Royal Ascot: The Highlight Of The Flat Racing Season

© Ascot Racecourse

Some of the best horses in the business will compete in some of the most prestigious flat races in the sport.

The National Hunt season is now over and all of the focus and attention is on the flat. The quickest sprinters in racing will compete over the course of the event and horses from all over the world will travel to prove their worth on the big stage. In 2012, world-renowned filly Black Caviar made the trip from Australia and won her 22^nd consecutive race in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes.

Why Royal Ascot?

There’s just something special about this famous meeting. You can trace its history back to 1711 when it was founded by Queen Anne – which shows just how prestigious and historical this event is. Every year, members of the Royal Family attend the meeting and Queen Elizabeth II will be in attendance once again in 2017. Keep an eye on your television set and you will almost certainly see her at some point.

For the trainers, jockeys and owners, Royal Ascot is the ideal opportunity for a colossal payday. With almost £7 million worth of prize money up for grabs in 2016, it truly is one of the most lucrative weeks in racing and you can bet that the top flat trainers in the world will feature prominently at the meeting. Aidan O’Brien, on track to reach a record 26 Group One wins this season, will expect his horses to run well next week...

In fact, it might be worth keeping an eye on the O’Brien-trained Order of St George in the Ascot Gold Cup, arguably the highlight of the week. In 2016, he romped home to snag the win and punters fancy him to retain his crown this year, especially with Ryan Moore on board. At the time of writing, Order of St George is priced at 4/5 on William Hill, via http://sports.williamhill.com/bet/en-gb/betting/t/262/Royal-Ascot.html.

If nothing else, one thing is for sure: the 2017 Royal Ascot meeting will be eventful. Whether you are only interested in the racing or have a keen sense for fashion, there is something for everybody and it is completely unique. Those who missed out on tickets can sit back and enjoy the finest spectacle in flat racing on their television – you can feel the atmosphere and vibe from the comfort of your own home.

Ascot, a magnificent course in its own right, will transform into a festival of fun for five days next week and those in attendance should relish it. After all, not everyone can watch some of the finest and most prestigious races in the industry this summer. Ladies and gentlemen, be sure to dress up smartly but most of all, enjoy the meeting. Royal Ascot truly is in a category of its own.