Tuesday 16 th - Saturday 20 th June 2015 MEDIA GUIDE

Transcription

1 Tuesday 16 th - Saturday 20 th June 2015 MEDIA GUIDE

2 Index 2-3. WELCOME TO ROYAL ASCOT FROM HER MAJESTY S REPRESENTATIVE 4. NEW GROUP ONE COMMONWEALTH CUP TO BE RUN AT ROYAL ASCOT 5. RACE PROGRAMME & VALUES 2014 v FIRST ROYAL ASCOT RACECOURSE ECONOMIC IMPACT REPORT PUBLISHED MILLION FASHION SPEND GENERATED BY ASCOT RACECOURSE REVEALED AT STYLE GUIDE LAUNCH 8. ASCOT ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE AND THE GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE - GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE RACES CHROME AND FRIEND HEAD INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES 11. VETERINARY FACILTIES, EQUINE & JOCKEYS WELFARE RESERVES AT ROYAL ASCOT 12. THE QUEEN AND ROYAL ASCOT 13. QIPCO HOLDING: OFFICIAL PARTNER AT ASCOT AND SPONSORS OF THE BRITISH CHAMPIONS SERIES 14. GIGASET NEW OFFICIAL PARTNER ASCOT S OFFICIAL SPONSORS AND SUPPLIERS ROYAL ASCOT DRESS CODE AND STYLE GUIDE 20. THE ROYAL ASCOT COLLECTIVE 21. ASCOT STORIES AND OTHER PROMOTIONAL FILMS TWITTER - #LIKENOWHEREELSE 22. ROYAL ASCOT FACTS AND FIGURES FINE DINING AT ROYAL ASCOT WITH SEVEN MICHELIN STARS ASCOT ITS HISTORY AND TRADITIONS ASCOT RACECOURSE KEY DATES RACE HISTORIES AND CONDITIONS 37. SECURITY AND CONFORT FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS DID YOU KNOW? THE ASCOT BOARD, MEDIA AND RACING CONTACTS, ACCREDITATION & MEDIA SERVICES 1

3 WELCOME TO ROYAL ASCOT FROM HER MAJESTY S REPRESENTATIVE Welcome to Royal Ascot Over five wonderful days, we will celebrate and enjoy the finest horseracing in the world. The racecourse was founded more than 300 years ago and the great champions of the thoroughbred breed have been tested and proven here over those three centuries. Royal Ascot is an engaging experience which is always about much more than horseracing. Many elements of fun and excitement will unite this week to make it an experience truly like no other for the 300,000 people expected to attend. Our programme of races is always evolving, as we strive to provide sport at its most compelling. For the first time, prize money this week will top 5.5m. Following a review of the sprinting programme in Europe, a new championship six furlong sprint for three-year-olds, the Commonwealth Cup, has been put into the Royal Ascot programme. The first running of this exciting race is on Friday. This brings the number of Group One events the best races in the world run at Royal Ascot to eight, which is almost a quarter of all the Group One races run in Britain each year. It is remarkable to reflect on how much the race programme at Royal Ascot, and indeed at Ascot Racecourse generally, has developed. At the end of the last millennium, there were just three Group One races run at Royal Ascot the Gold Cup, St James's Palace Stakes and Coronation Stakes. Since then, the Prince of Wales's Stakes, the Queen Anne Stakes, the Diamond Jubilee Stakes, the King s Stand Stakes and our new Commonwealth Cup have all attained that elite mark. The quality of the racing at Royal Ascot has increased consistently for two decades, and now this week is the most important race meeting in the world, attracting the best competitors from around the globe. A win at Royal Ascot confers the highest of reputations. We have seen the likes of Black Caviar and Animal Kingdom travel from Australia and the USA respectively in recent years, and we have been doing all we can during the last twelve months to attract champions from Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, the USA and from all over Europe. We also continue to enhance the facilities at the racecourse and I was delighted last year with the improvements made to the Silver Ring. In the Grandstand, we opened our new On5 Restaurant and in 2015 we have fully renovated our world class Parade Ring Restaurant. It s not just the horses that must be fed and watered to the highest standards! Fine dining, like fashion at Royal Ascot, is synonymous with the event and this year, Michelinstarred chefs Raymond Blanc, Michael Caines, Phil Howard and Angela Hartnett will be working with us. 2

4 Royal Ascot is British racing s window to the world and I would like to thank Channel 4 for their excellent coverage over the past two years. They have captured the unique flavour of this event brilliantly. I would also like to thank other broadcasters taking our meeting around the world, including Channel 7 in Australia who will be showing several full days live on their terrestrial network. Our sincere thanks go to QIPCO, Official Partners at Ascot through the year, including at the Royal Meeting, and also as sponsors of the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes in July and of QIPCO British Champions Day in October a day which itself has grown from staging two Group One races when it began in 2011, to four this year. Joining QIPCO as an Official Partner this year is telecommunications brand, Gigaset, who also become Official Consumer Electronics Partner of the racecourse. We very much look forward to working with them to raise awareness of their upcoming smartphone portfolio throughout the years ahead. Our objective at Royal Ascot is to have the best racing in the world, featuring the best racehorses on the planet over five astonishing days of pageantry, fashion, excitement and fun. I would like to welcome all our friends from the media, from home and abroad, and I hope that our show lives up to your expectations. Johnny Weatherby Her Majesty s Representative 3

5 NEW GROUP ONE COMMONWEALTH CUP TO BE RUN AT ROYAL ASCOT Following an extensive review of the European sprinting programme, a new Group One six furlong race, the Commonwealth Cup, has been added to the Royal Ascot programme this year. What becomes the eighth Group One race at Royal Ascot, open to three-year-old colts, geldings and fillies, will be run for 375,000 on the Friday card, replacing the Buckingham Palace Stakes it is felt that six race cards preserve quality and fit best at Royal Ascot. The Wolferton Stakes has been moved from Friday to Saturday with the Duke of Edinburgh Handicap transferred the other way, to ensure a competitive handicap is run as the fifth race on each day of Royal Ascot. Nick Smith, Head of Communications and International Racing at Ascot, said: Many discussions took place with the British Horseracing Authority and European Pattern Committee to address the decline in quality of European sprinters. As a result, we are very pleased to be able to stage what we hope will now become a significant new option for three-year-old sprinters at Royal Ascot before they go on to compete against their elders in the Darley July Cup and beyond. As part of the overall programme and to deliver the necessary end of season championship race in Europe at six furlongs, the QIPCO British Champions Sprint in October has been promoted to Group One. This brings the number of top level races run at Ascot annually to 13. In order to maximise the field for the new Royal Ascot sprint, the Diamond Jubilee Stakes is closed to three-year-olds going forward. Importantly for us, this won t have significant adverse effect on our overseas promotion of this race as southern hemisphere three-year-olds are counted as four-year-olds in the northern hemisphere. Equally, the sprinters we attract from Hong Kong, Japan, America and such like have almost always been older horses. The King s Stand Stakes remains open to three-year-olds as this is quite a different test to the stiff six furlongs at Ascot and all parties felt that three-year-olds should still have this option. Longer term, we are looking to attract horses that have run in championship two-year-old races in Australia like the Blue Diamond and the Golden Slipper to the Commonwealth Cup, as they are counted as three-year-olds in the northern hemisphere at Royal Ascot. We think the Commonwealth Cup has significant potential and were delighted, in year one of the new venture, to receive two entries for Australian two-year-olds, under the care of Gai Waterhouse and John O Shea. Wesley Ward, for the USA, entered three northern hemisphere three-year-olds. Royal Ascot prize money increases this year to 5,585,000 from 5,310,000 and a full running order is reproduced on the following page all 30 races are live on Channel 4 and Racing UK. 4

6 Tuesday 17th June 2014 Tuesday 16th June 2015 The Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1) 375,000 The Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1) 375,000 The Coventry Stakes (Group 2) 120,000 The Coventry Stakes (Group 2) 120,000 The King s Stand Stakes (Group 1) 375,000 The King s Stand Stakes (Group 1) 375,000 The St James s Palace Stakes (Group 1) 375,000 The St James s Palace Stakes (Group 1) 375,000 The Ascot Stakes (Handicap) 60,000 The Ascot Stakes (Handicap) 60,000 The Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed) 60,000 The Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed) 60,000 Wednesday 18th June 2014 Wednesday 17th June 2015 The Jersey Stakes (Group 3) 75,000 The Jersey Stakes (Group 3) 75,000 The Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2) 100,000 The Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2) 100,000 The Prince of Wales s Stakes (Group 1) 525,000 The Duke of Cambridge Stakes (Group 2) 135,000 The Duke of Cambridge Stakes (Group 2) 135,000 The Prince of Wales s Stakes (Group 1) 525,000 The Royal Hunt Cup (Heritage Handicap) 175,000 The Royal Hunt Cup (Heritage Handicap) 175,000 The Sandringham Stakes (Listed) (Handicap) 70,000 The Sandringham Stakes (Listed) (Handicap) Thursday 19th June 2014 Thursday 18th June ,000 The Norfolk Stakes (Group 2) 80,000 The Norfolk Stakes (Group 2) 80,000 The Tercentenary Stakes (Group 3) 75,000 The Tercentenary Stakes (Group 3) 75,000 The Ribblesdale Stakes (Group 2) 160,000 The Ribblesdale Stakes (Group 2) 160,000 The Gold Cup (Group 1) 375,000 The Gold Cup (Group 1) 375,000 The Britannia Stakes (Heritage Handicap) 120,000 The Britannia Stakes (Heritage Handicap) 120,000 The King George V Stakes (Handicap) 75,000 The King George V Stakes (Handicap) 75,000 Friday 20th June 2014 Friday 19th June 2015 The Albany Stakes (Group 3) 70,000 The Albany Stakes (Group 3) 70,000 The Wolferton Rated Stakes (Listed) 70,000 The King Edward VII Stakes (Group 2) 185,000 The King Edward VII Stakes (Group 2) 185,000 The Commonwealth Cup (Group 1) 375,000 The Coronation Stakes (Group 1) 375,000 The Coronation Stakes (Group 1) 375,000 The Queen s Vase (Listed) 85,000 The Duke of Edinburgh Stakes (Handicap) 75,000 The Buckingham Palace Stakes (Handicap) 100,000 The Queen s Vase (Listed) 85,000 Saturday 21st June 2014 Saturday 20th June 2015 The Chesham Stakes (Listed) 60,000 The Chesham Stakes (Listed) 60,000 The Duke of Edinburgh Stakes (Handicap) 75,000 The Wolferton Rated Stakes (Listed) 70,000 The Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2) 200,000 The Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2) 200,000 The Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Group 1) 525,000 The Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Group 1) 525,000 The Wokingham Stakes (Heritage Handicap) 175,000 The Wokingham Stakes (Heritage Handicap) 175,000 The Queen Alexandra Stakes (Conditions) 60,000 The Queen Alexandra Stakes (Conditions) 60,000 TOTAL 5,310,000 TOTAL 5,585,000 5

7 FIRST ASCOT RACECOURSE ECONOMIC IMPACT REPORT PUBLISHED In tandem with the first 5.5+ million Royal Meeting in 2015, the inaugural Economic Impact Report into the business of Ascot Racecourse, compiled by Deloitte, has been published. Headline findings from the report, assessed in terms of Ascot s contribution to the national economy, include the following key metrics for 2013: 138m total direct revenue generated by the racecourse comprised of 70m direct racecourse expenditure and 68m generated indirectly (accommodation, food & drink, transport, fashion etc). 573,000 attendees during the year (279,000 at Royal Ascot), 10% of the total national racecourse attendance. 4,650 people employed on the busiest days. 14.5m tax contribution. 350m+ off course betting turnover generated. 13.3m total prize money, 12% of the total national prize money on offer. 11 Group One races staged, 33% of the national total, over 26 race days (2% of the national total). There will be 13 Group One races from Over 200 horses trained outside Great Britain & Ireland ran at Royal Ascot between the racecourse reopening in 2006 and 2014, including 34 from the USA and 19 from Australia. 237m spend on capital expenditure during the ten years to and including The full report can be found here: _FINAL_WEB.pdf Guy Henderson, Chief Executive at Ascot, said: The report provides a fascinating snapshot into our business and figures for 2014 continued to show an upturn. Royal Ascot attendance increased from 279,000 to 286,000 and hospitality was up 20%. Away from Royal Ascot, perhaps the most significant addition to our programme in 2014 was the Red Bull Air Race World Championship leg which we staged in August. That brought in 50,000 people and with it, further economic benefits to the region to supplement those that come with our established year long race programme. The report demonstrates how important Ascot Racecourse is to the local, regional and national economy, as befits Europe s flagship racing venue. 6

8 33 MILLION FASHION SPEND GENERATED BY ASCOT RACECOURSE REVEALED AT STYLE GUIDE LAUNCH In March this year, in tandem with the annual launch of the latest Royal Ascot Style Guide at Fenwick, Bond Street, the annual contribution generated for the UK fashion industry by Ascot Racecourse was announced. Analysis from the Economic Impact of Ascot Racecourse report, conducted by Deloitte using full figures from 2013, revealed that Ascot racegoers spend an estimated 33m on fashion and related beauty treatments. This is just under half of the 68m that is generated by Ascot from off course expenditure (which includes fashion, accommodation, food and drink, and transport). Long seen as a spectacle of style, some 24m was spent on fashion and beauty treatments for Royal Ascot alone. This is just over half of the total expenditure directly related to Royal Ascot (at 48m). While there are variations in spending, the average Royal Ascot attendee is estimated to have spent over 150 on fashion items for the race meeting. Guy Henderson, Chief Executive of Ascot Racecourse, said: As we can see, Ascot Racecourse makes a significant contribution to the UK fashion industry. Not only is this great news for fashion brands across the country, but it demonstrates the positive impact the racecourse has beyond its immediate purpose as Europe s flagship racing venue. While racing is at the heart of Ascot, the fashion component is fundamental for us. It is part of the day that helps create the sense of occasion that our customers feel is so strongly associated with Royal Ascot. The dress code, which requires all women in the Royal Enclosure to wear a hat and those in the Grandstand to wear a hat or fascinator, is an integral part of setting the standards that our customers expect. In addition, many racegoers buy outfits especially for Royal Ascot. Thousands of morning suits are hired and beauty treatments are an important part of the preparation for our racegoers. The Style Guides are aimed at clarifying the dress codes for visitors whilst also showcasing looks for the summer. They were unveiled with a fashion show at high-end department store Fenwick by Martha Ward, the British stylist and Royal Ascot TV Fashion presenter, and acclaimed British milliner, Piers Atkinson. The style guide video and pdf can be viewed at: Royal Ascot is a key moment in the calendar for high-end department store Fenwick. Based on Bond Street and with a further 10 stores nationwide, Fenwick s preparation begins with an Ascot inspired window display from the second May bank holiday weekend. As a result of Royal Ascot last year, Fenwick saw hat sales double from 16 May and steadily rise to the week ending 20 June where sales had increased by 400%. Fenwick also sees a huge increase in hair and makeup sales before the event. 7

9 ASCOT ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE AND THE GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE Ascot is home to Europe s premier race meeting, Royal Ascot; to Europe s mid-summer middle distance championship, the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (sponsored by QIPCO, July); to the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup (August), a unique international jockeys team event; and to the culmination of the European season, QIPCO British Champions Day (October). Considered the standard-bearer for international racing within Europe, Ascot actively seeks to strengthen its programme through the participation of horses from all around the world. The racecourse has welcomed runners from Australia, New Zealand, America, Hong Kong, Japan, South Africa and all over Europe in recent years, none higher profile and more groundbreaking than Choisir, who landed the King s Stand Stakes/Golden Jubilee Stakes double for Australia in 2003, paving the way for wins for compatriots Takeover Target, Miss Andretti, Scenic Blast and Black Caviar. In 2005, Ascot set up a sprinting series, the Global Sprint Challenge, with Racing Victoria and the Victoria Racing Club in Australia and the Japan Racing Association. The Hong Kong Jockey Club, Newmarket Racecourses, the Singapore Turf Club and the Dubai Racing Club have subsequently joined and the series now numbers 10 races from February to December. Since the inauguration of the Global Sprint Challenge, close to 60 participants trained outside Europe have lined up in the two sprints at Royal Ascot. In 2005, the King s Stand Stakes was worth 140,000 and the Diamond Jubilee Stakes 250,000. Both have increased significantly in value to reflect their growing international significance and the Diamond Jubilee Stakes now has prize money of 525,000, with the King s Stand Stakes valued at 375,000. With 500,000 on offer for the Darley July Cup, the third European leg of the Challenge, there is 1,400,000 available for the world s top sprinters across the three UK legs. A US$1 million bonus pool is available to the connections of any horse which wins three challenge legs in three different countries. GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE RACES Black Caviar Lightning (Group One) February 21 Flemington, Australia Gulf News Dubai Golden Shaheen (Group One) March 28 Meydan, Dubai Takamatsunomiya Kinen (Group One) March 29 Chukyo, Japan KrisFlyer International Sprint (Group One) May 17 Kranji, Singapore King s Stand Stakes (Group One) June 16 Royal Ascot, UK Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Group One) June 20 Royal Ascot, UK Darley July Cup (Group One) July 11 Newmarket, UK Sprinters Stakes (Group One) October 4 Nigata, Japan Darley Classic (Group One) November 7 Flemington, Australia Longines Hong Kong Sprint (Group One) December 13 Sha Tin, Hong Kong 8

10 CHROME AND FRIEND HEAD INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES 388 entries representing 10 countries were received in April for the eight Group One races to be staged at Royal Ascot this year headlined by America s Horse, California Chrome (Art Sherman) and the world s best miler, Hong Kong s Able Friend (John Moore). The number of entries for the established seven Group One races (311) pretty much mirrored the number received in 2014 (309). However, with a bumper entry of 77 in the new Commonwealth Cup, by far the highest entry received for any Group One race at the Royal Meeting this year, no fewer than 388 entries were taken in total, including a record number from France (46). Entries for Royal Ascot were received from the UK (237), Ireland (75), France (46), the USA (11), Australia (8), Hong Kong (4), Germany (3), Japan (2), Spain (1) and Sweden (1). The Prince of Wales s Stakes is shaping up as a truly international clash with 2014 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, California Chrome, recently second in the Dubai World Cup, already in the UK ahead of the Royal Meeting, Spielberg (Kazuo Fujisawa), winner of the Group One Tenno Sho (Autumn) in November (defeating Japan s Horse Of The Year Gentildonna in the process), is set to represent Japan whilst Criterion (David Hayes), winner of the Group One Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes at The Championships in Sydney earlier in the month, could carry the Australian flag. Ireland s emerging star, Free Eagle (Dermot Weld), Ascot regular and French stalwart Cirrus Des Aigles (Corine Barande-Barbe) and The Grey Gatsby (Kevin Ryan), trained in the UK to win the Irish Champion Stakes last year, are amongst a strong European contingent lying in wait. The Queen Anne Stakes could feature a fascinating showdown between Able Friend and France s recent winner of the Dubai Turf, Solow (Freddy Head). Also possibles are Lelouch (Kazuo Fujisawa) for Japan and last year s Breeders Cup Mile winner, Karakontie (Jonathan Pease), another strong option for France. All eyes at the beginning of the week will be on Ireland s Sole Power (Eddie Lynam), who will be bidding for an unprecedented third King s Stand Stakes win. Opposition from Australia is set to come through Brazen Beau (Chris Waller) and Shamal Wind (Robert Smerdon), both Group One winners on their last starts. Undrafted (Wesley Ward) and Holy Lute (James Cassidy) have been entered for the USA and Gold-Fun (Richard Gibson) is in the race for Hong Kong. Brazen Beau, Undrafted and Gold-Fun are also entered for the Diamond Jubilee Stakes along with Wandjina (Gai Waterhouse), winner of the Group One Australian Guineas, Not Listenin tome (John Moore) and the fascinating Big Macher (Richard Baltas), a most unlucky fifth in the Dubai Golden Shaheen for the USA. The King s Stand Stakes and Diamond Jubilee Stakes are the first British legs of the Global Sprint Challenge, which continues with the Darley July Cup at Newmarket in July. 9

11 The Gold Cup features recent Dubai Gold Cup winner, Brown Panther (Tom Dascombe), along with QIPCO Long Distance Cup winner, Forgotten Rules (Dermot Weld), amongst an assembly of all the top emerging and established quality stayers in Europe. The St James s Palace Stakes and Coronation Stakes will likely as not provide a showdown for Europe s top Classic generation milers, following the English, French and Irish Guineas and they could be joined by Americans Hootenanny and Luck of the Kitten (both Wesley Ward) in the St James s Palace and by Miss Temple City (Graham Motion) in the Coronation. Amongst the huge entry for the Commonwealth Cup are last year s star two-year-old fillies, Anthem Alexander (Eddie Lynam) and Tiggy Wiggy (Richard Hannon), first and second in the 2014 Queen Mary Stakes; Coventry Stakes and Middle Park Stakes winner, The Wow Signal (John Quinn), and entries for the USA; Hootenanny, Luck of the Kitten and Sunset Glow (all Wesley Ward). Of significant interest also are the two entries for Australia, who are Southern Hemisphere two-year-olds; Godolphin s Holler (John O Shea) and the once-raced Cyrus Rocks (Gai Waterhouse). Guy Henderson, Chief Executive at Ascot, commented: To have 10 countries represented at the initial stage is very pleasing, especially as there are star international names in the two races we most want to build as global events the Prince of Wales s Stakes and the Queen Anne Stakes. There is a long way to go, of course, but to have champions from the USA, Hong Kong, Japan and Australia either here or under serious consideration for Royal Ascot, where the very best from Europe including the powerhouses of Coolmore, Godolphin, Qatar Racing, Juddmonte and Al Shaqab naturally gravitate, is exactly where we would want to be at entry stage. We are very grateful to all connections from home and abroad for providing the initial cast for what will hopefully be the racing event of the summer. Nick Smith, Head of Communications and International Racing at Ascot, added: As much as the names of the horses, the names of the trainers pay testament to the lure of Royal Ascot as there are none more high profile in their respective homes than the likes of John Moore, Gai Waterhouse, Chris Waller and Kazuo Fujisawa, the latter pair who will be having their first Royal Ascot runners all being well. It is great too to see Wesley Ward aiming a big team at the meeting again. We are particularly delighted that of all the races, the new Commonwealth Cup has the most entries, rewarding the confidence of the responsible parties that there was a requirement for this race on the programme. To get American and Australian entries in year one is an added bonus. All 8 Group One races at Royal Ascot are part of the QIPCO British Champion Series, which is further explained later in this guide. 10

12 VETERINARY FACILITIES, EQUINE & JOCKEYS WELFARE The safety and welfare of horses and jockeys is paramount throughout the year at Ascot and nowhere is this better demonstrated than in the changes made to the racing surface itself during the redevelopment (Ascot reopened in 2006). The key elements of the project were to camber the home and old paddock bends and, crucially, to remove the road crossings over the track, replacing them with underpasses. This has created a safer race track for the horses, where previously some less experienced runners had occasionally shied at the differing surfaces. Four specifically qualified equine vets (five for the major meetings including Royal Ascot), led by Senior Veterinary Surgeon, Svend Kold, are on duty every race day at Ascot, dedicated to the welfare of all the horses. During each race, vets follow the runners by car and can respond to and attend a casualty generally within a minute as fast as the paramedic teams responsible for human casualties. There are two equine ambulances (three for Royal Ascot) on course at all times and three ambulances for any incidents involving injuries to jockeys. Ascot s two permanent veterinary boxes are supplemented with an X-Ray machine for the major meetings to assist with swift diagnosis before administration of treatment on site or any movement necessary to equine hospitals. The jockeys facilities at Ascot include a medical treatment room, rest rooms and a dedicated room for physiotherapy. During Royal Ascot, there are six doctors on site, led by Senior Racecourse Medical Officer, Dr Roger Goulds, specifically to deal with any jockey injuries. RESERVES AT ROYAL ASCOT Reserves will be declared at the 48-hour stage for all Royal Ascot eligible handicaps. Up to three reserves can replace non-runners any time up to 9am the day before the race. Eligible races are the Royal Hunt Cup, the Britannia, the King George V, the Wokingham and the Duke of Edinburgh handicaps. 11

13 THE QUEEN AND ROYAL ASCOT When the Diamond Jubilee Royal Ascot of 2012 was lit up by Estimate s win in the Queen s Vase, who would have thought that 12 months later The Queen s filly would be back to etch her name onto the greatest Ascot roll of honour by winning the Gold Cup. That emotional moment was the highlight of a memorable week and thousands of racegoers cheered from the moment winning jockey Ryan Moore saluted the Royal Box to the presentation of the trophy to The Queen, which she received from her son, The Duke of York. Estimate provided The Queen s 22nd Royal Ascot winner. The last few years have been something of a golden period for The Queen as an owner as, in addition to Estimate s double, her Carlton House was second to the great former Australiantrained So You Think in the 2012 Prince of Wales s Stakes. The Queen s previous Royal Ascot winner had come on the final day of the 2008 meeting when Free Agent came from a seemingly impossible position to win the Chesham Stakes, ending a blank period stretching back to The Queen s involvement with racing began in 1952 and her first winner, Monaveen, owned jointly with her mother, came in a humble Fontwell jump race. On the death of her father, King George VI, The Queen inherited the Royal string of Flat horses, which at the time were mainly trained by Cecil Boyd-Rochford and Noel Murless. It didn t take long for her first top horse to come along. Aureole, by the great Hyperion, was second to Pinza in the 1953 Derby and he must rank as one of The Queen s best horses, with victories in the 1954 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Hardwicke Stakes. Aureole went on to be champion sire in Britain. The Queen s first Royal Ascot success came when Choir Boy landed the 1953 Royal Hunt Cup, one of 11 successes during the 1950s, with others including 1957 Ribblesdale Stakes winner Almeria, who went on to finish second in the King George, and Pall Mall, who took the 1957 New Stakes en route to victory in the 2,000 Guineas the following year. The 1960s were a quieter time for the Royal thoroughbreds, although Aiming High landed the 1961 Coronation Stakes and Hopeful Venture the 1968 Hardwicke Stakes. But The Queen s racing fortunes returned in the 1970s, helped by the brilliant Dick Hern-trained filly Highclere, who won the 1,000 Guineas and French Oaks in 1974 before finishing second to Dahlia in that year s King George. As Silver Jubilee celebrations were being held throughout the land in 1977, a filly came along that would ensure a year of tremendous success for the Royal colours, with Dunfermline winning both the Oaks and St Leger. 12

14 QIPCO HOLDING: OFFICIAL PARTNER AT ASCOT AND SPONSORS OF THE BRITISH CHAMPIONS SERIES QIPCO Holding are an Official Partner of Ascot and Royal Ascot, sponsors of the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July and of the QIPCO British Champions Series, culminating on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot in October. For the fourth consecutive year, QIPCO will back the coveted top jockey and top trainer awards at Royal Ascot. Trophies for QIPCO Royal Ascot Top Jockey and QIPCO Royal Ascot Top Trainer will be presented on the final day of the meeting to the jockey and trainer amassing the most wins during the week, with places counted back in the event of a tie. Last year s winners were Ryan Moore and Sir Michael Stoute. QIPCO British Champions Day, 17th October, is the richest day s racing in Britain at 4 million. The day features the 1,300,000 Champion Stakes, the 1,000,000 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, the 600,000 British Champions Sprint Stakes, the 550,000 British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes, and the 300,000 British Champions Long Distance Cup - all sponsored by QIPCO. The British Champions Sprint has been promoted to Group One status this year, following the promotion of the stayers race to Group Two in 2014 and the fillies and mares race to Group One in Four of the five championship races are now Group Ones. When the day was inaugurated in 2011, there were just two Group One races on the card. The programme for QIPCO British Champions Day consists of four Group One races, a Group Two and, added last year, the hugely successful 250,000 Balmoral Handicap (sponsored by QIPCO), Europe s most valuable mile handicap. To gain a place in the race, a horse must finish in the first six in one of 18 nominated lead-up events including the Royal Hunt Cup and Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot. QIPCO also sponsor the British Champions Series which begins with the QIPCO 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas in May and culminates on QIPCO British Champions Day. There are five series race categories. Four categories are by race distance Middle Distance, Mile, Sprint and Long Distance, and a separate Fillies and Mares category also operates. Royal Ascot, with all eight Group One races designated to their appropriate categories, will play a significant part in the series once again, along with the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (sponsored by QIPCO) in July. 13

15 GIGASET NEW OFFICIAL PARTNER The Gigaset Group, a leading name in the telecommunications and consumer electronics sector, were announced as a new Official Partner of Ascot Racecourse and Royal Ascot in May. As a premier partner of Ascot Racecourse, the Gigaset brand will feature throughout Ascot s programme including Royal Ascot. The partnership will initially run for five years. Gigaset are designated Official Partner and Official Consumer Electronics Partner at Ascot and their Chief Executive, Charles Fränkl, welcomed the agreement: Gigaset is very proud to be Official Partner of Ascot and Royal Ascot. This partnership heralds a new phase in Gigaset history as we move to develop further smart product technologies, including mobile devices and smartphones. Ascot and Gigaset have many things in common such as the way both organisations blend tradition with modernity and demonstrate a shared passion for quality and style. This partnership will help us to further raise awareness of our brand and bring our message Wherever you go to life. Gigaset will also be sponsoring two races at meetings later this year: the Gigaset International Handicap Stakes to be run on 25th July, and the Cumberland Lodge Stakes on 3rd October. Guy Henderson, Chief Executive at Ascot Racecourse, said: We are delighted to have made this announcement. Ascot is about exceptional standards of elegance and traditional values whilst always endeavouring to make the most of modern technological advances for the benefit of our visitors. Gigaset mirrors our own philosophy with dedication to high quality engineering combined with forward thinking technology. Juliet Slot, Commercial Director at Ascot, added: The announcement of Gigaset as Official Partner, joining QIPCO in the premier tier of our commercial programme, is a genuine landmark moment for us. Gigaset is a new investor in British racing at the highest level and, as a consumer electronics company, also a new sector for us to be involved in. We look forward to exploring all kinds of customer facing initiatives, joint marketing and other opportunities with our new partners. Gigaset AG, Munich, is an internationally operating company in the area of communications technology. It is Europe s market leader in DECT telephones. The premium supplier is likewise the leader worldwide with around 1,400 employees and sales activities in around 70 countries. Under the name Gigaset pro, the company continues to develop and market innovative business telephony solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises. The company also operates in the smart home arena. Cutting-edge, cloud-based products and solutions for the smart home are developed and marketed under the name Gigaset elements. Gigaset AG is listed on the Prime Standard of Deutsche Börse and is therefore subject to the highest requirements for transparency. Main shareholder is Goldin Investments Pte. Ltd. from Singapore. Gigaset s shares are traded on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol GGS (ISIN: DE ). 14

16 ASCOT S OFFICIAL SPONSORS AND SUPPLIERS Longines Official Timekeeper and Official Watch The Longines chronometer will be in position close to the winning post along with an elegant clock in the parade ring throughout the year. Race times appear on Channel 4, Racing UK and Ascot TV. The winning connections of any horse which breaks a track record at Ascot throughout the flat season will be presented with Longines watches. Appletiser Official Soft Drink Created in 1966, Appletiser has no added sugar, colours or preservatives. Appletiser and Apple & Pomegranate are served at bars throughout the racecourse and hospitality guests in the Sandringham Restaurant will be welcomed with the Appletiser Classic Cocktail. Bollinger Official Champagne A range of Bollinger champagnes in small and large formats will be available across the racecourse. Hospitality guests in the Parade Ring Restaurant will enjoy Bollinger poured with lunch. There are two exclusive Bollinger Bars in the Royal Enclosure Gardens plus the stylish Bollinger Lounge on the Motivator Lawn. Dubai Duty Free Official Sponsor Dubai Duty Free supports the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup in August which is the headline of their year round association with Ascot. dunhill Official Menswear dunhill are the Official Menswear supplier for Ascot. For more than a century, they have been synonymous with the finest men s luxury goods and apparel. From comparatively humble beginnings in London in the final years of the 1890s, Alfred Dunhill s company is now a global operation, with 135 stores in 18 different countries. Garrard Official Trophy, Silver and Glassware Supplier Garrard creations have been prized by discerning clients for over 280 years. They have designed and created five key trophies for 2015 the Gold Cup, the Queen s Vase and the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot, plus trophies for the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. They have a pop-up retail outlet on the Motivator Lawn this year. Harrogate Water Official Water As The Original British Bottled Water, Harrogate is internationally-renowned as one of the finest still and sparkling spring waters. Awarded Best Sparkling Water in the World, Harrogate is recognised not only for its exceptional mineral balance and purity, but also for its distinctive, classically British style. Available across the site. 15

17 Sodexo Official Hospitality As lead caterer, Sodexo is responsible for the delivery of the unique quality and range of catering expected and enjoyed by visitors to Royal Ascot. Stella Artois Official Beer and Cidre Stella Artois is part of a Belgian brewing tradition dating back to It is the No. 1 Belgian beer in the world and is present in over 80 countries. Stella Artois is a bottom filtered, blonde pilsner. It is thirst quenching with a malty middle and crisp finish delivering a full flavour and a hint of bitterness. Stella Artois is best enjoyed served between 3 and 5 degree Celsius and should be served in the unique Stella Artois Chalice according to the 9-Step Pouring Ritual to guarantee a perfect experience of this gold standard lager. Stella Artois is available across the site. BMW BMW has provided vehicles and drivers to transport guests flying into Royal Ascot by helicopter to and from the helipad. 16

18 ROYAL ASCOT DRESS CODE AND STYLE GUIDE Royal Ascot is a unique, stand alone event in the sporting and social calendar and dressing accordingly is part of the experience. Once again, a Style Guide has been produced for visitors, aimed at bringing the wording to life. The film and brochure can be viewed at: FULL DRESS CODE The dress code set out below is designed to help racegoers to dress appropriately for the occasion. Please note that a different dress code applies for each enclosure. ROYAL ENCLOSURE Ladies Ladies are kindly reminded that formal day wear is a requirement in the Royal Enclosure, defined as follows: Dresses and skirts should be of modest length defined as falling just above the knee or longer. Dresses and tops should have straps of one inch or greater. Jackets and pashminas may be worn but dresses and tops underneath should still comply with the Royal Enclosure dress code. Trouser suits are welcome. They should be of full length and of matching material and colour. Hats should be worn; a headpiece which has a base of 4 inches (10cm) or more in diameter is acceptable as an alternative to a hat. Ladies are kindly asked to note the following: Strapless, off the shoulder, halter neck, spaghetti straps and dresses with a strap of less than one inch (2.5cm) are not permitted. Midriffs must be covered. Fascinators are not permitted in the Royal Enclosure; neither are headpieces which do not have a base covering a sufficient area of the head (4 inches / 10cm). 17

19 Gentlemen Gentlemen are kindly reminded that it is a requirement to wear either black or grey morning dress which must include: A waistcoat and tie (no cravats) A black or grey top hat Black shoes A gentleman may remove his top hat within a restaurant, a private box, a private club or that facility s terrace, balcony or garden. Hats may also be removed within any enclosed external seating area within the Royal Enclosure Garden. The customisation of top hats (with, for example, coloured ribbons or bands) is not permitted in the Royal Enclosure. Children (admitted on Friday and Saturday only) Girls (aged 10-16) should be dressed for a formal occasion. Smart summer dresses are suggested. Hats, headpieces or a fascinator may be worn but are not compulsory. Boys (aged 10-16) should either dress in accordance with the gentlemen s dress code (as set out above); or alternatively may wear a dark-coloured lounge suit with a shirt and tie (whereupon no hat is required). Overseas Visitors Overseas visitors are welcome to wear the formal National Dress of their country or Service Dress. Serving Military Personnel Serving military personnel are welcome to wear Service Dress or equivalent. GRANDSTAND ADMISSION Ladies Ladies within the main Grandstand enclosure are encouraged to dress in a manner as befits a formal occasion. Ladies are kindly asked to take particular note of the following: A hat, headpiece or fascinator should be worn at all times. Strapless or sheer strap dresses and tops are not permitted. 18

20 Trousers must be full length and worn with a top that adheres to the guidelines above (i.e. strapless or sheer strap tops are not permitted). Jackets and pashminas may be worn but dresses and tops underneath should still comply with the Grandstand Admission dress code. Midriffs must be covered. Shorts are not permitted. Gentlemen Gentlemen are required to wear a suit with a shirt and tie. Children Girls (17 or under) should be dressed for a formal occasion. Smart summer dresses are suggested. Hats, headpieces or a fascinator may be worn but are not compulsory. Boys aged (13-17) should wear a suit or jacket with a shirt and a tie. Younger boys (12 or under) should be dressed smartly but are not required to wear a jacket or tie. General All Royal Enclosure compliant attire, as defined in this document, is welcome in the Grandstand. DRESS CODE ASSISTANTS ROYAL ENCLOSURE AND GRANDSTAND For the fourth year, a specially trained team of Dress Code Assistants will be on hand outside the racecourse to help visitors with any last minute concerns over their attire and provide helpful suggestions. A selection of waistcoats, ties, pashminas and other items will be available for purchase at the turnstiles for those who need them. SILVER RING Whilst we encourage racegoers to wear smart clothes, no formal dress code applies in the Silver Ring except that replica sports shirts are not permitted. GENERAL In addition to the specific guidance in this document, please note that fancy dress, novelty and branded/promotional clothing is not allowed on site. Ascot Racecourse recognises that there may be instances where a degree of discretion is required in determining compliance with our dress code. In such instances, reasonable judgement will be exercised. 19

21 THE ROYAL ASCOT COLLECTIVE Ascot Racecourse has collaborated with six of the UK s most exciting milliners to produce a unique and stunning six piece collection: The Royal Ascot Collective. The Royal Ascot Collective features individual pieces from iconic and world renowned milliners Stephen Jones, Philip Treacy, Piers Atkinson, Noel Stewart, Rachel Trevor Morgan and William Chambers. Royal Ascot and millinery go hand-in-hand and this is a platform to celebrate British millinery with the best of British based hatters. Each of the milliners involved has a strong relationship and history with Royal Ascot which accumulates beautifully in this stunning collection which is available directly from the milliners. The contrast between the hats is complemented by an ethereal and neutral colour palette, letting the design take centre stage. Piers Atkinson s Royal Ascot hat is an ivory sinamay cartwheel with a feminine round crown and the whole is festooned with white flowers from an idyllic English country garden. The hat, and therefore its wearer, is a chic grand-statement and suggests élan and éclat but is still completely feminine and charming. Atkinson says: Royal Ascot is a thrilling event for milliners; we see a vast array of hats and hat wearers and the event is truly a designer barometer of style. Every type of well-dressed woman is in attendance and all share the same two elements; all are well dressed and elegantly feminine and that is why this lovely wide-brimmed, floral design is my choice for the Collective. Stephen Jones hat Hysteria Wisteria is very modern and playful; it s Wisteria growing upside down and in his own words you re very kissable in it. Noel Stewart designed his hat as part of a story about the English country garden and the elegance it inspires. He says: The clean and soft flowers combined with the classic boater shape create the perfect sophisticated summer mood for Royal Ascot. William Chambers said: Our Crin Knot Backsweep in the collection takes a classic style and gives it a modern twist, making it perfect for Royal Ascot. It has the illusion of being a large wide brimmed hat, but is actually quiet narrow in depth, making it easy to wear, with the large golden knot ensuring it is a real statement piece. Rachel Trevor Morgan said: I was thrilled to be asked to design a hat for this year s Royal Ascot Collective. It is the best hat wearing event in the world. My Royal Ascot hat is the height of femininity. A straw slice in a soft grey mesh; from one side it appears simple but dramatic, from the other tumbles an array of hand-made roses and dip dyed feathers. The hat has been stitched by hand with each rose petal cut and hand rolled individually. Philip Treacy said: Royal Ascot is the most stylish and iconic horse racing in the world. The hat I ve designed is a sweeping wave in sinamay with overlay, buntal ribbons and rosettes. 20

22 ASCOT STORIES AND OTHER PROMOTIONAL FILMS Ascot Racecourse has produced a collection of Royal Ascot stories to celebrate the diversity of activity around the Royal Meeting and the people, past and present, which make it an event like no other. Presented here is an online collection of stories (broken into sections about Racing, Style, Pageantry and Fine Dining) which give a glimpse into the personalities, anecdotes and history that make the Royal Meeting so special. Please visit to discover hidden gems and stories to capture the imagination and bring the Royal Meeting to life. Royal Ascot stories Link to the racing section of Royal Ascot Stories Keep up to date with news from Ascot Racecourse by accessing You Tube Channel Films include: An overview of Royal Ascot An overview of the restaurants and chefs at Royal Ascot this year An overview of the three main Enclosures - Royal Enclosure - Grandstand - Silver Ring Ascot is also celebrating 50 years of Jumps racing at the course in TWITTER - the racecourse s Twitter voice, has over 40,000 followers and throughout the Royal Meeting it will provide up to date results, news and information along with racing previews, discussion and fashion commentary. Please use: #LikeNowhereElse 21

23 ROYAL ASCOT FACTS AND FIGURES Attendance at Royal Ascot in 2014 was 285,831 (279,452 in 2013). Public Grandstand capacity has been phased down by 5,000 since ,000 ticket holders were previously using the public Grandstand area and the maximum on any given day now is 20,000. Additionally 1,000 of those ticket holders actually use The Furlong Club, the private Grandstand upgrade area. Silver Ring capacity has been phased down from 24,000 to 20,000 in tandem. The combined effect is an enhanced experience for ticket holders. All 30 races at Royal Ascot will be shown live on Channel 4 and Racing UK and, through Pitch International and GBI Racing, pictures are distributed to approximately 200 countries worldwide. Such is the relevance of Royal Ascot in Australia that the meeting is shown on terrestrial television there on Channel Chefs will work across 12 restaurants and the 222 private boxes at Royal Ascot 2015, providing 35,000 covers. At Royal Ascot 2014 racegoers enjoyed 51,000 bottles of champagne; 160,000 glasses of Pimms; 131,000 pints of beer; 5,000 kilos of salmon; 7,000 Cornish and Folkestone crabs; 2,900 lobsters; 2,400 kilos of beef sirloin; 3,700 rumps of English lamb; 10,000 Angus steaks; 89,000 bottles of mineral water and 42,000 bottles of wine. 45,000 guests taking afternoon tea last year consumed 1,000 kilos of clotted cream along with 50,000 macaroons, 30,000 chocolate éclairs and 7,000 punnets of berries. Across 88 bars and restaurants, a record 160,000 rounds of drinks were served in The Cheese on Toast outlet on the Grandstand lawns sold the equivalent in height of the London Eye! There are 175 stable boxes at Ascot Racecourse to accommodate an average of 100 runners per day but the boxes are nearly always full with runners for the next day s racing (approximately 60) also accommodated. 700 bales of shavings and 500 bales of paper are used for stable bedding over the week. Approximately 400 helicopters and 1,000 limos descend on Royal Ascot every year. There are 2,400 cleaners working on a 24-hour cycle during the week and there are 300 mobile toilet facilities installed temporarily for the week. 25,000 people signed into Ascot s free wifi at last year s Royal Meeting and 30,000 tweets were logged using the hashtag #RoyalAscot. Over Royal Ascot 2014, over 5.5 million posts, check ins and likes were recorded on Ascot s Facebook page. In 2014, Ascot Racecourse recycled 622 tonnes of waste during the year as part of its commitment to being a green and sustainable environment by reducing its impact on the carbon footprint. 22

24 FINE DINING AT ROYAL ASCOT WITH SEVEN MICHELIN STARS Chefs Michael Caines and Phil Howard are hosting restaurants at the 2015 Royal Meeting Raymond Blanc has designed an exclusive menu for guests in the private boxes Angela Hartnett has created exclusive picnics for Royal Enclosure guests in the Winning Post Gardens Henrietta Lovell, owner of the Rare Tea Company, returns for 2015 with a bespoke Royal Ascot blend Fine Dining at Royal Ascot 2015 will be headlined by twice Michelin starred chefs Michael Caines and Phil Howard, who will each host a restaurant on all five days of the Royal Meeting this year. Michael and Phil will be joined by Raymond Blanc, who is designing an exclusive menu for this year s private boxes, and Angela Hartnett, who is creating an exclusive picnic for Royal Enclosure guests in the Winning Post Gardens in partnership with Smart. Between them, the chefs involved hold seven Michelin stars and will create an exciting, high quality Fine Dining experience for racegoers this year. Michael Caines was mentored by Raymond Blanc at Le Manoir aux Quat Saisons in Oxfordshire and is now Executive Chef at Gidleigh Park. He will be serving his distinctive modern European cuisine in On5, Ascot s multi-million pound restaurant that opened to excellent reviews at the Royal Meeting in Phil Howard, co-owner of the Square and winner of Great British Menu in 2012 will bring his love of home grown ingredients to create a spectacular menu in The Panoramic Restaurant. Michael Caines said: Ascot is renowned for its excellent Fine Dining and wonderful service and Royal Ascot is one of Britain s most prestigious sporting and social occasions. It s an amazing venue and I am very proud to be a part of this year s event. I hope my passion for cooking combined with the unique surroundings and added flair of the experience I bring from Gidleigh Park will create an unforgettable day for my guests. Phil Howard added: I came to Royal Ascot for the first time in 2014, as a guest, and was bowled over by what a unique and truly spectacular occasion it is. I m really looking forward to being a part of this year s event, from the kitchen this time, and using my interest in British ingredients to create a stunning menu to match the spectacle of a day at Royal Ascot. We have been growing our own vegetables within the grounds of Fulham Palace for a year now and using them at The Square is something I am very proud of. I am greatly looking forward to bringing them to the Royal Meeting this year. Angela Hartnett, one of Britain's most successful and best-loved chefs, is creating exclusive picnics for Royal Enclosure guests in the Winning Post Gardens. 35,000 guests enjoy Fine Dining at Royal Ascot every year, attracted by the combination of internationally revered chefs, innovative menus and the unique spectacle of the Royal Meeting. 23

25 There are 12 restaurants to choose from, each with their own individual flavour. The broad range ensures there is a choice to suit all tastes and budgets for both private and corporate guests. In all of Ascot s restaurants and private boxes, an award-winning Royal Ascot blend of loose leaf tea is served as part of the traditional Royal Ascot Afternoon Tea. The bespoke blend was created in 2014 by world-renowned tea connoisseur Henrietta Lovell, owner of the Rare Tea Company. Juliet Slot, Commercial Director at Ascot Racecourse, said: Royal Ascot sits at the heart of the British summer season and offers a unique occasion for all our customers. We aspire to offer the very best in Fine Dining set against the backdrop of some of the best racing in the world. Whether it is your first time, or a regular occasion, we aim to make the day unique; a special occasion whether it be a private or corporate booking. Guests at Royal Ascot 2015 can savour the delights of world-renowned chefs including Michael Caines, Phil Howard and Raymond Blanc. We are also delighted to be working closely with several prestigious catering partners including Sodexo, Rhubarb and Smart, with menus designed by Angela Hartnett. We believe that everyone should be able to experience fresh, delicious and innovative food at Royal Ascot whatever their budget. We continue to refine our range based on feedback from our customers to ensure Royal Ascot is a must-attend event every year and always delivers over the standard that visitors expect. 24

26 ASCOT - ITS HISTORY AND TRADITIONS It was Queen Anne who first saw the potential for a racecourse at Ascot, which in those days was called East Cote. Whilst out riding in 1711, she came upon an area of open heath, not far from Windsor Castle, that looked an ideal place for horses to gallop at full stretch. The first race meeting ever held at Ascot took place on Saturday, August 11, Her Majesty s Plate, worth 100 Guineas and open to any horse, mare or gelding over the age of six, was the inaugural event. Each horse was required to carry a weight of 12st and seven runners took part. This contest bore little resemblance to racing seen at Ascot today. The seven horses were all English Hunters, quite different to the speedy thoroughbreds that race on the Flat now. The race consisted of three separate heats which were four miles long (each heat was about the length of the Grand National), so the winner would have been a horse with tremendous stamina. Sadly, there is no record of the winner of the first Plate. The racecourse was laid out by William Lowen, who was assisted by a team of helpers; William Erlybrown, a carpenter, Benjamin Cluchett, a painter, and John Grape, who prepared the paperwork for racing. The first permanent building was erected in 1793 by George Slingsby, a Windsor builder. It held 1,650 people and was used until In 1813, Parliament passed an Act of Enclosure. This Act ensured that Ascot Heath, although the property of the Crown, would be kept and used as a racecourse for the public in the future. Racing at Ascot was now secure. The precise origin of the Royal Meeting is unclear. It was an event that evolved, perhaps, rather than was introduced at a specific time, but the first four-day meeting took place in Arguably, the meeting as we know it today started to take shape with the introduction of the Gold Cup in Gold Cup Day is the third day of Royal Ascot. Although you won t find it in any marketing or promotional literature, Thursday is colloquially known as Ladies Day. The term Ladies Day seems to have been first used in 1823, when an anonymous poet described the Thursday of the Royal Meeting as Ladies Day, when the women, like angels, look sweetly divine. In the formative years, Thursday was certainly the dominant day in terms of the racing, attracting the largest crowds and, it must be assumed from the emergence of the term, more ladies! Almost every racecourse markets a Ladies Day now but the great charm of the original is that it has not been manufactured. It is the public, not the racecourse, who call it Ladies Day. The Gold Cup is Ascot s oldest surviving race, and the winning owners receive a gold trophy which becomes their property. Trophies to keep are only awarded for three races at the Royal Meeting, the other two being the Queen s Vase, inaugurated in 1838 to commemorate Queen Victoria s accession, and the Royal Hunt Cup (1843). For all other races, trophies are awarded which are returned to Ascot and presented each year. 25

27 It was at around the time of the first running of the Gold Cup that the roots of today s traditional Royal Enclosure dress code emerged. Beau Brummell, a close friend of the Prince Regent, decreed that men of elegance should wear waisted black coats and white cravats with pantaloons. Over the years, this has evolved into the wearing of morning suits and equally formal clothes for ladies, who must wear hats. Although a Royal Stand dates back to the 1790s, the Royal Enclosure that current regulars are used to at Ascot was conceived in 1822 when King George IV commissioned a two-storey stand to be built with a surrounding lawn. Access was by invitation of the King. In 1825, the Royal Procession as an annual tradition began. The King, leading four other coaches with members of the Royal party, drove up the centre of the racecourse in front of the crowds and this has continued to the present day. The administration of Ascot has always been handled by a representative appointed by the Monarch. The racecourse was run on behalf of the Sovereign by the Master of the Royal Buckhounds up until 1901 when Lord Churchill was appointed as the first official Representative of His Majesty, a post held today by Johnny Weatherby (as Her Majesty s Representative). In 1913, when the Ascot Authority was established by an Act of Parliament, His Majesty s Representative became Senior Trustee of the Authority with the Clerk of the Course acting as Secretary. Today, as Ascot Authority (Holdings) Limited, Ascot has a formal board comprising a Chief Executive, a Chief Operating Officer, a Finance Director and a Commercial Director (from the executive team), supported by Her Majesty s Representative (Chairman), two further trustees and non-executive director. In 1955, the rules of divorce were relaxed and divorcees were able to enter the Royal Enclosure. However, a redevelopment of the Enclosure shortly before this had added the new Queen s Lawn, which was by invitation and the Court rules governing divorce still applied. Ascot s first major redevelopment came to fruition in 1954, with the relocation of the straight mile north to allow more space behind the stands. This was the second such move and even this time around, they didn t go quite far enough as the track was moved a further 42 metres north as part of the 2005 redevelopment. Prior to the second move, the straight track cut right through the existing Number One Car Park into the current site of Heatherwood Hospital. The Queen Elizabeth II Grandstand, built by Wimpey, was erected between the 1960 and 1961 Royal Meeting and the Members Stand went up between Royal Ascot 1963 and The Car Parks at Ascot almost certainly play more part in the event than at any other venue they are far from merely functional with lavish picnics, including butlers, candelabra and silver service not uncommon, especially in Number One and Two Car Parks. In 2006, a Country Life survey found that Royal Ascot is the South of England s most popular picnic spot and the most popular sporting occasion at which to picnic in the country. Although Ascot likes to think it runs Number One Car Park, it is far from uncommon for berths in this sought after spot to be passed down formally from generation to generation. 26

28 Ascot s much loved tradition of singing around the bandstand or community singing began in the 1970s under the stewardship of Lady Beaumont, wife of the then Clerk of the Course, Captain Sir Nicholas Beaumont. The now unmissable sing song of British favourites and flag waving after racing was an immediate success with thousands of racegoers staying on and making it an integral part of their day. Now, traditional singing is listed as part of the day s formal proceedings in the racecard and song books and flags are handed round saw plenty of change to the established pattern at Royal Ascot as the meeting expanded to five days to mark The Queen s Golden Jubilee. In addition, one race name was changed as the newly promoted Cork & Orrery Stakes became the Golden Jubilee Stakes (renamed the Diamond Jubilee Stakes in 2012). The racecourse closed for redevelopment in September 2004 with the Finale Meeting ending with singing around the bandstand, the only time this has been done outside Royal Ascot. The 2005 Royal Meeting was staged in York, providing the city with its biggest ever sporting event. The city, region and racecourse threw themselves into the extravaganza, which saw expansion into the Knavesmire so as to accommodate circa 50,000 people each day. Royal Ascot at York took place with a Royal Enclosure and Royal Procession every day. The bell used to instruct jockeys to mount at Ascot travelled up along with the Brown Jack statue commemorating the Ascot legend. The Greencoats, who form the ceremonial guard for The Queen at Royal Ascot, came to York. Their garb rather speaks for itself and it is rumoured that the original velvet uniforms were made from material left over from curtains in Windsor Castle. Historically, Ascot Racecourse redevelops every 50 years or so, once a generation, and throughout considerable changes the Royal Meeting has maintained its position as a much loved event at the heart of the national sporting and social calendar. Ascot s traditions remain as strong, strictly observed and loved now as they ever were, whilst the racing goes from strength to strength (Group One races have increased from three in 1999 to eight this year, with the addition of the new Commonwealth Cup). The new Ascot was officially reopened by The Queen, on time and to its 220 million budget, on 20 th June, The modern era immediately had a new equine legend in Yeats, who won an unprecedented four Gold Cups before retiring in A statue to commemorate his achievements now stands in the Parade Ring saw Ascot celebrate its tercentenary and 2012 was another exciting landmark occasion for the racecourse as the Royal Meeting played its part in The Queen s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. On the track, the great Frankel won the Queen Anne Stakes and Black Caviar made her only appearance outside Australia, winning the Diamond Jubilee Stakes. There was a Royal winner in 2012 when Estimate won the Queen s Vase. That horse went on to provoke scenes of unbridled joy from the crowd when winning the following year s Gold Cup. The Queen, who celebrates her 90 th birthday next year, enjoyed the highlight of her racing life as an owner and received the winner s trophy from her son, His Royal Highness, the Duke of York. 27

29 ASCOT RACECOURSE KEY DATES Summer, 1711 It was Queen Anne who first saw the potential for a racecourse at Ascot, which in those days was called East Cote. Whilst out riding she came upon an area of open heath, not far from Windsor Castle, that looked an ideal place for horses to gallop at full stretch. June, 1711 Charles, Duke of Somerset instructed Sir William Wyndham, Master of the Royal Buckhounds, to have the open heath cleared of scrub and gorse in preparation for a race meeting. 11 August 1711 The first race meeting ever held at Ascot took place. Her Majesty s Plate, worth 100 guineas and open to any horse, mare or gelding over the age of six, was the inaugural event. Each horse was required to carry a weight of 12st and seven runners took part. September 17, 1711 The success of Her Majesty s Plate in August meant the second meeting followed soon after in September. July 31, 1727 John Cheny published a prototype form book, which evolved into the Racing Calendar, recording the conditions of each race and the prize The Yeoman Prickers were formed. Employed by the Master of the Buckhounds, their distinctive livery of forest green coats with gold facings are worn today by the Ascot Greencoats, who attend Royal Ascot each year The popularity of attending the racing at Ascot was becoming apparent in social circles, prompting the Duke of Bedford to write that when arriving in London I could find no soul to dine or sup with The first use of racing colours was introduced, although it wasn t mandatory for another two decades The first four-day meeting took place James Weatherby, Keeper of the Match Book (the book of records for match races), was authorised by the Jockey Club to publish a racing calendar. James Weatherby began a family firm, still in existence today. Weatherbys are the secretariat of horse racing in Britain. June, 1791 The Oatlands Stakes was run at Ascot an important landmark race as it was the first handicap race, where the weights of the runners were adjusted according to their form to give them, in theory, equal chances The first permanent building was erected by George Slingsby, a Windsor builder. It held 1,650 people and was used until The inaugural running of the Gold Cup for three-year-olds and upwards. It is significant that the first Gold Cup was won by a three-year-old, this was an event designed to attract horses bred to compete much younger than had been the case the previous century. In the modern era, three-year-olds do not run in the race. 28

30 1813 Parliament passed an Act of Enclosure. This Act ensured that Ascot Heath, although the property of the Crown, would be kept and used as a racecourse for the public in the future. Racing at Ascot was now secure. The Master of the Buckhounds continued to manage the races and the racecourse just as it was more than 100 years before George III died and the Prince Regent ascended the throne as George IV. He immediately ordered alterations to be made to the Royal Stand by John Nash. Nash s alterations did not satisfy the King and so, in 1822, Nash designed a brand new Royal Stand, erected in just five weeks The Royal Enclosure was born when King George IV commissioned a two-storey stand to be built with a surrounding lawn. Access was by invitation of the King where he entertained his friends in style King George IV s greatest legacy to Royal Ascot was the Royal Procession. The King leading four other coaches with members of the Royal party drove up the Straight Mile in front of the crowds. A diarist of the day commented; the whole thing looked very splendid Turf on the track was relaid by the Clerk of the Course, William Hibburd, to improve the ground. Rails and posts were constructed along the track Queen Victoria made her first visit to Ascot as Sovereign. To mark her first visit, the Queen inaugurated a new race over one and a half miles, known today as the Queen s Vase (now two miles) Horses were numbered in the racecard. July, 1838 A decision was made to construct a new stand between the betting stand and the Royal Stand. The new stand took 10 months to build and was warmly welcomed when it opened on May 20, The lower half of the stand could hold about 3,000 people and contained a betting hall For the first time at Ascot, the judge hoisted the number of the winner onto a large blackboard, thus putting an end to the disputes as to which horse had won The railway was brought to Ascot with the opening of the Staines to Wokingham line (approx) Racing in the mid-19th century was becoming more professional with Ascot appointing its first official Clerk of the Scales, James Manning (whose family stayed in the post until 1970, latterly working for the Jockey Club) Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, died and Queen Victoria did not return to Ascot again A new race at the meeting was named after Prince Albert: The Prince of Wales s Stakes Prince Albert, eldest son and second child of Victoria and Albert, known as Bertie, attended his first Ascot meeting aged 21 and continued to lend his support to the Royal Meeting with enthusiasm. He restored the Royal Procession and revived the custom of inviting overseas visitors to Ascot. 29

31 1873 Ascot witnessed the first victory for the riding phenomenon Fred Archer. Over 14 years, he rode 80 winners at the racecourse The Grandstand had a clock tower erected Racing at Ascot took place in sombre mood to mark the death of Queen Victoria. Prince Albert ascended the throne as King Edward VII The role of Master of the Buckhounds was disbanded and a new role created, that of the King s representative. The first man to undertake this role was Viscount Churchill All three stands in the Royal Enclosure were demolished under the instruction of King Edward VII and two new stands were built between September, 1901 and May, The total cost was 28, A third stand was built at a cost of 27,636. This stand included lifts, the first to be installed on a British racecourse. In order to have the work completed by May, 1902, some 500 men were employed on the task, working day and night shifts The Five Shilling Stand was built later known as the Silver Ring Stand at a cost of 30, Racegoers began to arrive by car and for the first time, motor cars were allowed to park on the Heath The Ascot Authority was established by an Act of Parliament. His Majesty s Representative became Senior Trustee of the Authority with the Clerk of the Course acting as Secretary The Royal Enclosure buildings were extended and a new Iron Stand was erected. Ascot began to install a new watering system, with the facility to dispense around two million gallons of water onto the turf The Tote building was constructed (still standing today, beside the Pre-Parade Ring). The designs had been agreed by the Racecourse Betting Control Board (RBCB), the authority overseeing wagering at this time George V died and was succeeded by his eldest son, who became Edward VIII. The new King was a keen follower of horseracing but he never attended the Royal Meeting as reigning monarch. By the end of the year Edward VIII had abdicated in order to marry Wallis Simpson George VI & Queen Elizabeth attend their first Ascot race meeting Racing at Ascot cancelled. The racecourse was commandeered by the army, the Grandstand providing accommodation for gunners of the Royal Artillery. 15 May 1943 Racing at Ascot resumed, with an eight-race card. 30

32 May 21, 1945 Ascot staged its first post-war fixture and the 19-year-old Princess Elizabeth attended for the first time Major Crocker Bulteel was appointed as the Clerk of the Course, regarded as the outstanding racing administrator of his day. The Duke of Norfolk was appointed as the King s Representative The Ascot fixture list extended to include racing in July, September and October Queen Elizabeth II crowned on June 2 (ascended the throne on February 6, 1952) The rules of divorce were relaxed and divorcees were able to enter the Royal Enclosure. However, a redevelopment of the Enclosure shortly before this had added the new Queen s Lawn. Entrance was by invitation only and the Court rules governing divorce still applied. June 13, 1961 The Grandstand was demolished and the Queen Elizabeth II Stand was built. It took 11 months to build, with 550 workers at a cost of 1 million. The stand represented a stateof-the-art facility at the time, accommodated 13,000 people and had 280 private boxes The BBC outside-broadcast staff picketed and there was no television coverage. April, 1998 Lord Hartington, Her Majesty s Representative, revealed that changes to the racecourse were being contemplated In order to facilitate the redevelopment, Ascot incorporated as Ascot Authority (Holdings) Limited, the most significant milestone in its structure since the 1913 Act of Parliament Plans were announced to redevelop Ascot Racecourse. The existing Queen Elizabeth II stand was to be replaced and the course realigned. The Golden Jubilee was celebrated. September, 2004 Ascot held its last meeting with the old facilities. Demolition of the stand began and the redevelopment programme commenced. June, 2005 Royal Ascot was staged at York Racecourse. June, 2006 The new Ascot stand was opened on time and on budget. June, 2009 Yeats won his fourth Gold Cup, beating Sagaro s record, set in the 1970s Ascot celebrated its Tercentenary. June, 2012 The country celebrates The Queen s Diamond Jubilee. The Golden Jubilee Stakes becomes The Diamond Jubilee Stakes and is won by Black Caviar to 2012 Frankel, officially the greatest horse since ratings began, makes five appearances at Ascot, winning at two, three and four. He retired unbeaten with 14 wins Channel 4 Television covered Royal Ascot for the first time with the highlight of the week being Estimate s victory for The Queen in the Gold Cup. 31

33 RACE HISTORIES & CONDITIONS The Queen Anne Stakes (Group One) Founded in 1840, the Queen Anne Stakes commemorates the monarch who established racing at Ascot in Run as the Trial Stakes until 1929, the Queen Anne Stakes was first awarded Group Three status in 1971, becoming Group Two in The race, attracting Europe s top older milers, achieved the highest three-year average rating of any Group Two race in Britain from 1999 to 2002 according to the then International Classifications and was elevated to Group One status accordingly in At that time, it moved from the traditional opening race on the card to the fourth race. However, in 2008 it reverted to its traditional slot, opening the meeting. The Coventry Stakes (Group Two) First run in 1890, the race was named after the ninth Earl of Coventry, Master of the Buckhounds between 1886 and This is the first Group contest of the year for juveniles. Many top class horses win this race before going on to achieve greatness and, in 2004, the race was promoted to Group Two status. The King s Stand Stakes (Group One) A Stand Plate was first run on the round course in 1837, becoming the Royal Stand Plate in The race was re-named the Queen s Stand Plate in 1860 for two-year-olds, over the sprint distance of four furlongs, finally becoming the King s Stand Plate in Today the race remains a sprint, although now run over the minimum trip of five furlongs for three-year-olds and upwards. In 2005, it became the first British leg of the Global Sprint Challenge and in 2008 it was promoted to Group One. The St James s Palace Stakes (Group One) Named after the Tudor Royal residence, the inaugural running of the St James s Palace Stakes in 1834 was a walkover for the Derby winner Plenipotentiary. This race features the best male milers from the Classic generation, often attracting horses that have run in the English, French and Irish 2,000 Guineas. The Ascot Stakes (Handicap) First run in 1839, the Ascot Stakes is run over two-and-a-half miles. Like the Gold Cup and Queen Alexandra Stakes, this race provides a thorough test of stamina. It is one of just four races at the Royal Meeting in which the field passes the winning post twice. The race attracts horses that have run in the early season staying handicaps, most notably the Chester Cup. The Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed) First run in 1839 over the straight mile course, this race was originally designed to attract threeyear-old colts and fillies that had competed in the early season Classics. It is now run over the minimum distance of five furlongs and restricted to two-year-olds. 32

34 The Jersey Stakes (Group Three) The Jersey Stakes replaced the second leg of the Triennial Stakes in Named after the fourth Earl of Jersey, who was the Master of the Buckhounds between 1782 and 1783, this specialist seven-furlong contest is framed for three-year-olds who have yet to win a Group One or Group Two race, but have often competed at that level, including in the Guineas. The Queen Mary Stakes (Group Two) Named after the consort of King George V, this race was first run in The first major race of the season exclusively for two-year-old fillies, The Queen Mary Stakes is run over the minimum distance of five furlongs and provides a useful opportunity to assess their ability and potential to perform at Group One level. It was promoted to Group Two status in The Duke of Cambridge Stakes (Group Two) Until 2013 run as the Windsor Forest Stakes, this race was a new addition to the Royal Meeting in 2004 and part of an industry-wide initiative to encourage connections of the leading Classic generation fillies from the previous year to keep their stars in training. Run over the straight mile course, it is open only to fillies and mares aged four or over. As a Group Two race, Group One winners carry a penalty, so the option of the Group One Queen Anne Stakes, where no penalties are carried, is still open to the very best fillies. The Prince of Wales s Stakes (Group One) The Prince of Wales s Stakes, first run at Royal Ascot in 1862, is named after the son of Queen Victoria (later to become King Edward VII). Originally staged over a mile and five furlongs, the race often attracted horses that had participated in the Classics. There was no Prince of Wales s Stakes from 1946 until 1968, a year before the current Prince of Wales s investiture in 1969, when the distance changed to one mile and two furlongs. In 2000, The Prince of Wales s Stakes was upgraded to Group One status and restricted to four-year-olds and upwards. The Royal Hunt Cup (Handicap) The Royal Hunt Cup always provides one of the greatest spectacles of the Royal Meeting as a maximum field thunders up Ascot s straight mile course for one of the biggest betting races of the season. First run in 1843, it was originally staged over seven furlongs and 155 yards. The current distance of a mile was established in 1955 when the straight course was re-aligned as part of the previous redevelopment. The Sandringham Stakes (Listed Handicap) Originally registered as the Fern Hill Stakes, this race was part of the traditional Heath Day card on the Saturday after Royal Ascot. It was renamed the Sandringham Stakes, after the royal residence, as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations in This is a competitive Listed handicap over a mile, limited to three-year-old fillies only. 33

35 The Norfolk Stakes (Group Two) First run in 1843, this race was formerly known as the New Stakes and staged over a distance of just under four furlongs. It was renamed after the Duke of Norfolk, Her Majesty s Representative at Ascot between 1945 and 1972, in For two-year-olds, it was promoted to Group Two status in The Tercentenary Stakes (Group Three) The Tercentenary Stakes became the new name for the Hampton Court Stakes in 2011, when the racecourse celebrated 300 years since its inauguration. It was also been promoted from Listed to Group Three in tandem. The race was originally part of the Saturday Heath Day card, under the title of the New Stakes, and joined Royal Ascot as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations in This 10-furlong event is restricted to three-year-olds. The Ribblesdale Stakes (Group Two) This race, mirroring the Oaks, is named after the fourth Baron Ribblesdale, Master of the Buckhounds between 1892 and First run in 1919, this race was originally staged over a mile for three and four-year-olds. It is now restricted to Classic generation fillies and run over the longer distance of a mile and a half. The Gold Cup (Group One) Founded in 1807, the Gold Cup (which, contrary to popular opinion is not called the Ascot Gold Cup ) is the oldest and one of the most prestigious races at Royal Ascot. Staged over the marathon trip of two-and-a-half miles, the race is a stiff test of stamina and attracts the very best staying horses in Europe. Many horses have distinguished themselves with dual Gold Cup wins, enhancing the race s reputation as a specialists event. Sagaro won three times in the 1970s but Yeats did better still, becoming a four-time winner in The Queen s Estimate won the 2013 Gold Cup, providing her with her 22nd Royal Ascot winner. The Britannia Stakes (Handicap) First run in 1928 over the straight mile of the Royal Hunt Cup course and run under similar conditions today. Open to three-year-old colts and geldings only, the Britannia is almost as popular these days as the Royal Hunt Cup. The King George V Stakes (Handicap) Like the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes, this is a handicap for middle distance performers, staged over one and a half miles. The inaugural running was in July 1946, as part of the first fixture staged at the racecourse after the Royal Meeting, before the race was transferred to Royal Ascot in It is for three-year-olds. 34

36 The Albany Stakes (Group Three) This race was first run in 2002 as the Henry Carnarvon Stakes, honouring The Queen s late racing manager, and proved so successful that it was promoted to Group Three status in Restricted to two-year-old fillies, the six-furlong event provides one of the first opportunities of the season for promising types to prove their ability and go on to harbour Guineas aspirations. The King Edward VII Stakes (Group Two) Formerly known, and still colloquially referred to as the Ascot Derby, this race was inaugurated in 1834 and regularly featured horses of both sexes that had competed in the middle-distance Classics. First run as the King Edward VII Stakes in 1926 and now restricted to three-year-old colts and geldings, it still attracts horses that have competed in the Derby. The Commonwealth Cup (Group One) The Commonwealth Cup is a completely new race in 2015 and joins the King s Stand Stakes and Diamond Jubilee Stakes to become the third Group One sprint at Royal Ascot. The race, to be run over six furlongs, is restricted to three-year-olds and has been put in place as a Europe-wide measure to create a better Pattern for young sprinters and improve the quality of sprint races on the continent. Several races in the run up to the Commonwealth Cup have been promoted in tandem, including the Pavilion Stakes at Ascot in April to Group Three. The Coronation Stakes (Group One) First run in 1840, the Coronation Stakes was founded to commemorate the crowning of Queen Victoria in This mile event is the fillies equivalent of the St James s Palace Stakes and attracts horses that have run in the English, Irish and French 1,000 Guineas. The Duke of Edinburgh Stakes (Handicap) Originally the Bessborough Stakes, named after the fifth Earl of Bessborough, who was Master of the Buckhounds between 1848 and 1866, the race was renamed the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes in First run in 1914 as a five-furlong event for two-year-olds, it has now evolved into a middle distance handicap for three-year-olds and upward. The Queen s Vase (Listed) Named to honour Queen Victoria and first run in 1838, this race became the King s Vase in 1903 and reverted to its original name of the Queen s Vase on the succession of Queen Elizabeth II. Run over two miles, this contest provides a thorough test of stamina for three-year-olds and winners of this race often go on to compete in the Gold Cup in future years. Estimate completed the double in 2012 /

37 The Chesham Stakes (Listed) Named after the third Baron Chesham, who was the last Master of the Buckhounds from 1900 to First run in 1919, the Chesham Stakes replaced the first leg of the Triennial Stakes, which had been run over five furlongs for two-year-olds. Now a Listed contest, the race takes place over the longer distance of seven furlongs. The Wolferton Handicap Stakes (Listed) First run in this form in 2002 as part of the five-day Royal Ascot meeting to celebrate The Queen s Golden Jubilee, this is a Listed handicap over 10 furlongs for four-year-olds and upwards. The Hardwicke Stakes (Group Two) Named after the fifth Earl of Hardwicke, Master of the Buckhounds between 1874 and 1879, the race was first run in The Group Two contest continues to attract the best older middle distance horses today, and is often an informative guide to the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (sponsored by QIPCO) in July. It is run with no Group One or Two winners penalties as a quasi Group One race with regular Group One rated horses competing. The Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Group One) Formerly known as the Cork and Orrery Stakes, Royal Ascot s most prestigious sprint was given a new the Golden Jubilee Stakes - and elevated to Group One status to celebrate The Queen s Golden Jubilee in Ten years later, it assumed the mantle of Diamond Jubilee Stakes. First run in 1868, this six-furlong contest was originally named after Lord Cork, another Master of the Buckhounds. In 2005, the race became the second British leg of the Global Sprint Challenge and this year, it becomes a race for four-year-olds and upwards, as the three-year-olds have the Commonwealth Cup option. The Wokingham Stakes (Handicap) The inaugural running of the Wokingham took place in 1813, making this race the oldest handicap at Royal Ascot. This famous sprint is named after the market town seven miles from Ascot Racecourse, and the first dual winner was appropriately also named Wokingham (1881 and 1882). Over the years, the race has developed a reputation as a fiercely competitive handicap and one of the major betting heats of the season. The Queen Alexandra Stakes (Conditions) Run over the marathon trip of two-and-three-quarter miles, the Queen Alexandra Stakes is not only the longest race of the meeting, but also the longest contest run under Flat racing rules. Named after the consort of King Edward VII, the race was first run in 1864 as the Alexandra Plate over three miles. It will always be associated with Brown Jack, arguably Royal Ascot s greatest equine legend, who won this race on six consecutive occasions between 1929 and The Queen Alexandra Stakes always closes the meeting and although, or perhaps because of its extreme distance in a time when so much emphasis is on speed, it has become a national institution and is affectionately supported by regulars. 36

38 SECURITY AND COMFORT FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS The racecourse is conscious that Royal Ascot affects people living in the area and continues to take steps to minimise inconvenience where possible. Car and coach parking plans are in place to stream as many people as possible from car parks to the course via routes on racecourse premises so as to reduce pedestrian congestion on the High Street. Pedestrian routes will be clearly signed. Ascot Racecourse and the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead (RBWM) are in constant communication on all issues relating to the Royal Meeting and produce a coordinated cleaning programme involving racecourse and council staff. The racecourse has a strong relationship with Thames Valley Police and the emergency services and works with them throughout the planning for Royal Ascot. The security operation during Royal Ascot is a joint venture between the police and Ascot s own security staff. Among 6,000 staff on duty for every day of Royal Ascot, there will be 250 police personnel and 900 stewards and security staff on site. Regular patrols are made around all areas of the racecourse by security personnel, specialist dog teams and both uniformed and plain clothed police officers. Quick response teams will be in place to react to any antisocial incident on any part of the racecourse. Ascot catering and bar staff can refuse to serve alcohol to anyone who appears to be intoxicated, and Ascot Racecourse security staff will stringently endeavour to prevent racegoers from leaving the racecourse with drinks purchased on site, in support of the alcohol ban on the High Street. Entry will be refused under certain circumstances. The racecourse management is mindful that touts trading from areas close to the racecourse entrances can cause a nuisance. RBWM and Ascot Racecourse, supported by the police, work together to manage touts who are acting unreasonably or those who are persistently causing a nuisance or an obstruction. The Police and Ascot security teams will move touts on from the front of the turnstiles, and from all entrances and exits. Advice announcements will be made at Ascot Railway Station and by a mobile messaging unit recommending that visitors do not purchase tickets (or racecards) from touts or unofficial outlets. Notices will be placed on the Station Path and other approaches and RBWM enforcement officers will be present. Ascot Racecourse has worked in partnership with South West Trains to increase the level of rail services provided during the busy periods at Royal Ascot in recent years. Additional services will be provided on the Thursday and Friday of the Royal Meeting, including an extended service through until 23.40hrs. On the Saturday, services will be available from 10.00am until 23.40hrs, to ease transport congestion. 37

39 DID YOU KNOW...? Since Queen Anne founded Ascot Racecourse back in 1711, a further 11 monarchs have acceded to the British throne. Mrs Gertrude Shilling was undeniably the premier indefatigable sartorial dame of Ascot (nicknamed The Ascot Mascot), but she has met with competition from all over the world, including in 1976 when Australia s Dame Edna Everage, alias Barry Humphries, attended with a four foot Sydney Opera House perched on her head. Following the successes of Choisir, Takeover Target, Miss Andretti, Scenic Blast and Black Caviar on the track, Royal Ascot is as much an institution in Australia as at home these days, but back then Dame Edna said to the assembled press that she: wasn t aware it was a racing event until the other day. I always thought it was an exhibition of gas water heaters! The wearing of Bowler Hats by the Ascot Stewards is one of the most endearing and defining sights of Ascot, and not just at the Royal Meeting. Ironically, given that the tradition is now so proudly protected and maintained by the longer serving stewards, the dress instruction was met with near mutiny when it was introduced in the late 1950s in an attempt to address slipping standards. The trustees had to give pay rises at the time to stop the staff striking over the issue. When the racecourse closed for redevelopment in 2004, one of the assurances that the management had to give at the time was that there were no plans to alter the much loved uniform when everyone returned in Viscount Churchill was appointed as the first sovereign s representative at Ascot in He is reputed to have taken personal charge of vetting applications for entrance into the Royal Enclosure, sorting letters into three baskets marked Certainly Perhaps and Certainly Not. Viscount Churchill loved this task and became notorious for recognising faces in the Royal Enclosure and challenging those who should not be there. For this purpose he was granted special access to the Divorce Registry, as those on it were not permitted access to the Royal Enclosure. Many people were sympathetic to the Ascot Authority in June, 1964, after the Royal Meeting had to be curtailed due to severe rain, thus blighting the opening of the new Royal Enclosure Stand. None more so than the old lady who sent the Authority 1 because she was so distressed to hear of the course s bad luck. The Duke of Norfolk, Her Majesty s Representative at the time, responded with equal magnanimity, thanking the lady and inviting her to a day s racing. 38

40 In the days before actors were allowed in the Royal Enclosure, King Edward VII asked the actor Charles Hawtrey if he would be seeing him at Royal Ascot. Hawtrey explained that rules prevented it, whereupon the King took it upon himself personally to send Hawtrey the necessary badge. When Ascot came, Hawtrey entered the Enclosure to the great surprise of Lord Churchill, His Majesty s Representative at Ascot, who said: I don t remember sending you a badge. Hawtrey explained that this was not surprising as he hadn t King Edward did! It is said that when Queen Anne was in residence at Windsor Castle, she imported a large quantity of green velour material from France, in which she dressed her Yeoman Prickers, who were armed with pikes to move people out of the way at the races! That particular practice doesn t sit comfortably with the modern day customer service ethic but the outfits are remembered with today s Greencoats, the ceremonial guard for The Queen at Ascot, wearing the livery. In the early 1920s, Lord Lonsdale drove every day from his rented house adjoining the Winkfield Road crossing, up the High Street to the racecourse entrance with outriders, drivers and footmen, all wearing his distinctive yellow livery. The proceedings were so grand that critics claimed he was trying to rival the Royal Procession. The Duke of Norfolk must have been dismayed to read in The Times and The Telegraph on April 27, 1971 that Ascot would permit hot pants in the Royal Enclosure! The next day he corrected the misinformation in no uncertain terms. Back in 1954, The Queen had a famous Royal Ascot triumph with the brilliant Aureole, who had suffered a minor eye injury a few days before the Meeting. When visiting the paddock just before the race, The Queen asked her jockey, Eph Smith, who wore a hearing-aid, whether he would win. The reply came: Well, Ma am, we are rather handicapped. The horse is blind in one eye and I m deaf! King Edward VII s mother, Queen Victoria, was known to have frowned upon her son s general and unparalleled enthusiasm for good living and, of course, racing, but on his accession in 1901, the new King closed the Royal Stand completely for the Royal Meeting due to the death of his mother and requested that all those who attended within the Royal Enclosure wear black. Due to the knock on effects of the General Election, the 2001 Royal Procession was restricted to two days as the horses and carriages were required to convey The Queen to Wesminster for 39

41 the State Opening of Parliament on the Wednesday and had to be in place for a practice on Tuesday. The Royal Party, including The Queen, came by car on both days and arrived in time for racing. Sir John Crocker Bulteel was Clerk of the Course from 1946 until his death in A figure of great importance in the history of Ascot Racecourse, Sir John Crocker Bulteel was known as an outstanding racing administrator but it was his love of racing that he is most famous for. It is due mainly to the dedication of Sir John that today Ascot stages more than just the Royal Meeting. The King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, initially run as the Festival of Britain Stakes, was his brainchild. The race was first run in 1951 and did more than any other race to change the face of top-level racing in this country and, ultimately, the world. It promoted the cause of international inter-age competition and more often than not, its winner is the seasonal champion. During the foot and mouth outbreak in 2001, the management suggested that ladies bear in mind the precautionary foot and mouth disinfectant mats on all entrances to the racecourse when considering their footwear. Not everyone listened which made for some interesting pictures in the likes of Hello and Harpers that year! In 1964, Trelawny was to bid for a third consecutive Ascot Stakes/Queen Alexandra Stakes double. He was beaten in the Ascot Stakes but would have walked over in the Queen Alexandra on Friday had the meeting not been abandoned due to waterlogging. This is the answer to a question which appeared in the Racing Post Christmas quiz in 2001 and resulted in numerous calls to all departments at the racecourse! In 2005, Ascot auctioned some 300 lots of memorabilia associated with the old stand. The auction raised 389,965 with Racing Welfare the primary beneficiary with the bulk of this coming from a bid of 280,000 for the wrought cast iron entranceway from the track to the Winners Enclosure, purchased by leading owner Bill Gredley. The crowd fell silent as the bid just kept going up and up from an original reserve of just 20,000-30,000! Jockeys at Ascot are called to mount by a bell in the parade ring and, unique to Ascot, a bell is also rung as the horses swing into the straight for races run on the round course. A familiar sight at Royal Ascot is the arrival of horse-drawn carriages along the High Street, to the sound of hunting horns. These carriages belong to members of the country s carriage clubs, who stable their horses during racing whilst they enjoy their club facilities on course prior to departure. 40

42 THE ASCOT BOARD Johnny Weatherby, Her Majesty s Representative & Chairman Johnny Weatherby, a Trustee at Ascot since 1997, succeeded the Duke of Devonshire as Chairman of Ascot Authority (Holdings) Ltd in 2008 and in 2011, took on the additional role as Her Majesty s Representative. He joined the family firm of Weatherbys, administrators to the racing industry since 1770, in 1979 and was seconded to the Jockey Club as Director from 1990 to 1992 before, in 1993, being appointed Chairman of Weatherbys. Sir Francis Brooke Bt, Trustee Sir Francis Brooke is a Director and Senior Fund Manager at Troy Asset Management Ltd. His family has been involved for many years in the breeding, owning and training of racehorses mainly in Ireland. Before joining Troy in 2004, he was a Director of Mercury Asset Management (later MLIM) from and Foreign & Colonial Management Ltd ( ). Mark Davies, Trustee Mark Davies was Chief Executive of GNI, a large broking business, from 1972 to He was Chief Executive of Gerrard Group plc from 1995 to Currently, Mark Davies is Chairman of FF&P Asset Management Ltd, a Director of Fleming Family & Partners Ltd and Chairman of Thornhill Holdings in addition to a wide portfolio of other directorships. He is a Jockey Club steward and a Director of Racing Welfare. He joined Ascot in February, Justin Dowley, Non Executive Director Justin Dowley joined the board in January, He is a partner at Tricorn Partners LLP, an independent, partner-owned corporate finance advisory firm established in Prior to setting up Tricorn, he was formerly both head of M&A and co-head of European Investment Banking at Merrill Lynch. Before joining Merrill Lynch in 1996, Dowley was a director and head of UK investment banking at Morgan Grenfell where he worked for 15 years after qualifying as a chartered accountant with Price Waterhouse in Dowley has a wide interest in sport and in addition to his Ascot role, he is on the committee at Lord s. Guy Henderson, Chief Executive Guy Henderson succeeded Charles Barnett as Chief Executive at Ascot in January of this year. Guy Henderson was, for over 30 years ( ) an international business lawyer and equity partner with the global law firm Allen & Overy. Leading its UK and Asian commercial conflict resolution divisions, he worked with corporations, financial institutions, regulators, government agencies and individuals around the globe. He was Chairman of Wincanton Racecourse before joining Ascot. 41

43 Juliet Slot, Commercial Director Juliet Slot, with over 20 years of diverse experience within the business of sport, joined Ascot as Commercial Director in November, She most recently spent three years as Managing Director of leading sports marketing and communications agency, Pitch. Alastair Warwick, Chief Operating Officer Alastair Warwick joined the management team as General Manager in He has worked for over 12 years in horseracing including at Aintree, Cartmel and Chester, culminating in four years as Chief Executive of Hamilton Park Racecourse, before joining Ascot. MEDIA AND RACING CONTACTS Nick Smith, Head of Communications and International Racing: & Chris Stickels, Clerk of the Course: & Chessie Beeching, PR and Content Marketing Manager: & ACCREDITATION & MEDIA SERVICES For press facilities information & accreditation enquiries please contact Ashley Morton-Hunte on or A press office number will be provided on site in all media facilities for general editorial enquiries during the week of Royal Ascot For photographs please contact Getty Images: During Royal Ascot, Racenews are contracted to provide up to the minute press releases to the press rooms, to broadcasters, to public notice boards on site and to their database. There will be press conferences after every race in the lawn level media centre. Complimentary catering is provided in all media facilities. 42

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