IT IS THE highlight of the racing calendar, attended by royalty and known for as one of the classiest events in the country.

Yet according to a cheeky poll, Royal Ascot is secretly known for another reason.

Nearly one in five fans have admitted to having sex at Royal Ascot, The Daily Mirror reports.

The survey, carried out by Freebets.com, found that 17 per cent of respondents came over all amorous at Ascot - the highest amount at any British race meet. In second place,12 per cent got cuddly at Cheltenham Festival.

The Epsom Derby scored nine per cent while Newcastle also proved a hit with the loved-up daytripper, with seven per cent admitting to it. 

Seems things were less steamy in other parts of the country however, with five per cent at York and three per cent at Doncaster.

And that wasn't the only naughtiness turf fans got up to. Pollsters questioned 2,000 people in total with 14 per cent of male respondents admitting to cheating on their spouse on a day out at the races. Only four per cent of women admitted to cheating.

A spokesman for Freebets told The Mirror: "Backing a winner and having a couple of drinks is a heady mix. Couples get carried away."

Ascot Racecourse has been contacted and say that they have no comment on this subject.