Ascot Heath — Chambers's Encyclopaedia

Ascot Heath, a race-course in Berkshire, 29 miles WSW. of London, and 6 SW. of Windsor. It is circular, only 66 yards short of 2 miles in length; the races, which take place early in June, are generally attended by the royal family in semistate. From the accounts of the Master of Horse for the year 1712, it would appear that they were instituted, not in 1727 as is commonly supposed, but by Queen Anne on August 6, 1711.