Royal Ascot 2024
The 2024 edition of Royal Ascot will be held from June 18 until June 22nd. The Ascot Gold Cup will take place on Thursday 20th June 2024 at 16.30.
Royal Ascot
Royal Ascot has the largest purse of any British horse racing meet. The headline event is the Gold Cup, traditionally held on the third day of the meeting. A four-day race meeting was first held at Ascot in 1768. Since then, it has evolved into one of the most significant events in the British summer. The event is now held over five days with around 500 horses taking part.
The Gold Cup is the most significant race, taking place on theThursday, which is also Ladies Day. Yeats, winner in four straight years in the 2000s, is the most successful Royal Ascot Gold Cup horse. Including Yeats’ four wins, the duo of Aidan O’Brien and Sue Magnier are the most successful trainer and owner respectively in Gold Cup history, with eight victories.
Royal Ascot Day One: Tuesday 18th June 2024
The Royal Meeting has expanded its schedule to include 36 races, adding even more excitement to this prestigious event. Kicking off with the renowned G1 Queen Anne Stakes, known for its memorable performances, the stage is set for five days of world-class racing. Royal Ascot Tuesday, a favorite among racegoers, offers ample opportunities for entertainment and socializing with guests or clients.
Highlighted on the Tuesday card are three Group 1 races, including The King’s Stand Stakes, a top sprint event covering five furlongs. The question of whether Bradsell will return to defend his title in 2024 adds an extra layer of anticipation to this already thrilling event.
| Time | Races | Prize Money |
| 14:30 | The Queen Anne Stakes (G1) | £600,000 |
| 15:05 | The Coventry Stakes (G2) | £150,000 |
| 15:40 | The King’s Stand Stakes (G1) | £500,000 |
| 16:20 | The St James’s Palace Stakes (G1) | £500,000 |
| 17:00 | The Ascot Stakes (Handicap) | £100,000 |
| 17:35 | The Wolferton Stakes (Listed) | £110,000 |
| 18:10 | The Copper Horse Stakes (Handicap) | £100,000 |
Royal Ascot Day Two: Wednesday, 19th June 2024
Day two of Royal Ascot offers a more leisurely start with just one Group 1 race on the schedule. However, the anticipation builds as the day culminates in the prestigious G1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes, a race renowned for its £1 million purse and attracting top middle-distance contenders.
Among the illustrious past winners of the Prince of Wales’s Stakes are names like Crystal Ocean, Muhtarram, and Love. The recent victory of Mostahdaf, guided by jockey Jim Crowley, adds to the race’s legacy.
Complementing the main event are three Group 2 races: The Royal Hunt Cup, The Queen’s Vase, and The Duke of Cambridge Stakes. Each race promises its own share of thrills and showcases the skill and determination of both equine and human competitors.
| Time | Races | Prize Money |
| 15:05 | The Queen’s Vase (G2) | £262,500 |
| 15:40 | The Duke of Cambridge Stakes (G2) | £175,000 |
| 16:20 | The Prince of Wales’s Stakes (G1) | £1,000,000 |
| 17:00 | The Royal Hunt Cup (Handicap) | £175,000 |
| 17:35 | The Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed) | £100,000 |
| 18:10 | The Kensington Palace Stakes (Handicap) | £100,000 |
Royal Ascot Day Three: Thursday, 20th June 2024
Known colloquially as “Ladies Day,” Royal Ascot Thursday is a celebrated occasion where fashion and style are prominently displayed. Renowned for its strict dress code as much as for the races themselves, the third day of the Royal Meeting witnesses attendees showcasing their finest attire.
While Ascot Racecourse does not officially hold any best-dressed competitions, Thursday has earned the moniker of Ladies Day, as historically, women were offered complimentary or discounted tickets for the third day of the races.
Rachel Trevor-Morgan, one of Queen Elizabeth’s preferred milliners, shared with the Telegraph: “With Her Majesty the Queen in attendance, there is a collective desire to dress elegantly and make a statement.”
The third day also features the G1 Gold Cup, the oldest surviving race at Ascot. This historic event has witnessed some of Royal Ascot’s most unforgettable moments, including Yeats’ remarkable fourth victory in 2009, Subjectivist’s surprising triumph in 2021, and Courage Mon Ami in 2023.
In 2023, the four-year-old Courage Mon Ami was ridden by Ascot legend Frankie Dettori, who secured his ninth Gold Cup victory. Coltrane claimed second place, while Subjectivist took third.
With Dettori retiring from riding after the 2023 season, speculation arises about who will emerge victorious in the 2024 Ascot Gold Cup.
| Time | Races | Prize Money |
| 14:00 | The Norfolk Stakes (G2) | £110,000 |
| 15:05 | The King George V Stakes (Handicap) | £100,000 |
| 15:40 | The Ribblesdale Stakes (G2) | £200,000 |
| 16:15 | The Gold Cup (G1) | £500,000 |
| 17:00 | The Britannia Stakes (Handicap) | £120,000 |
| 17:35 | The Hampton Court Stakes (G3) | £100,000 |
| 18:10 | The Buckingham Palace Stakes (Handicap) | £100,000 |
Royal Ascot Day Four: Friday, 21st June 2024
The penultimate day of Royal Ascot promises a thrilling spectacle, headlined by two Group 1 races alongside the prestigious G2 King Edward VII Stakes and challenging handicaps. The illustrious G1 Coronation Stakes, known for drawing top contenders from Irish, British, and European 2,000 Guineas winners, is set to deliver another classic showdown this year. In 2023, Tahiyra, guided by jockey Chris Hayes, claimed victory in the Coronation Stakes. Whether Tahiyra will return to vie for glory in 2024 remains to be seen, contingent upon factors like form, trainer strategy, and competition.
Day four of Royal Ascot promises a star-studded affair, boasting six top-level races that provide the ideal backdrop for corporate hospitality and social gatherings. With a lineup brimming with talent, anticipation runs high as racegoers eagerly await the excitement and drama that unfold on the track.
| Time | Races | Prize Money |
| 14:30 | The Albany Stakes (G3) | £100,000 |
| 15:05 | The Commonwealth Cup (G1) | £500,000 |
| 15:40 | The Duke of Edinburgh Stakes (Handicap) | £100,000 |
| 16:20 | The Coronation Stakes (G1) | £500,000 |
| 17:00 | The Sandringham Stakes (Handicap) | £100,000 |
| 17:35 | The Kind Edward VII Stakes (G2) | £225,000 |
| 18:10 | The Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes (Handicap) | £100,000 |
Royal Ascot Day Five: Saturday, 22nd June 2024
Anticipation will be high on the final day of Royal Ascot, with three Group races, notably the Group 1 Platinum Jubilee Stakes boasting a staggering £1 million prize. Spanning a brisk six furlongs, this prestigious race draws in top-tier sprinters from around the world to the hallowed grounds of Berkshire. Serving as the sixth leg of the esteemed Global Sprint Challenge, it’s a fitting finale to an extraordinary week of racing.
Within the annals of The Platinum Jubilee Stakes, previously known as The Diamond Jubilee Stakes, legendary jockey Lester Piggott stands tall with an impressive record of ten wins, including memorable victories astride the iconic Right Boy. A testament to enduring excellence, Joseph Dawson’s Prince Charlie remains unmatched, clinching an unprecedented three consecutive wins in 1872, 1873, and 1874. In 2023, the underdog Khaadem, defying odds at 80/1, stunned spectators under the skillful guidance of jockey Jamie Spencer, outpacing rivals including Sacred ridden by Tom Marquand.
Saturday at Royal Ascot also shines a spotlight on Flat racing’s ultimate endurance test: The Queen Alexandra Stakes. Covering a grueling distance of two miles and six furlongs, this marathon race promises a test of stamina and strategy. Notably, Gordon Elliott-trained Pallasator holds court with the record for the fastest time, a remarkable 4 minutes and 45.24 seconds, showcasing the pinnacle of equine athleticism and determination.
| RACE TIME | RACES | RACE PRIZE MONEY |
| 14:30 | The Chesham Stakes (Listed) | £100,000 |
| 15:06 | The Jersey Stakes (G3) | £110,000 |
| 15:41 | The Hardwicke Stakes (G2) | £225,000 |
| 16:20 | The Platinum Jubilee Stakes (G1) | £1,000,000 |
| 17:00 | The Wokingham Stakes (Handicap) | £175,000 |
| 17:35 | The Golden Gates Stakes (Handicap) | £100,000 |
| 18:10 | The Queen Alexandra Stakes (Conditions) | £100,000 |
Ascot Gold Cup: Leading contenders
Details to appear in the build up to the race
Royal Ascot: Odds
Odds for the feature races, including the Ascot Gold Cup will appear nearer the time
Prediction
This will appear nearer the time.
