What are the most valuable races at Royal Ascot?

Raced over five days, this meeting also stands out from the crowd as boasting the biggest prize purses in UK flat racing. It’s no surprise when you consider that the week contains eight Group 1 races and 18 Group races in total.

Royal Ascot is a regal affair, attracting members of the British Royal Family every year. The festival is broadcast worldwide in almost 200 nations. 

With such high exposure and media coverage of every day at Royal Ascot, it’s no surprise that the online bookmakers work hard to compete for your custom.

According to oddschecker’s list of their latest free bets for Royal Ascot, there are 39 separate bookies running promotions ahead of this year’s festival. This alone should underline the immense popularity of Royal Ascot among racegoers and online punters.

Several of the Group 1 races at Royal Ascot are among the richest flat races in horse racing. Below, we’ll explore the most valuable races to look out for on your racecards.

Platinum Jubilee Stakes (£1m)

The Platinum Jubilee Stakes is held on the Saturday afternoon of Royal Ascot – the final afternoon of the festival and the ideal way to bring the curtain down on the meeting. 

This six-furlong sprint race is a Group 1 event open to thoroughbreds aged four and up, although three-year-olds from the Southern Hemisphere are also permitted. There is a 3lb weight allowance issued to fillies and mares entered into the race. 

The race became so popular and exclusive that it was incorporated into the Global Sprint Challenge in 2005. Lester Piggott is the most successful jockey in this race, winning ten times between 1958 and 1993.

Prince of Wales’s Stakes (£1m)

The Prince of Wales’s Stakes is a much longer test, ran over 1 mile 1 furlong and 212 yards. The race welcomes entries of horses aged four and above. Fillies and mares get a much-needed weight allowance. So too do four-year-old thoroughbreds that make the trek to Royal Ascot from the Southern Hemisphere.

You’ll normally find this race pencilled in as the premier race on day two of Royal Ascot. It’s deservedly a Group 1 race and has been since 2000. The 17th Earl of Derby and Godolphin are the joint most successful owners in this race, the latter winning five times between 1998 and 2011.

Queen Anne Stakes (£750,000)

Dating back to 1840, the Queen Anne Stakes oozes heritage. It’s a one-miler, so it’s aimed at flat racing thoroughbreds that can stay beyond the seven-furlong mark.

It’s often the opening race on day one, making it the curtain-raiser for the entire Royal Ascot festival. Like the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, this race is also a Group 1 and has been since 2003.

Godolphin and trainer Saeed bin Suroor have cleaned up in the Queen Anne Stakes over the years. Godolphin has landed eight race wins between 1996 and 2017, and the 2017 winner, Ribchester, was the only charge not trained by bin Suroor. The unmistakable Frankie Dettori is a record seven-time winner as a jockey, with his latest win coming on board Palace Pier in 2021.

Gold Cup (£750,000)

Like the Cheltenham Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival, the Ascot Gold Cup acts as the showpiece event of Royal Ascot. Even though it doesn’t quite carry the same prize purse, it’s still the most prestigious. That’s because of its rich history and the gruelling two miles, three furlongs and 210 yards race. It’s a true test of flat racing stayers and the stamina battle means it’s often best to look for each-way selections to hedge your risk.

The Gold Cup is also open to horses aged four and above. 3lb weight allowances are reserved for mares and fillies, while 7lb weight allowances are offered for those venturing from the Southern Hemisphere. 

The most iconic Ascot Gold Cup horse is Yeats, who won this race four years in succession between 2006 and 2009. Stradivarius and Sagaro also etched their names into the Royal Ascot record books by winning the Gold Cup three years in a row.

The Ascot Gold Cup is the first leg of the Stayers’ Triple Crown, which also includes the Goodwood Cup and Doncaster Cup. The eyes of British horse racing will be transfixed on the Royal Ascot to see if the next Yeats or Stradivarius is born at the 2025 festival.