With the racecourse decked in 4km of bunting and 80,000 Union Flags handed to visitors, this year's Royal Ascot is fully embracing the Queen's Jubilee year. However, the question on everyone’s lips will be: Will The Queen have a Royal Ascot winner to add to the 20 that have gone before? The Queen's last winner was on the final day of racing in 2008.
Boosted by the Diamond Jubilee, organizers of the prestigious event, which takes place between June 19-23, 2012, they are expecting a larger turn out than in 2011, when a staggering 294,384 attended. This year, for the first time, Ascot TV is exclusively partnering with the much respected “Vogue TV,” fronted by Martha Ward, to bring racegoers all the fashion news from the Royal Meeting.
An outlet of the prestigious Vogue.co.uk, Vogue TV will be providing a daily program of fashion highlights, exclusive interviews and an insight into the world of fashion, featuring appearances from the UK’S top fashion journalists, designers and celebrities. Organizers have also moved to clarify the dress code for this year's event, to avoid "misunderstanding of what constitutes appropriate attire for this formal occasion."
As such, ladies in the Royal Enclosure and Grandstand are not allowed to wear fascinators or miniskirts; while men are asked to wear either a black or grey morning dress with a waistcoat and tie (no cravats). Charles Barnett, Chief Executive at Ascot, said, “We have worked extensively with experts in the world of fashion to define better what formal dress means, with the overarching intention of being as helpful as possible to our visitors and assisting everyone in understanding what is expected and, we believe, cherished about the dress code at Royal Ascot.”
Ascot has the largest number of private boxes of any sporting facility in Europe. There are 255 boxes, accommodating up to 4,876 guests of the maximum 9,879 hospitality customers on site each day. Approximately 400 helicopters and 1,000 limos descend on Royal Ascot every year. Ascot is also a destination for the foodie crowd. For five days only Ascot Racecourse will offer racegoers and food connoisseurs the opportunity to indulge in an array of exquisite menus, each specially created in honor of the Royal Meeting.
The Parade Ring Restaurant is the jewel in the crown for fine dining, overlooking the Parade Ring and the Winner’s Enclosure. Caviar House, a premium seafood specialist, will be serving a spoonful of their finest caviar on top of champagne flutes in the Mill Reef Bar. And in keeping with all things British, a Diamond Jubilee Cocktail, the official cocktail for the Royal Meeting this year, has been created by award-winning mixologist Erik Lorincz, Head Bartender of London's Savoy.
For those looking to get even closer to the action, the Trackside Club Lounge provides fantastic head-on views of the racing. The 40-meter-long private balcony is just steps from the track and inside guests can indulge in an eclectic menu. Julian Clarke, Director of Ascot Hospitality, said, “The standard of racing at Royal Ascot is sublime and we aim to match that quality in all of our food offerings in order to ensure each racegoer’s experience is first class.
“Each menu is designed to display the finest produce, whilst appealing to a wide array of tastes. Whichever restaurant you choose, racegoers will find attentive service, excellent food and palate-tingling wines, delivered in the most beautiful surroundings. It’s just a wonderful day out.” Fine dining packages range from £270pp and are now on sale. To find out more information or to make a booking visit RoyalAscotHospitality.co.uk.
