HOW TO WATCH ROYAL ASCOT 2023

The jewel in the crown of the British flat racing season, Royal Ascot is five days of top-class racing action. In 2023, the festival encompasses a total of 35 races, which will be run over the prestigious racecourse in Berkshire from June 20 to June 24.

The Lowdown on Royal Ascot

This right royal festival can be traced back to the days of Queen Anne. By royal decree, the first incarnation of Ascot Racecourse was established to allow “horses to gallop at a stretch”. The race itself debuted on August 11 1711, with the runners vying for The Queen’s Plate prize worth £100.

Today, the festival is still frequented by the reigning monarch and their family. The late Queen Elizabeth II was a regular attendee and even owned several winners.

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As well as drawing in the biggest names in British and Irish racing, Royal Ascot also plays host to the best runners and riders from Hong Kong, Japan, France, Australia and the US. Quite simply, it’s a major event in the racing industry, and its social and sartorial components also attract racegoers in their masses.

Attending Royal Ascot In Person

If you’re planning to attend in 2023, then you’d better get your skates on if you haven’t booked an entry yet. Tickets for race days sell out fast, as does nearby accommodation. For those who’ve missed out this year, worry not, as we’ll be covering the ways you can stream all the racing action below; just don’t forget to book your general admission tickets for the 2024 festival when sales open in November.

Travelling to Ascot racecourse is straightforward by car; take M5 Junction 6 from London to A332 Windsor by-pass, then just follow the signs to the course. The roads can get busy, however, so if you prefer to travel by train, there are regular services from London Waterloo, Reading and Guildford.

How to Watch Royal Ascot At Home or Work

If you aren’t fortunate enough to see the best flat-racing horses in the world compete in exhilarating races, there are plenty of ways to take in the action from home. You’ll be joining millions of racing fans around the globe who will be tuning in remotely, so don’t feel too left out. You can even place a bet on your favourite horse without needing to be on the course, thanks to the ascot free bet offers that can be found on sites like Racing TV.

The humble television is the old-school way to watch Royal Ascot. This year, ITV will be hosting flagship coverage, focusing on the first five races of each day. Other TV options include Sky Sports Racing, which will feature coverage of every race during the festival.

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Trying to watch racing coverage in the office can be tricky, but a number of British radio stations will be providing updates on the key events. Tune into Talksport and BBC Radio Five Live to stay informed.

One of the most accessible ways to watch the action is by streaming the races online. While racing-themed channels on platforms like YouTube and Twitch are great places to check out the highlights from the festival, if you want to stream full races, you can do so via bookies’ websites. You will need to have registered and been approved for an account before the races start, and don’t forget to download the app version of the platform to catch the action on the go.

As mentioned above, the 2023 edition of Royal Ascot features a total of 35 races, and all of them will feature plenty of adrenaline-fueled drama. If you can only tune in for a handful of events, though, ensure you check out the eight Group 1 races on offer:

Tuesday June 20