment, including the construction of a new grandstand and the relaying of the racing surface. Since then, the ground in the home straight drains much better than the rest of the course, which means the going on the rest of the course can be soft, while the going on the straight can be much quicker, so going descriptions can vary.
Ascot Racecourse holds around 26 race days a year. Sixteen flat meetings from May to October, 9 National Hunt fixtures from November to April, and British Champions Day in mid-October. Therefore, it is one of the busiest courses in Britain. The track course hosts 13 Group 1 flat races each year, the most of any other British racecourse, and numerous Grade 1 jumps races, which include the Clarence House Chase and the Long Walk Hurdle.
The Racecourse Advisor Guide to Ascot Racecourse: Ascot Racecourse in the affluent commuter town of Ascot in Berkshire, adjacent to Windsor Great Park, which is around 6 miles from Windsor Castle and 25 miles west of London. The racecourse itself covers 179 acres of Berkshire countryside, with the famous Royal Enclosure and grandstands visible from the surrounding area.
Ascot Racecourse is over 300 years old, which makes it one of the oldest racecourses in Britain. It was founded in 1711 by Queen Anne, who decided that a plot of land near Windsor Castle would be ideal for horse racing. The first grandstand was built in 1793. The first running of the Gold Cup at the Royal Meeting was in 1807, when the royal enclosure was established by King George III. The first Ladies' Day meeting was in 1823, and two years later, King George IV initiated the carriage procession down the track before the meeting began. Both traditions continue to this day.
A new grandstand was erected in 1839, and until 1945, the only meeting held at the course was the Royal Meeting, with additional fixtures later added over the years. The Queen Elizabeth II Grandstand was built in 1961 at a cost of £1 million and contains 280 “Private Boxes”. National Hunt (jump) racing was first held at Ascot in 1965. In 2004, the racecourse was closed for two years to undergo a £200 million redevelopment plan. The course was reopened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2006. During the closure, the Royal Meeting was held at York Racecourse.
Course Access: By Road: From London and the M25: Exit the M25 at Junction 13 and follow the A30 towards Bagshot. After approximately three miles, turn left onto the A329 signposted to Ascot. The racecourse entrance is clearly marked on the right as you enter the town centre. Alternatively, exit at Junction 10 and follow the A329(M) and A329 through Bracknell, continuing into Ascot. This route may prove quieter during peak times.
From the M3 and M4: From the M3, exit at Junction 3 onto the A322 towards Bracknell, then follow signs for Ascot on the A329.
From the M4, exit at Junction 6 and take the A355 south through Slough, then the A332 and A329 into Ascot.
By Rail: The nearest station to Ascot Racecourse is Ascot Station, which is a short 7-minute walk to the racecourse entrance. The station is well connected to London, with direct services running from London Waterloo on the South Western Railway line. The journey from London Waterloo takes around 50 minutes. Trains also run from other nearby locations, such as Guildford, Reading, and other towns in the region, directly to Ascot Station
By Air: The nearest airport to Ascot is London Heathrow (LHR), 10 miles away. Other nearby airports include London Gatwick (LGW), 28 miles away. London City Airport (LCY) is 32 miles away, and Luton Airport (LTN) is 34 miles away. Rating: 9/10.
