The racecourse covers 179 acres (72 ha) leased from the Crown Estate and enjoys close association with the British Royal Family.

Her Majesty Elizabeth II used to visit the Ascot Racecourse quite frequently, and the seating area was reconstructed in 1961 and named in her honour, but the stand was demolished and replaced from 2004.

The Royal Meeting, held in June each year, remains the highlight of the British summer social calendar attracting over 350,000 spectators for the week.

When out riding from Windsor Castle, she came upon an area of open heath that looked, in her words, 'ideal for horses to gallop at full stretch'.

Her Majesty's Plate of 100 guineas will be run for round the new heat on Ascott Common, near Windsor, on Tuesday, 7 August next, by any horse, mare or gelding, being no more than six years old the grass before, as must be certified under the hand of the breeder, carrying 12 St., three heats, to be entered the last day of July, at Mr. Hancock's, at Fern Hill, near the Starting Post.

Lord Churchill was appointed His Majesty's Representative in 1901, responsible for running the course and determining entrance to the Royal Enclosure.

The first National Hunt meeting was held at Ascot in 1965, the course having been established using turf from Hurst Park Racecourse, which closed in 1962.

The Queen attended the annual Royal Meeting from her Coronation in 1953 to 2021,[9] and traditionally presented The Gold Cup and The Diamond Jubilee Stakes each year.

[2][6] The Ascot Grandstand was demolished and rebuilt between 2004 – 2006 and was closed for a £220 million redevelopment, the single biggest investment in British horse racing.

[2] The redevelopment was designed by architect firm HOK (Populous), and was engineered by Buro Happold and built by Laing O'Rourke.

The main part of the redevelopment programme was the construction of the 30m x 300m lightweight parasol roof structure of the 480 metre long grandstand for the 30,000 seating arrangement, this was designed and built by Austrian specialist contractor Waagner-Biro.

The overall capacity of the grandstand was for 80,000 spectators sitting and standing, and for the racecourse to host over 300,000 attendees during Royal Ascot week.

[2] At the end of 2006, a £10 million programme of further alterations was announced to improve the viewing from lower levels of the grandstand using an innovative steel composite product ("SPS" sandwich plate system) to reprofile the existing concrete terraces.

Ascot has hosted many of the world's most famous flat horses including Frankel, Nijinsky, Sagaro, Yeats, Mill Reef, Grundy, Dancing Brave, Swain, Galileo and Enable.

Ascot has hosted many of the world's most famous jumps horses including Arkle,[a] Desert Orchid, Sprinter Sacre, Sire De Grugy, Kauto Star, Cue Card, Baracouda, Thistlecrack, Cyrname and Altior.

Royal Ascot is Britain's most valuable race meeting, attracting many of the world's finest racehorses to compete for millions of pounds in prize money (just over £7.3million in 2019[18]).

Gentlemen are required to wear a full-length suit with a collared shirt, tie and socks covering the ankle.

There is no formal dress code, but guests are encouraged to wear "smart daywear"—collared shirts and jackets for men, hats or fascinators for women.

This enclosure, open from the Thursday to Saturday of the Royal Meeting, offers a combination of exciting street food, al fresco dining, live music and unique views of the track and famous Ascot grandstand.

The highlight of Wednesday's racing is the Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes, won in 2019 by superstars Crystal Ocean and Frankie Dettori.

On Thursday, the oldest and most prestigious race takes place – the Gold Cup staged over two-and-a-half miles, making it a stiff test for even the world's most elite long-distance horses.

As Europe's midsummer middle-distance showpiece, The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes has seen many champions crowned including legends such as Mill Reef, Dancing Brave, Nashwan, Galileo and Enable.

In 2020 Enable made history by becoming the first triple winner of the race having also landed the crown in 2019 following an epic duel with Crystal Ocean and as a three-year-old in 2017.

Since 2011 Ascot has staged QIPCO British Champions Day annually in October, now the culmination of the European elite flat racing season.

The Alistair Haggis Silver Saddle is also awarded to the jockey with the most points at the end of the day, with previous winners including Kieren Fallon, Ryan Moore, Sammy Jo Bell and Hayley Turner.

A post racing concert is also held at the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup, with previous acts including Rita Ora, Craig David and All Saints.

Ascot Racecourse holds four annual family racedays: Each day hosts a plethora of additional activities for children and aims to promote a love of racing in younger generations.

The club owns a racehorse and organises trips, competitions, days out and special activities on Family Racedays.

[21] Ascot Racecourse has become a popular venue for events, with 300+ meeting and conference rooms as well as the Grandstand Atrium, with over 4,000 square meters of exhibition space.