Royal Ascot Betting Guide
Royal Ascot is a real treat for anyone who loves the glamour of horse racing as much as the spectacle itself. This prestigious horse race has been a part of the British sporting calendar for centuries and entices people from all over the world.
From the world’s fastest horses and the cream of the jockey crop to the fashion-forward celebrity guest list, it’s no wonder the Royal Ascot is such a popular event. This Royal Ascot betting guide will introduce you to all the action.
Before you start looking into betting for Royal Ascot, check out its brief history below and learn how to look for the best odds at LeoVegas in the days leading up to the big races. On your marks, get set…
All about Royal Ascot betting
Royal Ascot is a five-day racing festival that takes place every June in the town of Ascot, in Berkshire. This highly anticipated event has been a solid fixture in the racing schedules since at least 1807. This makes it one of the oldest tournaments of its kind in sport, let alone horse racing itself. Ascot races take place over the span of a week, and there are typically up to 300,000 people visiting during that time: it's a highly social affair.
Among the most famous attendees are members of the Royal Family. In fact, each day of the week traditionally starts with a royal procession. One of the most famous aspects of the Royal Ascot, however, isn’t the races themselves; it’s the clothes. The Royal Ascot is known for having a very particular dress code. After all, if you’re going to be rubbing shoulders with the Royal Family, your everyday clothes probably won’t do! Aside from general formal wear, hats are also required at the event, which is why everyone tends to make a big deal out of them.
This year, the Royal Ascot is set to include 36 races from June 18th to June 22nd. Royal Ascot betting odds will start appearing on LeoVegas leading up to the event, so keep your eyes peeled!
History of Royal Ascot
Ascot Racecourse itself has a long history, having been founded all the way back in 1711 by Queen Anne, who was a big fan of horse racing. However, it wasn’t until nearly a century later, in 1807, that the Royal Ascot races began.
Then, in 1813, the racecourse was finally opened to the public, although it still belongs to the British Crown to this day. King George IV was the first monarch to initiate the famous royal procession that starts each day, going back to 1825.
This 300-year-old racing tradition has received the patronage of 11 different monarchs and is regarded by many as the high event of every British summer!
Betting for Royal Ascot Day 1: What are the races?
Day 1 of Ascot is regarded as perhaps the most important day of the event. This is when you’ll get the chance to watch seven different races, some with Royal patronage.
This year, look out for the following G1 races:
- The Queen Anne Stakes
- The King’s Stand Stakes
- The St. James’s Palace Stakes
There are other races taking place on day one:
- The Coventry Stakes
- The Ascot Stakes
- The Wolverton Stakes
- The Copper Horse Handicap
Betting for Royal Ascot Day 2: What are the races?
Day 2 of Royal Ascot betting has fewer G1 races – there’s only one, the Prince of Wales’s Stakes – but there are other handicaps and hunts worth getting your racing binoculars out for:
- The Queen’s Vase
- The Duke of Cambridge Stakes
- The Prince of Wales’s Stakes
- The Royal Hunt Cup
- The Windsor Castle Stakes
- The Kensington Palace Stakes
Betting for Royal Ascot Day 3: What are the races?
Royal Ascot Day three has a name all to itself. It’s known as Ladies Day, when fashion takes just as much of a centre stage as the racing itself. You’re also likely to see plenty of action regarding the G1 Gold Cup, which happens to be the oldest race on the Ascot slate.
Here are the races you’ll want to watch out for:
- The Norfolk Stakes
- The King George V Stakes
- The Ribblesdale Stakes
- The Gold Cup
- The Britannia Stakes
- The Hampton Court Stakes
- The Buckingham Palace Stakes
Betting for Royal Ascot Day 4: What are the races?
Day four of Royal Ascot is usually filled with the drama of the Coronation Stakes, a G1 event that attracts some of the most prestigious winners in horse racing. It’s also a popular day for holding big events at the private and corporate levels.
Look out for the following races on Royal Ascot Day four:
- The Albany Stakes
- The Commonwealth Cup
- The Duke of Edinburgh Stakes
- The Coronation Stakes
- The Sandringham Stakes
- The King Edward VII Stakes
- The Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes
Betting for Royal Ascot Day 5: What are the races?
If you’re keeping track so far, you’ll know that day five of Royal Ascot is the big finale. This is when jockeys vie for the super-prestigious Platinum Jubilee Stakes, with prize money topping £1 million!
Here’s the final set of Royal Ascot races:
- The Chesham Stakes
- The Jersey Stakes
- The Hardwicke Stakes
- The Platinum Jubilee Stakes
- The Wokingham Stakes
- The Golden Gates Stakes
- The Queen Alexandra Stakes
Royal Ascot betting tips
The final lists of runners and riders for the big Royal Ascot races have yet to be confirmed. However, early indications show that Vandeek seems to be the runaway favourite in the Commonwealth Cup on day four. Other horses mooted to be taking part include Bucanero Fuerte and Symbology—but let’s wait and see what happens.
Betting odds for Royal Ascot: What you need to know
Betting odds for Royal Ascot will be subject to change. Runner and rider fitness, weather, and ground conditions all dictate how the races might set up.
Although we are still waiting for the full roster of runners and riders to be confirmed, some insight into the Gold Cup on day three shows that Kyprios is leading as a favourite at around 3/1, with Vauban at 7/1 and Courage Mon Ami at 8/1. These odds will change, and right now, they’re based on a general consensus across bookmakers.
Check back with LeoVegas closer to day one for the latest and most reliable markets and odds.
FAQs
When is Royal Ascot? In 2024, the Royal Ascot will take place from June 18 to 22. It is a five-day event that typically takes place at the height of summer every year. Keep your eyes peeled for any future dates to add to the calendar, such as next year’s event.
Where is Ascot Racecourse? The racecourse is in Ascot in Berkshire. The area is about 25 miles west of London, so it is easy to find. Despite being nestled deep in the heart of quaintest England; Ascot quickly becomes a hotspot for horse racing fans and tourists from all over the world every June.