Things you didn't know about... Ascot

Horses in those days had stamina!
The first ever horse race at Royal Ascot took place in 1711. It was called Her Majesty's Plate (the Majesty being Queen Anne) and the horses ran three separate heats of 6 km (4 mi) each, a total of 18 km (12 mi). Today's Grand National is run over only 8 km (5 mi).

Ascot Ladies need to cover up
In 2008, the Queen's representative at Ascot decided that too many mini-skirts and bare midriffs were being seen on Ladies' Day, and that dress rules for the ladies at Royal Ascot needed tightening.

Veteran racing commentator Peter O'Sullevan agreed with the changes: "Out of respect not just for Her Majesty but for the horses, people should be properly dressed," he said.

The Beatles' double Ascot connection
Both John Lennon and Ringo Starr lived in Ascot—in the same house (though not at the same time). John and Yoko lived in Tittenhurst Park from 1969 to 1971; when they went to live in the United States, they sold the house to Ringo.

The church with a sense of humour
St Francis RC Church in Ascot keeps a list of notable mistakes and unintentional bloopers from church bulletins. For example: "At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be 'What is Hell?' Come early and listen to our choir practice."

The Side-hill Winder
Ascot was the site of a number of Bronze Age burial mounds, almost all of which have now been flattened. These were home to the Side-hill Winder, a mythical, bovine animal with two legs shorter than the others. It lived on the sides of the mounds, and if you wanted to catch one, you simply chased it onto level ground, where it fell over.

A place for Kings
Of course, Windsor is just up the road, but a less famous King is also associated with Ascot. King Zog of Albania (butt of many Monty Python jokes) was here in 1941 as his nieces were at school nearby. The king was a legendary heavy smoker, puffing his way through 200 cigarettes a day.

Distinguished alumni of Ascot
Sienna Miller went to school in Ascot. So too did Lady Antonia Fraser, historian and wife of playwright Harold Pinter, who set one of her novels in the very school she attended.