A Guide to the 2022 King George Weekend Horseraces

How to Buy Tickets for the King George Weekend

Horse racing fans, or those who may be interested in going to Ascot to watch the King George Weekend races for themselves, can book tickets to one of the enclosures at the racecourse. There are three enclosures that are open to the public for the event, including the King Edward VII Gallery, the Winning Post Enclosure and the Queen Anne Enclosure.

The King Edward VII Gallery, named after Queen Elizabeth II's grandfather and son of Queen Victoria, King Edward VII, is a premium enclosure with many fantastic features. Booking tickets to sit in this enclosure will give guests the highest level of access to a stream of amazing bars and restaurants. They will also be able to watch all the action from elevated trackside viewing decks that extend all the way to the Parade Ring where it is possible to watch the horses prepare for their next races.

The Winning Post Enclosure is a private viewing area where visitors will be able to sit right up next to the Winning Post. This will allow a close up view of which horse finishes in first place. In races where there are evenly matched contenders who finish neck to neck, this can be one of the greatest places to be. The Winning Post Enclosure also features a number of great bars and restaurants that are guaranteed to make the experience even more pleasurable.

The Queen Anne Enclosure is the most affordable option, and the trackside viewing area is a bit further up the line, meaning that racegoers will not be able to see precisely which horses finish first in a tight race. Despite this, it is not without its amazing range of bars and food outlets, and racegoers will still be able to enjoy the action from the lawn.

Each of the different enclosures has its own dress code. The King Edward VII Gallery and Winning Post Enclosure have the strictest restrictions, whilst the Queen Anne Enclosure has the most relaxed code. It is important to read the restrictions carefully and honour them, as dress codes are taken highly seriously at racing events. Once that is sorted, then there is nothing left to do but go to the races and enjoy watching the amazing races.

King George Weekend Schedule

First Day

There are a number of races in the event, which lasts two days. The highlight of course is the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, although there are a handful of races on each day that are bound to excite any horse racing fan or newcomers attending their first horserace.

The first day starts with the John Guest Racing EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes at 1:20pm. This race is a class 5 race, and is run over a distance of 7 furlongs. It is exclusively open to 2 year old colts and fillies only, and is a great opener as racegoers can watch the young horses run in one of their first races.

The next race starts at 1:55pm, it is the Anders Foundation British EBF Crocker Bulteel Maiden Stakes. This race is also exclusively for 2 year old fillies and colts, and is a class 5 race that is run over a distance of 6 furlongs.

The third race is the John Guest Racing Brown Jack Handicap Stakes. This is a special race for horse racing purists, as it is named after a horse called Brown Jack. Brown Jack became one of the greats when he won the Queen Alexandra Stakes, the longest horse race in the flat racing calendar at 2 miles, 6 furlongs and 34 yards, for six consecutive years from 1929 to 1934. The Brown Jack Handicap is nowhere near as strenuous as the Queen Alexandra Stakes were in the first part of the 20th century. This race is run over a distance of 1 mile, 7 furlongs and 209 yards and is a Group 3 race that is open to horses aged 3 years old and older.

The next race is the Sunflower Lanyard Scheme Valiant Stakes at 3:00pm. This is a class 1, Group 3 race that is run over a distance of 7 furlongs and 213 yards. This race is open to fillies and mares aged 3 years old and older.

After that is the John Guest Racing Handicap at 3:35pm. This Handicap race is a class 2 race that is open to horses aged 3 years old and older. It is run over a distance of 1 mile, 3 furlongs and 211 yards.

At 4:10pm the Rotary Club of Ascot Stakes is run. This is a short sprint, run over a distance of 5 furlongs. The race is a class 2 category race and is open to all horses aged 3 years old and older.

The final race on the first day is the Cares Family Fillies' Handicap Stakes. This race is open to fillies and mares aged 3 years old and older, and is also a short sprint of 5 furlongs.

Second Day

The second day features 7 races, including the main event.

The races begin with the Pat Eddery Stakes at 1:15pm. This is a listed race that is exclusively for 2 year old horses and is run over a distance of 7 furlongs. It is a class 1 race.

This is followed by the Princess Margaret Keeneland Stakes at 1:50pm. The Keeneland Stakes are open to 2 year old fillies only, and are run over a distance of 6 furlongs. It is a class 1 and also a Group 3 category race, meaning that fillies that win this race will definitely garner attention and it will help them win places in future racing events.

At 2:25pm the Porsche Handicap Stakes are held. This class 2 race is a straight mile race, only open to horses aged 3 years old.

The Moet & Chandon International Stakes are held at 3:00pm. This is a heritage handicap stakes, and is run over a distance of 7 furlongs. It is a class 2 race that is open to horses aged 3 years old and older.

At 3:35pm, the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, or the main event, is run. The winner of this event not only cements a place in history but also receives an automatic qualification for the Breeders' Cup Turf. This is a Group 1 race that is run over a tricky distance of 1 mile 3 furlongs and 211 yards. It is open to all horses aged 3 years old and older. It has the highest prize pool amongst all the horse races, with a purse of £875,000.

The Sebastian's Action Trust Stakes follow at 4:10pm. This race is a class 4 race that is held over the same distance as the King Georges Stakes, in 1 mile 3 furlongs and 211 yards. It is also open to horses aged 3 years old and older.

The last race of the weekend is the Longines Handicap Stakes at 4:45pm. This race is quite a unique ender as it is a race for female amateur jockeys. This is a class 3 race that is run over a distance of 7 furlongs, open to horses aged 3 years old and older.

How To Bet On the King George Weekend

Watching horses race at the King George Weekend is sure to get the blood pumping. The amount of action packed into two days is phenomenal and anyone watching will be treated to some fantastic performances.

Of course, placing a bet on a horserace makes watching it even more exciting. The odds on horseracing are often far longer than for others sports, and this can turn even the smallest bet into some great winnings. Strategies that may help improve a punter's chance of winning include looking into the jockey’s history at the track, finding out what distance and turf the horses prefer to run on, and looking into which horses have the shortest odds, as they are the ones that the bookies tip to win.