Tuesday 14th - Saturday 18th June 2016 MEDIA GUIDE

Transcription

1 Tuesday 14th - Saturday 18th June 2016 MEDIA GUIDE 1

2 CONTENTS WELCOME TO ROYAL ASCOT FROM HER MAJESTY S REPRESENTATIVE 3 RACING AT ROYAL ASCOT 4 1 MILLION BOOST TO ROYAL ASCOT DELIVERS RECORD TOTAL PRIZE FUND OF 6,580,000 5 ROYAL ASCOT 2016 ORDER OF RUNNING AND PRIZE MONEY INCREASES 6 RECORD GROUP 1 INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES FOR ROYAL ASCOT GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE 9 GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE RACES 9 NEW UNSADDLING ENCLOSURE UNVEILED 10 VETERINARY FACILITIES, EQUINE & JOCKEYS WELFARE 11 RESERVES AT ROYAL ASCOT 11 ENCLOSURES RENAMED 11 BROADCASTERS AT ROYAL ASCOT 12 ASCOT TO ACKNOWLEDGE CONTRIBUTION OF BREEDERS WITH TWO NEW INITIATIVES 13 COMMONWEALTH CUP REFLECTION 13 THE QUEEN AT ROYAL ASCOT 14 THE QUEEN AND ROYAL ASCOT 15 THE QUEEN S 90TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS AT ROYAL ASCOT GOLD CUP TO HONOUR THE QUEEN S 90TH BIRTHDAY 16 HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN S ROYAL ASCOT WINNERS 17 PARTNERS & SUPPLIERS 18 QIPCO HOLDING, OFFICIAL PARTNER AND SPONSORS OF THE BRITISH CHAMPIONS SERIES 19 GIGASET, OFFICIAL PARTNER 20 ASCOT S OFFICIAL SPONSORS AND SUPPLIERS 21 SCULPTURES AT ASCOT 23 ASCOT RACECOURSE APPOINTS IMG AS WORLDWIDE LICENSING REPRESENTATIVE 24 FASHION & DRESS CODE STYLE GUIDE WITH BOSS AND FENWICK AS OFFICIAL SUPPORTERS 26 FENWICK AND THE ROYAL ASCOT MILLINERY COLLECTIVE 27 ROYAL ASCOT DRESS CODE 29 DRESS CODE ASSISTANTS ROYAL ENCLOSURE AND QUEEN ANNE ENCLOSURE 30 FINE DINING AT ROYAL ASCOT 31 ASCOT CONTINUES TO RAISE THE STANDARD IN FINE DINING 32 ASCOT HISTORY 35 ASCOT STORIES AND OTHER PROMOTIONAL FILMS 36 THE BOWLER HAT AND ASCOT 36 ROYAL ASCOT FACTS AND FIGURES 37 ASCOT - ITS HISTORY AND TRADITIONS 38 ASCOT RACECOURSE KEY DATES 41 RACE HISTORIES & CONDITIONS 44 DID YOU KNOW...? 48 MEDIA & RACING CONTACTS 50 ACCREDITATION & MEDIA SERVICES 50 2

3 WELCOME TO ROYAL ASCOT FROM HER MAJESTY S REPRESENTATIVE Welcome to Royal Ascot There has been much glorious pageantry this year celebrating Her Majesty The Queen s 90th birthday. Here at the racecourse we are commemorating The Queen s 22 Royal Ascot winners, and we have uniquely named the 2016 Gold Cup in Her Majesty s honour. The Gold Cup on Thursday forms the historic centrepiece of the whole meeting. One of the most magical Royal Meeting events was The Queen winning this prestigious race in 2013 with her filly Estimate, who I am pleased to report had a beautiful colt foal by Dubawi this Spring. We hope he will be running here in due course. The Gold Cup is one of 27 races at the Royal Meeting with increased value this year. Total prize money has risen to a record 6,580,000. We have at least 1 million in prize money each day, and no race is run for less than 80,000. We continue to invest in facilities for all our visitors. Those with both two legs and four. We now have a new Unsaddling Enclosure through which the Royal Procession will also pass each day. This will provide a much larger area for the unplaced horses to recover their composure and for owners, trainers and jockeys to debrief. Ascot places the highest regard upon the safety and wellbeing of the horses. From the painstaking maintenance of the track, to security within the stables and the provision of immediate, worldclass veterinary attention should it be required. We affirm that the horse always comes first. Royal Ascot blends the best racing in the world with a powerful presence in the global fashion calendar. In recent years, we have produced style guides for this meeting and we are delighted to welcome BOSS and Fenwick as our new supporters. We are particularly grateful for the national involvement from Fenwick as Official Millinery Sponsor. Royal Ascot without beautiful hats is simply unthinkable! Our two Official Partners QIPCO and Gigaset and our annual Official Suppliers and Sponsors are extremely important to us and we are grateful to them all. Our thanks and warm welcome to Woodford Reserve, who have their own bar here for the Royal Meeting, positioned close to the new unsaddling area. You might like to sample their innovative Ascot Julep, inspired by their longstanding partnership with the Kentucky Derby, where the Mint Julep is legendary. It s not just American runners we are bringing to this international occasion. I do hope that you will enjoy celebrating with us this year as we offer our unique mix of sport, fashion and pageantry on the Royal racecourse. Johnny Weatherby Her Majesty s Representative 3

4 4 RACING AT ROYAL ASCOT

5 1 MILLION BOOST TO ROYAL ASCOT DELIVERS RECORD TOTAL PRIZE FUND OF 6,580,000 Royal Ascot prize money has been increased by 1 million (18% uplift on 2015) this year, bringing total prize money on offer to a record 6,580,000 over the week. For the first time, every day at Royal Ascot will offer prize money of at least 1 million and none of the 30 races will be run for less than 80,000 ( 60,000 in 2015). Headline increases include Prince of Wales s Stakes - 750,000 from 525,000. Queen Anne Stakes - 600,000 from 375,000. Diamond Jubilee Stakes - 600,000 from 525,000. The remaining five Group One races all increase by 25,000 to 400,000. The Group Two King Edward VII Stakes and Ribblesdale Stakes increase to 200,000 (from 185,000 and 160,000 respectively). The Group Two Duke of Cambridge Stakes increases by 40,000 to 175,000. The Group Two (no penalties) Hardwicke Stakes increases by 25,000 to 225,000. The Group Two Coventry Stakes increases by 30,000 to 150,000. Guy Henderson, Chief Executive at Ascot, said: In making 1 million more prize money available at Royal Ascot, over and above last year s Total Prize Fund, we are acting to remain as competitive as we can both at home and overseas. It is very important to make sure that we keep increasing the minimum threshold for race values at the Royal Meeting and, equally, we need to keep developing our international showpiece events to continue to attract runners from all over the world. In 2015, we had 72 European runners from outside the UK and 20 runners came from outside Europe, travelling a total of around 100,000 miles each way between them. 5

6 ROYAL ASCOT 2016 ORDER OF RUNNING AND PRIZE MONEY INCREASES Tuesday 16th June 2015 Tuesday 14th June 2016 The Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1) 375,000 The Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1) 600,000 The Coventry Stakes (Group 2) 120,000 The Coventry Stakes (Group 2) 150,000 The King s Stand Stakes (Group 1) 375,000 The King s Stand Stakes (Group 1) 400,000 The St James s Palace Stakes (Group 1) 375,000 The St James s Palace Stakes (Group 1) 400,000 The Ascot Stakes (Handicap) 60,000 The Ascot Stakes (Handicap) 80,000 The Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed) 60,000 The Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed) 80,000 Wednesday 17th June 2015 Wednesday 15th June 2016 The Jersey Stakes (Group 3) 75,000 The Jersey Stakes (Group 3) 90,000 The Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2) 100,000 The Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2) 110,000 The Duke of Cambridge Stakes (Group 2) 135,000 The Duke of Cambridge Stakes (Group 2) 175,000 The Prince of Wales s Stakes (Group 1) The Royal Hunt Cup (Heritage Handicap) The Sandringham Stakes (Listed) (Handicap) 525,000 The Prince of Wales s Stakes (Group 1) 175,000 The Royal Hunt Cup (Heritage Handicap) 70,000 The Sandringham Stakes (Listed) (Handicap) 750, ,000 80,000 Thursday 18th June 2015 Thursday 16th June 2016 The Norfolk Stakes (Group 2) 80,000 The Norfolk Stakes (Group 2) 100,000 The Tercentenary Stakes (Group 3) 75,000 The Tercentenary Stakes (Group 3) 90,000 The Ribblesdale Stakes (Group 2) 160,000 The Ribblesdale Stakes (Group 2) 200,000 The Gold Cup (Group 1) 375,000 The Gold Cup in honour of The Queen s 90th Birthday (Group 1) 400,000 The Britannia Stakes (Heritage Handicap) The King George V Stakes (Handicap) 120,000 The Britannia Stakes (Heritage Handicap) 75,000 The King George V Stakes (Handicap) 120,000 90,000 6

7 ROYAL ASCOT 2016 ORDER OF RUNNING AND PRIZE MONEY INCREASES Friday 19th June 2015 Friday 17th June 2016 The Albany Stakes (Group 3) 70,000 The Albany Stakes (Group 3) 80,000 The King Edward VII Stakes (Group 2) 185,000 The King Edward VII Stakes (Group 2) 200,000 The Commonwealth Cup (Group 1) 375,000 The Commonwealth Cup (Group 1) 400,000 The Coronation Stakes (Group 1) 375,000 The Coronation Stakes (Group 1) 400,000 The Duke of Edinburgh Stakes (Handicap) 70,000 The Duke of Edinburgh Stakes (Handicap) 80,000 The Queen s Vase (Listed) 85,000 The Queen s Vase (Listed) 90,000 Saturday 20th June 2015 Saturday 18th June 2016 The Chesham Stakes (Listed) 60,000 The Chesham Stakes (Listed) 80,000 The Wolferton Rated Stakes (Listed) 70,000 The Wolferton Rated Stakes (Listed) 80,000 The Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2) 200,000 The Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2) 225,000 The Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Group 1) The Wokingham Stakes (Heritage Handicap) The Queen Alexandra Stakes (Conditions) 525,000 The Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Group 1) 175,000 The Wokingham Stakes (Heritage Handicap) 60,000 The Queen Alexandra Stakes (Conditions) 600, ,000 80,000 TOTAL 5,580,000 TOTAL 6,580,000 7

8 RECORD GROUP 1 INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES FOR ROYAL ASCOT A record number of overseas entries from eight countries featured among a total of 394 entries for the eight Group One highlights at Royal Ascot when the races closed in mid-april. There were 164 overseas entries in all, as against a previous best of 156 in 2013, including a record 35 from outside Europe (previous highest 27 in 2011). There was representation from Ireland (81), France (44), the USA (18 the highest ever level previous highest 13 in 2011), Australia (9), Germany (4), Hong Kong (4), Japan (2) and Singapore (2), plus 230 British-trained entries. Star American-trained mare Tepin is under consideration for the opening race of the meeting (Tuesday, June 14), the 600,000 Queen Anne Stakes (41 entries) over the straight mile. Trained by Mark Casse, the five-year-old comfortably defeated several European raiders, including fellow Queen Anne entries Mondialiste (David O Meara) and Esoterique (Andre Fabre FR), in the Grade 1 Breeders Cup Mile at Keeneland in October. Tepin is likely to be joined at Royal Ascot by fellow female star miler, G1 Makers Mark Mile winner, Miss Temple City (Graham Motion USA), who was fourth in last year s Coronation Stakes and is being geared toward the Group 2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes. The European challenge in the Queen Anne Stakes is led by Coronation Stakes scorer Ervedya (Jean Claude-Rouget FR). Australian import Vancouver is one of four entries for Ireland s champion Flat trainer Aidan O Brien, while A Shin Erwin (Hidemasa Nakao JPN) and Godolphin s Australian-trained Bow Creek (John O Shea, AUS) are two other possibles. A Shin Hikari (Masanori Sakaguchi JPN) is set to fly the flag for Japan in the 10-furlong Prince Of Wales s Stakes (39 entries), worth 750,000, on the second day, Wednesday, June 15. The five-year-old burst onto the world stage with an impressive front-running victory in the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin in December. He could have a prep run in the Group 1 Prix d Ispahan at Chantilly, France, on May 24. Breeders Cup Turf heroine Found (Aidan O Brien IRE) and QIPCO Champion Stakes victor Fascinating Rock (Dermot Weld IRE) head a strong European contingent in the Prince Of Wales s Stakes. New Bay (Andre Fabre FR), the leading three-year-old colt in France last season, is also engaged. 8

9 2016 GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE First conducted in 2005, the Global Sprint Challenge provides international recognition to its elite performers, incorporating 10 Group 1 sprint races hosted by five nations across an 11 month period. The 2016 GSC began with the Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington in February and concludes with the Longines Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin in December. A US$1 million bonus is available to any horse that wins a Challenge race in three different jurisdictions, which can include the country where the horse is trained. The bonus will be split 75% to the owners and 25% to the trainer, with the US$1 million pool split equally if more than one horse achieves the feat in GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE RACES Black Caviar Lightning (Group 1) February 20 Flemington, Australia Gulf News Dubai Golden Shaheen (Group 1) March 26 Meydan, Dubai Takamatsunomiya Kinen (Group 1) March 27 Chukyo, Japan Chairman s Sprint Prize (Group 1) May 1 Sha Tin, Hong Kong King s Stand Stakes (Group 1) June 14 Royal Ascot, UK Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Group 1) June 18 Royal Ascot, UK Darley July Cup (Group 1) July 9 Newmarket, UK Sprinters Stakes (Group 1) October 2 Nakayama, Japan Darley Classic (Group 1) November 5 Flemington, Australia Longines Hong Kong Sprint (Group 1) December 11 Sha Tin, Hong Kong 9

10 NEW UNSADDLING ENCLOSURE UNVEILED A 700,000 project to create a new enhanced unsaddling area, increased in size to accommodate the number of horses that run in races like the Wokingham and Royal Hunt Cup more comfortably and thereby improve equine welfare, is complete. The new oval lawn merges seamlessly into the landscaping of the pre-parade ring layout, creating another attractive equine area within the surrounding hospitality lawns, which has been reshaped to ensure that horses and their connections return to the most suitable environment post-race. The Unsaddling Enclosure lawn is positioned to benefit from maximum shade from the crown of an adjacent mature tree as well as a repositioned tulip tree, which sits to the south of the oval, where equine misting fans are available when required. Deric Newman, Sales Manager at Civic Trees, said: This has been an important project requiring specialist knowledge and equipment, at a prestigious venue which often has all eyes on it when playing host to major sporting events such as Royal Ascot. After initially attempting to relocate the existing tree, a process cancelled due to concerns about the safety of the tree, members of the public and the horses, we worked with the client and main contractor to provide an alternative solution. The overall result has made the area more visually appealing and completes the architect s original design. Most importantly, the trees are going to result in improved conditions for the horses. The gradual curves of the walkways, in tandem with the improved landscaping, make for a more visually elegant route for the Royal Procession before it turns into the Parade Ring. Guy Henderson, Chief Executive at Ascot, said: As part of our ongoing commitment to our racing facilities, we are very pleased to unveil our new unsaddling area. The old area needed improvement. This will provide a much better end to races for connections. The business continues to perform strongly, enabling us to make investments in our racing. We are fortunate Royal Ascot is supported by a successful annual Official Partner and Supplier programme, headlined by our two invaluable official partners QIPCO and Gigaset, to whom we publicly express our thanks and gratitude. In order to improve its efficiency this year, the Flat Course Pop-Up irrigation system has undergone a 150,000 overhaul since the last flat season. All 300 of the pop ups around the track have been replaced and a new filter system has been fitted to the pump station. 10

11 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 racecourse 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 raceday 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. ENCLOSURES RENAMED The Grandstand Enclosure has been renamed the Queen Anne Enclosure to honour Ascot s founding Monarch. The Silver Ring has been renamed the Windsor Enclosure, in recognition of the racecourse s location within Windsor Forest. 11

12 Channel 4: BROADCASTERS AT ROYAL ASCOT During Royal Ascot, all 30 races will be broadcast live on Channel 4, totalling approximately 30 hours of live coverage across the week. The Morning Line preview programme will be shown daily along with daytime coverage starting at 1.40pm and an evening highlights programme looking back at the day s action. Racing UK: Racing UK (Sky 432/Virgin 536/Freeview 231) will broadcast over 40 hours of live coverage around Royal Ascot - and for the first time this year all the action will be broadcast in HD. The channel is on air from 10am for each of the five days beginning with the Mark Your Card programme, which sets viewers up for the day with a mix of features and race previews. The live racing programme starts at 1.30pm. The presentation team is led by Lydia Hislop, Stewart Machin, Oli Bell, Alex Steedman and Tom Stanley, with expert analysis provided by the likes of Ruby Walsh, Steve Mellish, Eddie Fremantle, David Cleary and James Willoughby. Paul Morrison will report from the pre-parade ring and Dave Nevison will be bringing the latest from the betting ring. Angus McNae will be analysing the top-class action, with the help of new touch-screen technology in the Royal Ascot Review programme from 7pm. BBC Radio 5 Live: Correspondent Cornelius Lysaght, commentator John Hunt and Classic-winning jockey Jason Weaver will be on-site all five days. There will be extensive coverage and commentary on 5 Live Sports Extra, with all the big races also integrated into daytime programming on BBC Radio 5 Live. Reporter and former jump jockey Luke Harvey will also preview all the key races in 5 Live Breakfast. Ascot welcomes many other valuable news networks, including Sky Sports News and BBC Radio Berkshire, who are both based on site through the week. 12

13 ASCOT TO ACKNOWLEDGE CONTRIBUTION OF BREEDERS WITH TWO NEW INITIATIVES Guy Henderson, Chief Executive of Ascot Racecourse, explained: For the first time, all breeders of winning horses at Royal Ascot will receive a memento of their achievement. Appropriately, owners, trainers, jockeys and stable staff are already recognised after races. For breeders, which are sometimes smaller operations, that recognition is less obvious but just as important. Therefore, we will be awarding Royal Ascot-branded Strawberry Dishes, designed by our Official Trophy and Silverware Suppliers, Garrard, to all winning breeders at an awards lunch over the King George meeting. As a further illustration of our recognition of the breeding industry, and the importance of encouraging interest and participation from the next generation, we have partnered with the Thoroughbred Breeders Association s new initiative, The Thoroughbred Club, for members aged Louise Kemble, Chief Executive of the Thoroughbred Breeders Association, commented: The TBA welcomes any initiative that recognises the vital role of breeders in British racing. The introduction of mementoes for successful breeders at the Royal Meeting is a gesture which we hope will be adopted by other major festivals. Ascot s partnership with The Thoroughbred Club is another significant step in providing access and opportunities for young people in the industry. We are most grateful to Ascot for supporting these key initiatives. David Redvers, who runs Tweenhills Farm and Stud and is Bloodstock Manager to Qatar Bloodstock, also warmly welcomed the initiative: Ascot should be applauded for recognizing the importance and the role of the breeder. To be responsible for producing the winner of a race at Royal Ascot is a notable feat for any breeder. Furthermore, the diversity of races at the Royal Meeting from two-year-old races over sprint trips to long distance races for older horses gives all types of breeder a chance to succeed at the world s premier race meeting. To receive such a lovely memento for breeding a Royal Ascot winner is fantastic and a great way to remember the achievement. We very much look forward to earning the right to receive one. COMMONWEALTH CUP REFLECTION In 2015 the European Pattern Committee, BHA and Ascot announced details of a number of changes to the European sprint programme designed to address the lack of opportunities for high-class three-year-old sprinters whilst also improving the overall standard of Group sprint races in Europe. Crucial to this was the inauguration of the six furlong Group 1 Commonwealth Cup for three year olds at Royal Ascot. Perhaps the most remarkable point about the Commonwealth Cup (quite apart from the international representation) was that every runner had already earned Black Type by the time of the race. This included 13 winners of Black Type races (two Group 1, four Group 2, four Group 3 and three Listed) and the other five runners had all been placed in Black Type events. Also very pleasing was that the winner of every upgraded trial before the Group 1 contest also took part in the race. The winner Muhaarar, went on to be crowned Champion Sprinter of Europe. 13

14 THE QUEEN AT ROYAL ASCOT

15 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 Australian-trained 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, won a humble Fontwell jumps race. Upon 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. 15

16 THE QUEEN S 90TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS AT ROYAL ASCOT 2016 marks the 90th birthday of The Queen and in celebration, the following will be taking place at Royal Ascot this year: The Gold Cup has been renamed The Gold Cup in honour of The Queen s 90th Birthday. An aerial photo from Royal Ascot 1926, the year the Queen was born, will be displayed (on the video wall). Information on The Queen s winners will be displayed in the Windsor Enclosure. Weekly Royal Enclosure badges will be themed with The Queen s racing colours. The flowers across site, including the Royal Box Parade Ring Balcony, will be inspired by The Queen s colours. The Official Royal Ascot Magazine will celebrate The Queen s 90th Birthday with features on her Royal Ascot runners and her outfits over the years. These will also appear in the Royal Ascot racecards on each day of the Royal Meeting GOLD CUP TO HONOUR THE QUEEN S 90TH BIRTHDAY This year s renewal of The Gold Cup will be run as, The Gold Cup in Honour of The Queen s 90th Birthday. Johnny Weatherby, Her Majesty s Representative at Ascot, said: We are delighted to be celebrating The Queen s 90th birthday in the race title of The Gold Cup. The Gold Cup, recently won of course by The Queen herself, is the historic centrepiece of Royal Ascot, and is very much the race which resonates most with the public. 16

17 HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN S ROYAL ASCOT WINNERS YEAR RACE HORSE JOCKEY 1953 Royal Hunt Cup CHOIR BOY D Smith 1954 Hardwicke Stakes AUREOLE E Smith Rous Memorial Stakes LANDAU Sir Gordon Richards 1955 King George V Stakes JARDINIERE D Smith 1956 Royal Hunt Cup ALEXANDER W H Carr 1957 Ribblesdale Stakes ALMERIA W H Carr New Stakes PALL MALL W H Carr 1958 Rous Memorial Stakes SNOW CAT E Smith King Edward VII Stakes RESTORATION W H Carr 1959 St James s Palace Stakes ABOVE SUSPICION W H Carr King Edward VII Stakes PINDARI L Piggott 1961 Coronation Stakes AIMING HIGH L Piggott 1968 Hardwicke Stakes HOPEFUL VENTURE A Barclay 1970 Ascot Stakes MAGNA CARTA G Lewis 1979 Queen s Vase BUTTRESS W Carson Ribblesdale Stakes EXPANSIVE W Carson 1992 Royal Hunt Cup COLOUR SERGEANT D Harrison 1995 Ribblesdale Stakes PHANTOM GOLD F Dettori 1999 Duke of Edinburgh Stakes BLUEPRINT G Stevens 2008 Chesham Stakes FREE AGENT R Hughes 2012 Queen s Vase ESTIMATE R Moore 2013 Gold Cup ESTIMATE R Moore 17

18 PARTNERS & SUPPLIERS

19 QIPCO HOLDING, OFFICIAL PARTNER 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 fifth consecutive year, QIPCO will back the coveted top jockey and top trainer awards at Royal Ascot. Trophies for QIPCO Royal Ascot Top Trainer and QIPCO Royal Ascot Top Jockey will be presented on the final day of the meeting to the trainer and jockey amassing the most wins during the week, with places counted back in the event of a tie. Last year s winners were Aidan O Brien and Ryan Moore, the latter with a post-war record of nine winners across the week. QIPCO British Champions Day, 15th October, is the richest day s racing in Britain at 4.2 million. The day features the 1,300,000 Champion Stakes, the 1,100,000 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, the 600,000 British Champions Sprint Stakes, the 600,000 British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes, and the 350,000 British Champions Long Distance Cup - all sponsored by QIPCO. The programme for QIPCO British Champions Day consists of four Group 1 races, a Group 2 and the 250,000 Balmoral Handicap (sponsored by QIPCO), Europe s most valuable mile handicap. Unlike previous years, the Balmoral Handicap has no qualifying system in place for QIPCO also sponsor the British Champions Series which began with the QIPCO 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas in Spring 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 1 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. 19

20 GIGASET, 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 features throughout Ascot s programme including Royal Ascot. 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 once again sponsor two races at meetings later this year: the Gigaset International Handicap Stakes to be run on 23rd July, and the Cumberland Lodge Stakes on 1st October. Guy Henderson, Chief Executive at Ascot Racecourse, said: We are delighted to have Gigaset as partners. 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, was 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. 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 ). 20

21 ASCOT S OFFICIAL SPONSORS AND SUPPLIERS OFFICIAL TIMEKEEPER AND 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. 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 Pavilion will be welcomed with an Appletiser Cocktail. OFFICIAL SOFT DRINK proudly supports OFFICIAL CHAMPAGNE A Champagne Bollinger range in small and large formats is available across the racecourse. Hospitality guests in the Parade Ring Restaurant will enjoy Champagne Bollinger poured with lunch. There are two exclusive Champagne Bollinger Bars in the Royal Enclosure Gardens plus the stylish Champagne Bollinger Lounge on the Motivator Lawn. Dubai Duty Free supports the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup in August which is the headline of their year round association with Ascot. OFFICIAL SPONSOR OFFICIAL ROYAL ASCOT MILLINERY SPONSOR With its family-owned roots dating back to 1882, the variety of occasion wear at stylish heritage department store Fenwick make it the perfect destination for Royal Ascot millinery. Featuring fashion, beauty, accessories, homeware, food, personal shopping and spa services, the store s eleven branches across England are uniquely British. Garrard creations have been prized by discerning clients for over 280 years. They have designed and created five key trophies for 2016 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. OFFICIAL TROPHY, SILVER AND GLASSWARE 21

22 As The Original British Bottled Water, Harrogate is internationallyrenowned 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. It is available across the site and bottles will be handed out at some entrances as a part of Ascot s Responsible Drinking campaign. OFFICIAL WATER proudly supports Steeped in Italian history, Lavazza has been sourcing, roasting and blending to create the highest quality coffees for over 120 years. Today, Lavazza is the favourite and best selling espresso brand in the world. Lavazza coffees can be enjoyed throughout the racecourse; from creamy lattes to delicious and refreshing flavoured iced coffees and much more. OFFICIAL COFFEE 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. OFFICIAL HOSPITALITY 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 three and five degree Celsius and should be served in the unique Stella Artois Chalice according to the Nine- Step Pouring Ritual to guarantee a perfect experience of this gold standard lager. Stella Artois is available across the site. OFFICIAL BEER AND CIDRE BOSS fashion stands out with elegant designs and premium quality that satisfy the most sophisticated of tastes. A perfect partner to help curate the 2016 Royal Ascot Style Guide. This year s guide features one Royal Enclosure female look and one Gentleman s suit, perfect to be seen wearing in the Queen Anne Enclosure. The partnership is being activated via a mix of digital content and live in-store experiences in the build up to Royal Ascot. OFFICIAL ROYAL ASCOT STYLE GUIDE SUPPORTER 22

23 SCULPTURES AT ASCOT This year, Ascot is working with CASS Sculpture Foundation, who have kindly loaned five of their Eilís O Connell sculptures. Eilís O Connell was born in Derry, Northern Ireland, in She studied at Crawford School of Art, Cork ; Massachusetts College of Art, Boston and again at Crawford The following five sculptures will be showcased on the Plaza Lawns and within the Royal Enclosure Gardens during Royal Ascot: Polar Bear forms the closest links to traditional definitions of bio-morphism. It slips back and forth from subjectivity, to objectivity and from abstraction to figuration. Its abstract form is rooted in primordial nature, whilst its title refers to an animal form; grounding this work in the fugartive. Both the title and the form of Curve to Point indicate that this is an object with a stark adherence to formalism. However, nature quickly manifests itself, producing an object that oscillates between object and environment, nature and culture, mathematics and symbolism. Squareball exemplifies Eilís O Connell s employment of opposing dualities in her work, merging two shapes that naturally invalidate one another. Inspired by a news piece O Connell once heard about Japanese farmers attempts to grow cube-shaped watermelons for efficient packing, she took on a similar challenge. The Japanese farmers attempted to manipulate nature, in order to accommodate modern industry, through a feat of stark practicality. Stem is an example of O Connell s beholding to untamed nature. For O Connell, a society s relationship to nature is synonymous with its cultural values. A society that clips its gardens is one that values repression and control, whereas a society that permits unrestrained growth is one that values freedom and liberty. Stem s production grew out of O Connell s appreciation of the latter. A cone forms the foundation of Conetwirl, opening up to create a multi-directional and undulating plane. Historically, modern sculptors rejected the cone as they tended towards formal abstractions and an appreciation for the matter that lacked corporeality. 23

24 ASCOT RACECOURSE APPOINTS IMG AS WORLDWIDE LICENSING REPRESENTATIVE Ascot Racecourse earlier this year appointed IMG as its worldwide licensing representative in a multi-year agreement. IMG will be working with the racecourse to create a year-round licensing portfolio that includes Ascot and the world s most prestigious racing festival, Royal Ascot, across a wide range of products from apparel, bags, leather goods, homewares, stationery and memorabilia. The contract will also see IMG manage on-site retailing on behalf of the racecourse throughout the year from 2017, including at Royal Ascot, King George Weekend and QIPCO British Champions Day. Juliet Slot, Commercial Director at Ascot, said: Following a long and in-depth project to define, develop and relaunch our brand, we are excited to take the natural next step of carefully developing a licensing programme to reflect our heritage and position on the world stage. We believe our world-class sporting heritage, Royal association and strong fashion links will help us to create a unique, elegant and vibrant lifestyle portfolio. We believe that IMG, with a proven track record and reputation for delivery in the field, are the right organisation to help us project the racecourse globally through licensed merchandise. We also look forward to working with them to provide 600,000 visitors to Ascot with an exciting new shopping experience. Simon Gresswell, Vice President, Licensing, IMG, said: We are honoured and delighted to be working with Ascot. The course holds some of the biggest meetings of the racing calendar and we are looking forward to building on its global reputation. Our aim is to implement licensing activity and on-site retailing for both the Ascot and Royal Ascot brands, which appropriately reflect the style, history, pageantry and unique sense of occasion that the Ascot experience evokes 24

25 FASHION & DRESS CODE

26 2016 STYLE GUIDE WITH BOSS AND FENWICK AS OFFICIAL SUPPORTERS 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. In 2016, Royal Ascot is once again at the forefront of fashion and style for the British summer season. This year, Ascot have partnered with BOSS and Fenwick on the curation of 2016 looks and to amplify the Style Guide across all channels including in-store activation, events and content. Royal Ascot is the summer event by which all others are measured in terms of style. Featured looks this year include designs from British talent including Emilia Wickstead, Alexander McQueen and Erdem. The Royal Ascot Style Guide plays a pivotal role in predicting key trends for the summer season. As Official Style Guide Supporters, experts from Fenwick and BOSS have worked closely with Ascot to curate looks that will be at the forefront of fashion in June. In line with the famous Royal Ascot dress codes, BOSS have curated one female look for The Royal Enclosure and a male look for the Queen Anne Enclosure, available from the newly opened flagship store on Regent Street, London. The exciting partnerships with BOSS and Fenwick has enabled the Royal Ascot Style Guide looks to be promoted in more ways than ever before. This will include in-store activations, exclusive invite-only events at retail stores for Royal Ascot patrons and bespoke content that will be published across print, digital and social channels. Juliet Slot, Commercial Director at Ascot said; We re delighted to partner with both BOSS and Fenwick to launch our 2016 Royal Ascot Style Guide. Both brands have values that fit perfectly with ours and we re excited by the new opportunities our relationships will bring, especially through customer activations and content. Stephan Born, Managing Director Northern Hub, HUGO BOSS said: BOSS is excited to be partnering with Royal Ascot Style Guide, and presenting our BOSS collections for the upcoming British summer season. Our newly opened flagship store on Regent Street provides the perfect showcase for the full offering of luxury Menswear and Womenswear which can work in line with Royal Ascot s dress codes. The BOSS Womenswear collection, designed by Aritistic Director Jason Wu, includes occasion-wear and accessories, while our male customer can choose from BOSS formal suiting and a truly personalised experience from the Made-to-Measure service. David Walker-Smith, Managing Director, Fenwick of Bond Street said: Fenwick are incredibly proud supporters of the style guide launch. Royal Ascot is the world s most iconic race meeting and is the event renowned for showcasing the finest Millinery and fashion occasion wear The Royal Ascot film and brochure can be viewed at: 26

27 FENWICK AND THE ROYAL ASCOT MILLINERY COLLECTIVE In addition to their role of Official Style Guide Supporter, Fenwick of Bond St have also been announced as the Official Royal Ascot Millinery Sponsor. Working together, Fenwick and Ascot Racecourse have collaborated with eight exciting milliners to produce a unique and stunning eight piece collection: The Royal Ascot Millinery Collective. The Royal Ascot Collective features individual pieces from iconic and world renowned milliners Stephen Jones, Philip Treacy, William Chambers, Edwina Ibbotson, Rachel Trevor Morgan, Laura Aspit Livens, Laura Cathcart and Harvy Santos. STEPHEN JONES Fenwick stores will be stocking millinery designs by all of the above and Fenwick have also provided clothing and accessories included in this year s Royal Ascot Style Guide. Consumer events will be taking place in all eleven Fenwick stores across the country to highlight Royal Ascot and to assist customers with their outfits and millinery choices. Some windows at each of the stores will also reflect Royal Ascot and Fenwick will have a presence at Ascot on other racedays. Royal Ascot and millinery go hand-in-hand and this is a platform to celebrate 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 from Fenwick. Juliet Slot, Commercial Director at Ascot, welcomed the new relationship: While racing is at the heart of Ascot, the fashion component is fundamental for us and our customers. It is part of the day that helps create the sense of occasion that our customers feel is so strongly associated with Royal Ascot. PHILLIP TREACY Millinery is synonymous with Royal Ascot and the dress code, which requires all women in the Royal Enclosure to wear a hat and those in the Queen Anne Enclosure to wear a hat or fascinator, is an integral part of what makes it a special occasion. We are delighted to be working with Fenwick who have a wonderful millinery heritage and range, this being their 125th anniversary. We look forward to the in store events which are being organised nationally as well as sharing the how to content we will jointly produce to support customers online as well as many other planned activities for the partnership. WILLIAM CHAMBERS Mia Fenwick, Director of Brand and Communications at Fenwick of Bond Street, said: We are very excited to be entering into a millinery sponsorship with Ascot and to be supporting the importance of millinery today. We are the destination for hats, whatever the occasion, and the weeks leading up to Royal Ascot are our busiest time. At Fenwick, we support leading designers and emerging talents so Ascot Racecourse and Royal Ascot in particular is a key opportunity for us to speak to our customers and provide a more personal shopping experience. EDWINA IBBOTSON The contrast between the hats is complemented by a dramatic, elegant and feminine colour palette, with each design representing the milliner s unique handwriting. 27

28 William Chambers says: Rose Bouquet mixes traditional and contemporary materials and motifs, making it the perfect Royal Ascot hat for the modern woman. It features classic silk roses set against layers of crin, which create an out-of-focus geometric effect behind. The hat is inspired by my collection Glass Gardens which followed a visit to the glass flowers exhibition in Boston, USA. RACHEL TREVOR-MORGAN Effervescent and romantic, Stephen Jones hat is inspired by his SS16 collection entitled The Perfect Hat For... and the name of this hat in the Royal Ascot Millinery Collective is... Ascot, as it s the perfect hat for the races! Philip Treacy s design highlights the dramatic glamour of Royal Ascot with a modern twist. Treacy says: this sculptured slice rises to the occasion in a rather contemporary yet feminine way. Celebrating 25 years in business, Rachel Trevor Morgan says: LAURA APSIT-LIVENS My hat for the Royal Ascot Millinery Collective is a sweeping straw hat lined with silk petals, each one hand dyed, cut and rolled, celebrating botanical beauty, the natural world and how this has inspired milliners over the years. The effect of the different colour tones adds a depth and beauty to this dramatic piece, creating the ultimate in femininity. Newcomer to the Milliner s Collective, Edwina Ibbotson said: I am thrilled to be part of this year s Millinery Collective for Royal Ascot, such a renowned racing week and a very important social event for milliners, it being one of the few occasions when ladies can wear a beautiful extravagant hat and not feel out of place or over dressed. Speaking of her design, Ibbotson wanted to design a striking hat with clean lines and a touch of fun, hence the pom poms. Boaters are normally a classic shape, but I have designed this piece to look very modern for Royal Ascot LADY LAURA CATHCART Harvy Santos hat is inspired by the exotic elegance and tropical vibrancy of the avian kingdom. The hat captures the sense of birds in motion flying, diving, and causing a commotion and a nod to millinery history with feathers being a fundamental element for centuries. Harvy says Spring is the time that birds and people will go dancing to court and display their finest feathers and plumage to mark a special occasion making the style perfect for Royal Ascot. Lady Laura Cathcart says: HARVEY SANTOS Coming from a racing family myself, I m especially excited about being part of the Royal Ascot Millinery Collective this year. The hat I ve designed is inspired by my new Butterfly House collection. Decorated with red feather butterflies on a black woven straw base, it evokes the spirit of the Ascot social butterfly as well as the English summer season when Bright Young social butterflies spread their beautifully coloured wings. I wanted it to be feminine as well as chic and practical for watching the serious racing. Fashion, racing and glamour all come together at Royal Ascot, any society milliner s most important week of the year Laura Apsit-Livens says: My signature piece is the Matador style as I love the classic shape. I wanted to have some fun with the piece for Royal Ascot to create movement and charisma with a sweetie inspired duchess satin bow. 28

29 ROYAL ASCOT DRESS CODE Royal Ascot is a unique, stand alone event in the sporting and social calendar and dressing accordingly is part of the experience. 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). 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 10-17) should be dressed in accordance to the Ladies dress code. However they may wear a headpiece or a fascinator as an alternative to a hat, without any size restrictions. Boys (aged 10-17) should either dress in accordance with the gentlemen s dress code or alternatively may wear a darkcoloured lounge suit with a shirt and tie. 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. 29

30 QUEEN ANNE ENCLOSURE LADIES Ladies within the Queen Anne Enclosure 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. 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 Queen Anne Enclosure 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 (ADMITTED ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY ONLY) 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 media guide, is welcome in the Queen Anne Enclosure. WINDSOR ENCLOSURE Whilst we encourage racegoers to wear smart clothes, no formal dress code applies in the Windsor Enclosure 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. DRESS CODE ASSISTANTS ROYAL ENCLOSURE AND QUEEN ANNE ENCLOSURE Once again, 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. 30

31 FINE DINING AT ROYAL ASCOT

32 ASCOT CONTINUES TO RAISE THE STANDARD IN FINE DINING Raymond Blanc OBE and Phil Howard to play key roles in 2016 Raymond Blanc OBE to advise Ascot throughout 2016, as well as hosting the Panoramic Restaurant at this year s Royal Ascot Blanc will also run a bespoke Service Academy for restaurant managers, chefs and waiting staff Phil Howard returns to Royal Ascot for the second year running to host On5 at this year s Royal Ascot Ascot Racecourse has appointed two of the nation s most respected chefs to help deliver its fine dining offer for Raymond Blanc and Phil Howard will host the Panoramic Restaurant and On5 respectively, for all five days of this year s Royal Meeting. Raymond and Phil hold two Michelin stars each and will create a high quality and memorable fine dining experience for racegoers. Raymond Blanc is the Chef Patron of Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat Saisons, the legendary restaurant and hotel in Great Milton, Oxfordshire, which has held two Michelin stars for 32 years. Raymond will host the Panoramic Restaurant, as part of a wider partnership with Ascot that will enable the racecourse to benefit from his infectious passion and wealth of experience in providing first class fine dining experiences. Raymond will advise on many aspects of the fine dining offer in the Panoramic Restaurant at Ascot Racecourse, including menu design, staff training and service standards. Part of this partnership will see Raymond Blanc deliver a Service Academy to help ensure elegant and uplifting service standards across all of Ascot s restaurants. The details of the initiative are being finalised, but the aim is to ensure that the service in all of Ascot s restaurants is as good as it possibly can be. 32

33 Speaking about his work with Ascot Racecourse, Raymond Blanc said: I have worked in fine dining for all of my working life and I am looking forward to being able to bring my knowledge, experience and passion to bear in a new environment. The team at Ascot already deliver impressive experiences, but I am excited to be working with them to raise the bar even higher. Hosting the Panoramic Restaurant during the Royal Meeting is a real privilege and I look forward to giving race goers a gastronomic treat. I am also equally excited about the Service Academy that I will run in partnership with Ascot. I believe that the fine dining experience is as much about the service as it is the food. Helping the Ascot team to raise standards even higher will be very rewarding. 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 summer menu in On5. Phil returns to Royal Ascot after a very successful five day stint in 2015, where his dishes proved wildly popular with racegoers. Speaking about his decision to host On5 at Royal Ascot this year, Phil Howard said: I m really looking forward to being a part of Royal Ascot 2016, especially following the success of last year. Again, this year I will be 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. Speaking about fine dining at Ascot Racecourse this year, Juliet Slot, Commercial Director, said: We re delighted to have Raymond Blanc and Phil Howard on board for We have worked with both of them before and we had to have them back this year. Last year Raymond Blanc had a role advising us on dining options for some of our Private Boxes. Working with him was so inspiring that we have invited him back to advise us on our wider fine dining offer. Through his Service Academy Raymond will mentor and train our staff in service excellence, helping to raise standards even further at Ascot this year. Guests who book the Panoramic Restaurant, which Raymond will be hosting during the Royal Meeting, are in for a real treat. We re also very proud to have Phil Howard back for Royal Ascot. Last year, the feedback from racegoers who ate in his restaurant was incredible, so he really is back by popular demand. His technical ability, relentless energy and attention to detail, mean that he never produces anything that is less than exceptional. Around 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. 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. 33

34 Restaurants include: The Parade Ring. Ascot s most prestigious restaurant with views overlooking the Parade Ring and its own private trackside viewing area. Guests will be served a stunning five course lunch followed by afternoon tea. Each course will be paired with Champagnes by Royal Ascot s Official Champagne partner, Champagne Bollinger. Trackside. Right at the centre of the activity and popular with racing purists, Trackside has a 40m balcony running adjacent to the track. Guests will be served a four course menu with ingredients sourced from the Crown Estate. Windsor Forest. An intimate setting considered by regulars as one of the hidden gems of the Royal Meeting. The Windsor Forest directly overlooks the Winning Post. Carriages. Named after the historic landaus of the Royal Procession, Carriages is a stately restaurant on the upper floor of a luxury marquee with a light and airy interior and stunning head on views down the final straight from its own viewing balcony. Sandringham. Sandringham occupies the lower level of the same luxury marquee as Carriages. Taking its name from Her Majesty s Royal Estate, the interior is inspired by the orchards the Sandringham Estate is well known for. Royal Ascot Village. Ascot s take on British eccentricity the Royal Ascot Village is located on the Heath near to the track and looking back towards the Grandstand. Guests will be greeted with a Pimms No.1 Reception, served a four course lunch followed by a Mad Hatter s afternoon tea and enjoy live music and pop up entertainment throughout the afternoon. Ascot Pavilion. With a private balcony overlooking the Plaza Lawns and traditional singing around the Bandstand, the Pavilion is the place to soak up the atmosphere at Royal Ascot and watch racegoers pass by in their finery. Old Paddock. An intimate restaurant over-looking the pre-parade ring and just a short walk from the Queen Anne Enclosure. Private Boxes are also available where guests can enjoy a champagne reception, four course menu and private service in their own private space. Fine dining has always been an important ingredient of the Royal Ascot experience, with a total of 330 chefs, and 12 private dining facilities. During the five day event in 2015 around 2,400 kilos of whole sirloin beef, 3,700 rumps of lamb and 2,900 Scottish lobsters were served. A further 51,000 bottles of champagne, 125,000 glasses of Pimms and 45,000 afternoon teas were consumed. For Royal Ascot 2016 Champagne Bollinger, Royal Ascot s official champagne partner, will have two exclusive bars in the Royal Enclosure Gardens and the Bollinger Lounge on the Motivator Lawn. Champagne Bollinger is also available at all bars throughout the racecourse and during the Royal Meeting there will be a specially created Champagne Bollinger afternoon tea on offer. 34

35 ASCOT HISTORY

36 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. A number of films that capture the essence and passion of what makes Royal Ascot, Like Nowhere Else, have also been produced: Films include: Royal Ascot, a place Like Nowhere Else: Explore The Royal Enclosure: Explore The Queen Anne Enclosure: Explore The Windsor Enclosure: fuqvbxxi New films will continue to be produced and published in the build up to this year s the racecourse s Twitter handle, has over 54,000 followers and throughout the Royal Meeting it will provide up to date results, news and information along with racing previews, discussion and fashion commentary. Once again our hashtag will be #RoyalAscot during the event. THE BOWLER HAT AND ASCOT 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 introduced as an attempt to address slipping standards and met with threats of a strike when bought in, in the 1950s. There are many theories as to why Holkham s gamekeepers first came to wear Bowler or Coke hats, as they were commonly known in Norfolk. The original story is that in August 1849, William Coke, a nephew of the first Earl of Leicester of the second creation, commissioned his hatter James Lock, to design a close-fitting, low crowned hat. William stressed that the hat must be extra strong; in order to protect his gamekeepers heads from low hanging branches, while out horse riding. The relationship with horse riding and bowler hats is continued at Ascot. Having approved the original Coke hat, William started the trend and today the Bowler hat, named after the Bowler brothers who designed the original, is still going strong. There is no doubt that Holkham s present team of keepers wear the Coke hat with as much pride today. The privilege of wearing a traditional bowler hat is earned after one year s service at Holkham. 36

37 ROYAL ASCOT FACTS AND FIGURES Attendance at Royal Ascot in 2015 was 293,303 (285,831 in 2014). Queen Anne Enclosure capacity has been phased down by 5,000 since ,000 ticket holders were previously using the public Queen Anne Enclosure 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 Queen Anne Enclosure upgrade area. Windsor Enclosure 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 214 private boxes at Royal Ascot 2016, providing 35,000 covers. At Royal Ascot 2015 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 If you stacked the loaves of bread served on top of each other, they were taller than the BT Tower in 2015! 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 600 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 2015, over 5.5 million posts, check ins and likes were recorded on Ascot s Facebook page. In 2015, 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 37

38 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. 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. 38

39 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. 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. 39

40 2002 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 1 races have increased from three in 1999 to eight, with the addition of the Commonwealth Cup in 2015). The new Ascot was officially reopened by The Queen, on time and to its 220 million budget, on 20th 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 statue 2015 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.. Estimate s jockey in 2012 was Ryan Moore, who continued his success at Royal Ascot in 2015 with a record breaking nine winners across the week. This year, the country, and of course the Royal racecourse, celebrates the 90th birthday of the Queen. 40