What’s new at Royal Ascot this year?
There’s no denying that the British love tradition. But there comes a time when even one of the oldest sporting traditions in England, Royal Ascot, needs a refresh. This year, the racecourse is offering two new features, one for the breeders, owners and trainers, and one for the spectators.
Firstly, new facilities are being put into place to make the historic meeting better for the owners, trainers and breeders themselves. A new unsaddling enclosure equipped with equine misters, was completed and opened in April. This will ensure that after an intense race the horses can be taken away and unsaddled in a calm environment, ensuring that the excitement doesn’t become too much for them.
(Photo: Longines)
The whole of the upstairs first floor of the Pre-Parade Ring building has been dedicated to owners and trainers dining facilities for Royal Ascot, doubling its capacity. The Grundy Bar at ground level next to the Pre-Parade Ring has also been dedicated an exclusive owners and trainers area, adding to a total for three bars specifically for owners and trainers, giving them a private space. Ascot has invested an additional £2 million overall which includes prize money and participants and equine facilities. In addition, owners will now be allocated 10 Parade Ring Passes per horse this year, up from six, which will allow them to share this special occasion with more family and friends.
Similarly, the breeders themselves are being honoured by Ascot, as announced in March, all breeders of winning horses at Royal Ascot will receive a memento of their achievement – Royal Ascot-branded strawberry dishes. This will take place at a lunch at Ascot on Friday 22nd July, the opening day of King George Weekend. This is an important change; the breeders are at the bedrock of the very business of horse racing and yet very rarely do they ever get any praise, normally reserved for owners, trainers and jockeys. So for one of the oldest courses in horse racing to be actively praising the breeders shows a positive change in the sport.
(Photo: Ascot)
For the racing fans themselves, the relaxed and contemporary Villers Club will open its doors for the first time this year. Located on the heath side of the racecourse opposite the Grandstand, the new entertaining space has uninterrupted views of the home straight, making it the perfect setting to sample some of the best informal dining the racecourse has to offer, with everything from a tapas-style lunch to a modern take on afternoon tea. Villers has a club-like feel with high and low seating that is ideal for socialising, as well as a DJ and girl group House of Angels performing throughout the day. The entertainment never stops, making this a Royal Ascot you will never forget and seeing as the Queen Anne enclosure is now sold out for Thursday, Friday and Saturday, why not gain entry with a ticket to the Villers Club and enjoy the luxurious experience?
(Photo: Ascot)
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