Royal Ascot 2015
by Sarah Goodall
photos Hannibal Reitano
For just over 300 years Royal Ascot, has been one of the world’s best loved race courses, first created by Queen Anne in 1711! Now attracting a vast international range from Australian horses to Hong Kong, and the US, as well as countries nearer. Over the course of the five day race meeting a record £5,585,000 in prize-money is awarded; and keeping the racing groups up to speed – a new addition this year was the group one race called the Commonwealth Cup.
There is no official sponsorship for Royal Ascot, but its benefactor this year was Qipco and also Gigaser.
On the Wednesday there was the unveiling by The Queen, of a bronze statue of the legendary horse named Frankl, who won Royal Ascot 14 times.
The Queen, who herself had several of her own horses running this week, attended every day, along with other members of the Royal Family; Prince Charles and The Duchess of Cornwall on Tuesday, and Princess Anne on most days, Zara Phillips on Friday, and The Duchess of York making a welcome appearance with the Duke of York on the Saturday.
Dress code was as ever formal in the Royal Enclosure, and gentlemen wore top hats, tails and black shoes; while ladies wore hats and no bare shoulders, where the hem length of dresses did not rise above the knee!
For the Royal Enclosure Members paid £105 for their badges, and picnics in Car Park one were afloat with with champagne and were properly laid out on picnic tables – some people turning up at the car park many hours before to arrange them!
On Ladies Day, the Thursday, when all the finest of millenary was shown to its full extent, those who were keen to be photographed arrived as early as 10.00 am, as soon as doors had opened!
The Gold cup on Ladies Day was won by “Trip to Paris”; and while the Irish contingent, as always had their fair share of wins, it was the Irish jockey, Ryan Moore, who topped the bill with a tally of nine wins this week!
Celebrities were as present as usual Denis Lewis, Ronan and Jeremy Irons presenting the Winners trophies.
