With just a week to go until Royal Ascot 2024, the anticipation is building in Berkshire. Once again, all eyes will be on the iconic horse racing event as the best horses and best-dressed punters all come together for a quintessentially British racing festival.
Saddle up for five days of top-class racing and expect to see plenty of fascinators and top hats on show, and if you’re lucky, maybe a royal or two. As ever, Engage will be providing exclusive hospitality packages, offering you the chance to enjoy the racing action from the best seats in the house. Enquire today to book your place.
Tuesday 18th June
As ever, Royal Ascot will kick off with The Queen Anne Stakes, with Frankie Dettori’s old pal Inspiral the favourite, while Charyn and Facteur Cheval are expected to challenge.
2:30pm – The Queen Anne Stakes
3:05pm – The Coventry Stakes
3:45pm – The King Charles III Stakes
4:25pm – The St James’s Palace Stakes
5:05pm – The Ascot Stakes
5:40pm – The Wolferton Stakes
6:15pm – The Copper Horse Stakes
Wednesday 19th June
Day two sees the festival’s most expensive race take place with The Prince of Wales’s Stakes. Auguste Rodin is the likely favourite but will face competition from White Birch.
2:30pm – The Queen Mary Stakes
3:05pm – The Queen’s Vase
3:45pm – The Duke of Cambridge Stakes
4:25pm – The Prince of Wales’s Stakes
5:05pm – The Royal Hunt Cup
5:40pm – The Kensington Palace Stakes
6:15pm – The Windsor Castle Stakes
Thursday 20th June
Kyprios is the odds-on favourite to reclaim his crown in The Gold Cup after winning back in 2022. Last year’s victor Courage Mon Ami has been forced to pull out through injury.
2:30pm – The Norfolk Stakes
3:05pm – The King George V Stakes
3:45pm – The Ribblesdale Stakes
4:25pm – The Gold Cup
5:05pm – The Britannia Stakes
5:40pm – The Hampton Court Stakes
6:15pm – The Buckingham Palace Stakes
Friday 21st June
Inspiral won The Coronation Stakes two years ago and now Opera Singer and Fallen Angel are looking to do so on the penultimate day of the festival.
2:30pm – The Albany Stakes
3:05pm – The Commonwealth Cup
3:45pm – The Coronation Stakes
4:25pm – The Duke of Edinburgh Stakes
5:05pm – The Sandringham Stakes
5:40pm – The King Edward VII Stakes
6:15pm – The Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes
Saturday 22nd June
Kinross has edged ahead in the betting of The Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, well ahead of Art Power who came out on top when the pair met in the British Champion Sprint Stakes.
2:30pm – The Chesham Stakes
3:05pm – The Hardwicke Stakes
3:45pm – The Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes
4:25pm – The Jersey Stakes
5:05pm – The Wokingham Stakes
5:40pm – The Golden Gates Stakes
6:15pm – The Queen Alexandra Stakes
It goes without saying that Royal Ascot is a classy affair and all attendees are expected to dress to impress. But depending on where you’re spending the day, there are different rules, so make sure you’re dressed appropriately for your enclosure.
Queen Anne Enclosure
Gentlemen: A suit jacket or blazer with a full length trouser or chino must be worn, as well as a collared shirt, socks and either a necktie, bow tie or cravat. Again, trainers, denim, leggings and shorts are not allowed.
Ladies: As above – sheer or strapless dresses and tops are not allowed and midriffs must be covered.
Ladies Day dress code
Traditionally, day three of Royal Ascot is Ladies Day, which gives the wonderful women attending the chance to go all out. There’s no official dress code for Ladies Day, although guests often use it as a chance to make a statement with extravagant hats, dazzling jewellery and dresses that stand out.
If you’re travelling by train, Ascot station is just a seven minute walk from the racecourse, with directions clearly signposted. The train journey from London Waterloo takes under an hour, while Ascot is also served by frequent trains from Reading and Guildford.
For those driving from the north, the midlands and London, leave the M4 at junction 6 and follow the A332 Windsor bypass to Ascot. If you’re coming from the west, south or east, head towards Bracknell and follow the signs to Ascot. Parking can be booked online in advance.
There’s nothing like a corporate away day - and what better place to do it than at one of the best racecourses in the country? Whether you want to let your hair down and reward your team with a night out or impress potential clients with a fancy...