More than 300 years may have passed since Queen Anne first laid eyes on a patch of Berkshire heathland and declared it ideal for “horses to gallop at full stretch”, but her vision still sets the pace at Royal Ascot today.
In 1711, during a carriage ride from Windsor Castle, Queen Anne identified a stretch of open land perfect for the sport of kings. Just a few months later, the first race meeting was held there, giving birth to what would become one of the most famous racecourses in the world: Ascot.
From those humble beginnings – marked by a single race for horses aged six and over – the Royal Meeting has evolved into a global sporting and social spectacle. But Anne’s pioneering spirit remains at its heart, most visibly through the Queen Anne Stakes, the Group 1 race that now opens the five-day Royal Ascot meeting each year.
Run over Ascot’s straight mile, the Queen Anne Stakes regularly draws some of the best milers from around the globe, and it serves as a fitting curtain-raiser – both a nod to history and a showcase of elite modern competition.
Some of the best horses in the world have won the race named in Anne’s honour, including Frankel and Baaeed.
Queen Anne’s legacy is also etched into the enduring royal presence at Ascot. Every monarch since her reign has maintained a strong connection to the racecourse, cementing its place in the royal calendar. From her founding footsteps to the regal carriages seen parading down the straight mile each June, her influence lingers like the thunder of hooves on turf.
But Queen Anne didn’t merely establish a race meeting; she initiated an institution – the highlight of the summer social calendar. And this institution has now flourished for over three centuries, blending heritage with high fashion, sporting excellence, and the unmistakable imprint of the Crown.
As Royal Ascot begins each year with the Queen Anne Stakes, the crowd is reminded that this grand spectacle, watched by millions worldwide, began with one woman’s imagination, and a simple ride across the Berkshire countryside.
