BET ROYAL ASCOT

Why Bet Royal Ascot?

The prestigious Royal Ascot meet is each June and will feature the best horses in Europe facing off against each other at the highest level. In 2024 the five-day festival featured 35 races, 19 of which were group-level stakes (the equivalent of graded stakes in the United States).

Royal Ascot Has Breeders’ Cup Vibes

In the United States, we celebrate the best horses in each division at the end of the year in the Breeders’ Cup. While Europe does not have an equivalent, the Royal Ascot meet does share several similarities to the Breeders’ Cup. First, nearly every major division in racing is represented with a top caliber race during the five days from two-year-olds sprinting to older horses going long. Every distance, age, and sex will be well represented throughout the festival. Additionally, trainers will often train their horses up to the Royal Ascot meet in the same way U.S.-based trainer will train their horses up to the Breeders’ Cup. The only other time you get a similar feel in Europe is in the week of racing leading up to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) at Longchamp in France.

No Turns, No Problem

One unique feature of many European races, which can often throw off North American fans are the straight sprints. Most races at a mile or less are run in a straight line, which completely changes racing dynamics from North American-based races where sprints are run around one turn, and several mile-long races are run around two turns. The lack of turns leads to different riding tactics as often North American-based horses will try to get a breather in going into and around the turn because they naturally slow down to the centrifugal force. Without that break, you will see horses being asked to go a little sooner that you might in the United States and often U.S.-based jockeys who ride during the Royal Ascot meet can have a hard time judging when to push the button on their horses. Plus, make sure to pay close attention in the PPs to those horses who are accustomed to running straight (“STR” in your racing form) versus those who exclusively run around turns.

Splitting the Field

One of the offshoots of straight races and large fields sizes is that you do not have the element of “saving ground,” which often leads to the field splitting into two columns running dozens of yards apart from each other. In most sprints you will see the horses breaking on the grandstand side run together and the horses breaking further away from the grandstand run together during the early stretches of the race. Somewhere in the final two furlongs the two columns often start to get closer together or the fields start to fan out across the entire track. There can be some track bias regarding which side of the track is better. Weather can sometimes have an impact on that and while we are not expecting any precipitation this week, it is something to monitor.

Similar Names, Similar Results

If you ask the average horse racing fan in the United States to name their top three European trainers, many will probably respond with the trio of Aidan O’Brien, Charlie Appleby, and John Gosden as those men are the ones who most commonly bring over their horses to North America to compete in the Breeders’ Cup or other significant turf races. The good news for those fans is those three names are also three of the biggest in Europe as well. O’Brien holds the record for most wins during Royal Ascot (85) while Appleby and Gosden have had significant success as well.

Appleby is an interesting one to keep an eye on as he does seem to have leveled off (or taken a slight step back) from his peak a few years ago as the trainer for Godolphin might not have as loaded of a stable as he used to have in the past. Other trainers to keep an eye on include Roger Varian, Andrew Balding, Simon Crisford, William Haggas, Richard Fahey, Jessica Harrington, and Aidan’s son Joseph O’Brien.

Gate Differences with North American-Based Racing

There are three notable distinctions at the starting gate for Royal Ascot compared to what North American racing fans are accustomed to seeing during their average weekend card.

1. Number and post position are different – One of the traditional pet peeves for many North American fans is that in Europe (and throughout the rest of the world) the horse’s number and post position do not align. In North America the #5 horse nearly always breaks from the #5 post position unless you have an unusual situation with a coupled entry. During Royal Ascot, be aware the #1 horse might break from the #14 post position. Numbers are assigned in alphabetical order while post positions are assigned separately during the draw process.
2. Starters are not in the gate – During Royal Ascot horse are loaded by the gate crew, but unlike in North American racing, an assistant starter does not accompany a horse into the gate and stand next to them. This is a critical distinction for North America-based horses running at Royal Ascot as they are creatures of routine and could be thrown off by the lack of a calming presence in the gate with them. Much more responsibility falls on the jockey to get the horse calmed and prepared to ensure a good start.
3. Slow loaders are left behind – Have you ever gotten frustrated by a horse who takes forever to load while the horse you are backing is calming standing in their gate position for what feels like an eternity? Well, you do not need to worry about that at Royal Ascot. If a horse takes too long to load, the starter basically says, “The hell with it!” and starts the race without the horse. This unusual feature of European racing threw off North American jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. a couple years ago when he was unaware the starter could begin the race without all the horses loaded. He was unprepared for the gates to open, which costs his horse any chance at winning.

History of Royal Ascot

Royal Ascot is one of the most highly-regarded horse racing meets in the world, held annually in mid-June at the historic Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire, England. The event dates back to 1711 and is famous for its royal patronage, fashion, and, of course, world-class racing.

While the event primarily features British-trained horses and jockeys, American horses and trainers have enjoyed success at Royal Ascot over the years. One of the most memorable moments came in 2016 when American trainer Wesley Ward won two races, including the prestigious Diamond Jubilee Stakes, with his star sprinter, Lady Aurelia. Other notable American victories at Royal Ascot include Tepin's win in the Queen Anne Stakes in 2016 and California Chrome's second-place finish in the Prince of Wales's Stakes in 2015.

NYRA Bets customers can wager on every race at Royal Ascot, making it easy to get in on the action from across the pond. When it comes to betting on Royal Ascot, it's important to do your research and consider factors like form, pedigree, and track conditions. Royal Ascot tips from expert handicappers can also help you make informed wagers and maximize your chances of success.

If you're wondering when is Royal Ascot, mark your calendar for June 17 - 21, 2025, when the event returns with five days of thrilling racing. And if you're ready to bet on Royal Ascot, be sure to sign up for NYRA Bets to access all the action and excitement from the comfort of your own home.