Royal Ascot 2017 schedule, TV channel, weather forecast and how to get tickets or watch the horse races live

Royal Ascot returns for five days of horse racing in June. There are six flat races each day, including eight Group One races. Thursday's race is the coveted Gold Cup. Order of St George, rode by Ryan Moore, won last year's Gold cup.

The racing started on Tuesday June 20 and will conclude on Saturday June 24. The Queen regularly attends Royal Ascot.

The Ascot Racecourse is located in the pretty Berkshire countryside, not far from Windsor Great Park. The five-day event takes place from the 20th to 24th June 2017.

Ticket prices start at £37 and hospitality packages cost £269 per person. Car parking spots cost an additional £35. The most expensive coach park spots are priced at $130.

All five days of the Royal meeting are still available for all prices. Thursday, Friday and Saturday tickets are expected to sell out well before the event starts.

Royal Ascot 2017 schedule, TV channel, weather forecast and how to get tickets are available.

There is a direct train to and from London Waterloo. The M4 and M3 offer direct routes towards Windsor via the A332 Windsor by-pass. On site car parking can be pre-booked here and will cost from £30. National Express are running select services to Ascot throughout the five day festival.

There's easy access to the course via regular trains from London Waterloo, Guilford and Reading. The M4 and M3 offer direct routes towards Windsor via the A332 Windsor by-pass. On site car parking can be pre-booked here and will cost from £30. National Express are running select services to and from Ascot throughout the five day festival.

ITV Racing is showing all the main British horse racing events live this year.

The gates open at 10 am every day and the royal precession takes place at 2 pm. Racing starts at 5:35 pm and entertainment starts afterwards. The car park closes at 9 pm each day.

Thursday’s Gold Cup is the main event on the schedule. It takes place on Ladies Day at 4.20 pm. Order of St George is favourite.

The Ascot Races is a great opportunity to watch horse-racing and socialise. The main enclosures within the grounds are Queen Ann and Windsor. There's an opportunity for racegoers to pre-order a picnic to enjoy with friends. Tuesday will see the start of group one races, including the Queen Anne Stake. On Wednesday attendees will get to see a slightly more relaxed atmosphere as the Prince of Wales Stakes gets underway. Thursday will welcome the Gold Cup and Friday will be traditional. Saturday's finale is considered one of the world's greatest sprint races.

Royal Ascot 2017 schedule, TV channel, weather forecast and how to get tickets or watch the horse races live.