Royal Ascot 2006

In October 2005, Ascot Racecourse confirmed that the Royal Meeting will return to its Berkshire home in 2006.

The Royal Meeting will run from today 20th to Saturday 24th June 2006. The official opening of the racecourse will take place on the first day of the Royal Meeting. The current plan is for Her Majesty The Queen to officially open the new racecourse on today 20th June at about 1.45pm in the Parade Ring.

Ascot Racecourse closed for its exciting redevelopment in October 2004 to undergo a major redevelopment programme, the most extensive of its type in Europe. Both the track and the Grandstand have been subject to the redevelopment programme.

The development of the Ascot track is the result of considerable research and application over the last five years. The new straight mile surface, the eradication of the major crossings and integration of a new state of the art irrigation system throughout are huge advances for Ascot. Ascot has a world class racing surface.

The new Grandstand has been designed by HOK Sport whose portfolio also includes designing the Millennium Stadium, the Sydney Olympic Stadium and Wembley. Ascot Racecourse sets a new standard for the way that people will go racing in the UK. The Grandstand will provide a much more open approach to racegoing and will be viewed not only as a leading racecourse on the international stage, but as a world-class sport and entertainment venue.