Royal Ascot

Royal Ascot is live and exclusive on the BBC, with coverage starting on Tuesday 19 June at 1.45pm on BBC One and BBC One HD.

Sport and fashion meet in spectacular style at this prestigious race meeting, which has extra special resonance in this, the Queen’s Jubilee year. All the colour and action will be brought to audiences across BBC TV, radio, online and red button.

Clare Balding presents the BBC’s television coverage, joined by racing legends Willie Carson and Mick Fitzgerald. They will offer expert punditry over the five days as some of the world’s fastest horses gather to race, including unbeaten superstar Frankel, who raises the curtain in the Queen Anne Stakes on Tuesday, and the undefeated Australian mare Black Caviar, who makes her UK debut in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes on the Saturday. Continue reading »

1:45pm Friday 22 June on BBC ONE

Day four of the event which has been part of the sporting and social fabric of the nation for nearly 250 years.

Every day the meeting begins with the Royal Procession, featuring four horse-drawn carriages bringing HM The Queen and her party to the course.

The Coronation Stakes is the highlights of the day. Contested by three-year-old fillies over a mile, the contest was won in authoritative fashion last year by France’s Immortal Verse. A fitting result in an increasingly international gathering.

Clare Balding will host the coverage from Ascot. She’ll be joined by Willie Carson, Mick Fitzgerald, Rishi Persad, Suzi Perry, Ian Bartlett and John Parrott. Race commentary will come from Jim McGrath.

Coverage continues BBC Two and HD from 3.20pm – 5.15pm

1:45pm Thursday 21 June on BBC ONE

The third and biggest day of the world-famous race meeting is Ladies Day. High-stakes style is the order of the day and big hitters from the international fashion industry will be out in force, bringing glitz and glamour to one of ‘the’ fixtures on the social calendar.

On the track the week’s racing highlight, the Ascot Gold Cup, is run. Today’s runners will strive to match the record-breaking perfomances of Yeats. A statue in the parade ring commemorates the achievement of this equine legend in winning the long distance race four times in a row.

Clare Balding will host the coverage from Ascot. She’ll be joined by Willie Carson, Mick Fitzgerald, Rishi Persad, Suzi Perry, Ian Bartlett and John Parrott. Race commentary will come from Jim McGrath.

Coverage continues on BBC Two and BBC HD from 3.20pm – 5.15pm.

1:45pm Wednesday 20 June on BBC ONE

Day two of the sporting and social showpiece from the famous Ascot racecourse.

HM The Queen and other members of the Royal Family will be in attendance, with a special atmosphere guaranteed in this Diamond Jubilee year.

The highlight on the track is the mile and a quarter Prince Of Wales’s Stakes. Contested by the best horses aged four years and over, it was won last year by superstar jockey Frankie Dettori on Rewilding.

Clare Balding will host the coverage from Ascot. She’ll be joined by Willie Carson, Mick Fitzgerald, Rishi Persad, Suzi Perry, Ian Bartlett and John Parrott. Race commentary will come from Jim McGrath.

Coverage continues on BBC Two and BBC HD from 3.20pm – 5.15pm.

1:45pm Tuesday 19 June on BBC ONE

The start of a five day horse racing extravaganza billed as the greatest race meeting in the world. The Berkshire event is also one of the highlights of the social calendar, with many attending simply to see and be seen.

There are 30 races over the week and today’s card includes three Group One races – the sport’s elite contests. Featuring some of the world’s best horses, they are the Queen Anne Stakes, King’s Stand Stakes and St James’s Palace Stakes.

Clare Balding will host the coverage from Ascot. She’ll be joined by Willie Carson, Mick Fitzgerald, Rishi Persad, Suzi Perry, Ian Bartlett and John Parrott. Race commentary will come from Jim McGrath.