Here’s a quick list of Royal Ascot races everyone is talking about, to ensure you don’t miss any of the festival highlights:
Tuesday – Queen Anne Day
Queen Anne Stakes (G1) – 1 mile, for older horses and 4-year-olds; traditionally opens the week.
Coventry Stakes (G2) – 6 furlongs, for 2-year-olds; a key sprint for juveniles.
King Charles III Stakes (G1) – 1 mile, prestigious race for older horses.
St James’s Palace Stakes (G1) – 1 mile, classic for 3-year-old colts.
Wednesday – Prince of Wales’s Day
Prince of Wales’s Stakes (G1) – 1¼ miles, open to 4-year-olds and up; one of the feature middle-distance races.
Duke of Cambridge Stakes (G2) – 1 mile, for fillies and mares; a top-level contest.
Thursday – Gold Cup Day (Ladies’ Day)
Ascot Gold Cup (G1) – 2½ miles, a legendary staying race for older horses; considered the centerpiece of the week.
Ribblesdale Stakes (G2) – 1½ miles, for 3-year-old fillies.
Friday – Coronation Day
Coronation Stakes (G1) – 1 mile, for 3-year-old fillies; highly prestigious.
Commonwealth Cup (G1) – 6 furlongs, sprint for 3-year-olds.
Saturday – Commonwealth/Jubilee Day
Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (G1) – 6 furlongs, open sprint for older horses; usually the week’s finale sprint.
Hardwicke Stakes (G2) – 1½ miles, older horses; important middle-distance contest.