Betting on the Queen’s hat colour at Royal Ascot is a popular pastime and William Hill have priced up a market
Britain's biggest bookmaker
William Hill anticipate healthy Royal Ascot 2012 turnover levels in what is set to be the busiest sporting week of the year so far.
With the continuation of the European Championships throughout the world's most famous Flat race meeting - and the US Open, European Grand Prix and Wimbledon bookending the top horse racing week - there is no doubt this is massive time for sport across the globe.
The Royal Meeting will benefit from extra interest with Britain still capturing the eyes of the globe in the Diamond Jubilee year, with the added spice of the biggest horses in the world - Black Caviar and Frankel - sure to attract the audiences.
William Hill spokeswoman Lucy Rhodes told Bettingpro: "Royal Ascot is the biggest week in Flat racing, and with the British public revelling in royal raptures in the Diamond Jubilee year, coupled with presence of equine superstars Black Caviar and Frankel, we're looking forward to a busy five days in a monumental sporting month"
The Queen is set to be represented by a trio of royal runners and William Hill quote 6-4 Her Majesty pays the Royal Ascot winner's enclosure a visit over the five days.
ALL THE QUEEN'S HORSES...
Wednesday - Carlton House - Prince Of Wales's Stakes
Thursday (Ladies' Day) - Momentary - Ribblesdale Stakes
Friday - Estimate - Queen's Vase
The Queen has owned 20 winners at Royal Ascot, most recently Free Agent who won the Chesham Stakes in 2008.
Her Majesty The Queen to own a winner at Royal Ascot: 6-4
Colour of the Queen's Hat at Royal Ascot, Ladies' Day:
7-2 Blue, 5-1 Pink, 5-1 Purple, 6-1 Green, 7-1 White, 8-1 Peach/Apricot, 10-1 Cream / Beige, 12-1 Yellow, 12-1 Turquoise, 16-1 Brown, 20-1 Orange, 20-1 Red, 20-1 Grey / Silver, 25-1 Black, other colours on request
2-1: The Queen to wear either a red, white or blue hat on Ladies' Day
10-1: The Queen to have a Union Jack somewhere visible on her Ladies' Day outfit (including accessories such as hat, handbag and shoes)
25-1: The Queen wears the same hat or coat she wore during any of the four days of the Jubilee celebrations on Ladies' Day.
100-1: One or more of the carriages in the Royal Procession at Royal Ascot on Thursday 21st June to be flying a plastic ‘car flag'
SOME USEFUL FACTS!
William Hill have been betting on the colour of the Queen's Hat since 1973
Queen's Hat History Over the last few years, Her Majesty has worn the following coloured hats on Ladies Day (other days also shown in brackets):
2011 Pink (Green, Pink, Yellow, Blue)
2010 Purple, (Turquoise, Pink, White, White)
2009: White (Yellow, Pink, Purple, White)
2008: Blue (Pink, Purple, Cream, Blue)
2007: Cream (Pink, Yellow, Blue, White)
2006: Green (Blue, Turquoise, White
2005: Brown (Pink, Purple, Turqouise)
2004: White (Yellow, Blue, Cream)
2003: Blue (Yellow, Pink, Blue, Green)
2002: Purple (Green, Purple, Peach, Green)
Vogue ‘Rainbow Queen' Survey of the colours Her Majesty has worn in the last year: 29% Blue, 13% Floral, 11% Green, 11% Cream, 10% Purple, 10% Pink, 4% Yellow, 4% Red, 4% Orange, 2% Black, 1% checked, 1% Beige
Royal Ascot Stats
• The first Royal Meeting was held at Ascot in 1768
• Royal Ascot has over 300,000 visitors during the 5 days of the meeting
• During the 5 day Royal meeting, the following quantities are expected to be consumed
60,000 bottle of champagne
111,000 glasses of Pimms
156,656 pints of beer
40,000 scones
2,000 kilos of lobsters
3,300 punnets of strawberries
(based on 2011 figures from Ascot's website)
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