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Ascot Racecourse
Established as a racecourse by Queen Anne in 1711 the Ascot racecourse boasts one of the longest and most prestigious histories of any racecourse worldwide. The inaugural event was named Her Majesty’s Plate and offered 100 Guineas to the winner and open to any horse over six years of age. The first permanent structure, holding over people, built was completed in 1794 and was used for almost fifty years. The Ascot racecourse remains one of the leading racecourses in the United Kingdom, hosting ** of Britain's** annual Group One horse races. Queen Anne’s involvement in the racecourse’s establishment is still recognised through the tradition of opening Royal Ascot with the Queen Anne Stakes, one of these ** Group One races held at the Ascot racecourse each year.

The Royal Ascot
Royal Ascot is the centrepiece of Ascot's year and is attended annually by Queen Elizabeth II and other members of the British Royal Family alongside many other notable attendees. Over ** people typically attend the Royal Ascot each year making it Europe’s best-attended horserace meeting. For the first time in her 68-year reign, the Queen was not be present for the 2020 meeting, as due to measures implemented to contain the impact of COVID-19 the 2020 Royal Ascot took place behind closed doors.

Group One
Group One is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races. These races are of international importance, attract the best horses and offer very large stake money. In 2022, the Prince of Wales's Stakes and the Platinum Jubilee Stakes offered the largest purse at the Royal Ascot with *** million British pounds, with even the smallest Group One purses as large as *** thousand British pounds. In 2020, all eight Group One races were reduced to *** thousand British pounds as a result of the financial impact of the COVID-19 containment measures. More information about equestrian sports in the UK can be found in the Dossier: Equestrian sports in the United Kingdom.