In the world of sports, some events eventually transcend the boundaries of ordinary competitions. They become cultural phenomena. A great example of such events is the Royal Ascot Races. In this article, we have collected the main reasons why you should attend it.
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Heritage and Tradition
The races themselves are a tradition. According to official sources, this tradition began more than three centuries ago. It was then, during one of the horse rides in the vicinity of Windsor, that Queen Anne noticed what the enthusiastic rider considered an ideal wasteland as if specially created for racing.
Like any social event – and one with more than three hundred years of history! – the Royal Ascot Races have acquired their own traditions and cultural “access codes” over three centuries. Violators risk losing this access – temporarily or sometimes forever.
It all begins with the royal exit. Every day for five days, Her Majesty, with guests personally invited to the races, leaves her residence in Windsor Castle after lunch to go to Windsor Great Park in a limousine with the royal standard. There, all the VIPs change into open carriages and travel in them all the way to the Royal Box, where the public, dressed appropriately for the occasion, awaits them.
Horses
Meanwhile, the Ascot races are not only a social gathering and a fashion show, but also… races! Moreover, this is one of the most prestigious equestrian competitions of the year not only in Great Britain but also in Europe and the world, annually gathering up to 300 thousand spectators.
The program of the Royal Races is scheduled in the same detail and is followed as strictly as the dress code. Usually, spectators have to watch up to three dozen group races (to choose from) over five days, and the winners are awarded many prizes (the total prize fund is $ 4.8 million).
The main prize is the Ascot Gold Cup, which is traditionally awarded by the Queen on “Ladies'” Thursday. The main trophy – along with two others, the Royal Vase and the Hunt Cup, remains with the winners, and the regular supplier – the Garrard company – has to make new ones every year.
Fashion
The tradition of the dress code at Royal Ascot was established in the Regency era (that is, at the beginning of the century before last) by a man who, figuratively speaking, “dressed” and taught refined manners to all the British nobility of that time. This was not a fashion designer or a fashion theorist, but simply the famous dandy and friend of the Prince Regent (the future King George IV) George Brummell, who went down in history under the nickname Beau.
It was he, the undisputed trendsetter of those years, who prescribed that gentlemen should appear at the Ascot races in fitted black frock coats with white ties and trousers.
Later, frock coats gave way to business suits – for guests of the Royal Box, they must be black or gray with a waistcoat. A top hat is also strictly prescribed – no, God forbid, frivolous canvas hats, not to mention caps or baseball caps! Taking off top hats in the Royal Box is prohibited, but it is permissible in the “neutral territory” – in the restaurant, in the private box, in the adjacent gardens, on the terraces and balconies.
As for the ladies, the lucky owners of seats in the Royal Box are required to wear “dresses appropriate for attending a formal daytime event“. In other words, even in the June heat, the fair sex should forget about dropped shoulders, deep necklines, open backs, and navels, as well as miniskirts. Even the straps should be no narrower than 2.5 cm wide, and the top and bottom of long trouser suits should be the same color and the same texture.
A lady’s hat has become an indispensable accessory for a guest of the Royal Box. However, the Ascot dress code is extremely sparse regarding the latter: ladies are required to wear a hat (or a fascinator cocktail hat) that covers a significant part of the head.
Everything else depends on the individual tastes and financial capabilities of the owners of the headwear and the imagination of fashion designers. The hat riot reaches its peak on the third day of the races – Thursday, traditionally declared “Lady’s Day.”
Sing-Along
To keep up with the times, Royal Ascot has changed while still retaining its traditional aura. After the Second World War, important social changes were introduced.
In the 1970s, pop culture penetrated the Ascot bastion, and singing British favorites “Around the Bandstand” under the flying Union Jack became an integral part of Royal Week and was included in the list of official events.
Entertainment
Horse racing and excitement are only half the entertainment at the Royal Races. The entire top of the English nobility and ordinary people come here to “see others and be seen“. The main pleasure is, of course, the unofficial fashion show.
Another important event that involves the participation of the royal family is the Royal Regatta, for which the Queen herself stocks up on a new hat.
Food and Drink
It is also the place to sample royal cuisine and drink. Over the course of five days, guests typically drink around 56,000 bottles of champagne, 44,000 bottles of wine, and 21,000 jugs of Pimm’s. Tea and mineral water are available for those who do not drink alcohol. At last count, 60,000 sandwiches are eaten at the event, as well as 80,000 cups of tea and 128,500 bottles of mineral water.
Atmosphere
This truly royal event has its own unique atmosphere. Finding yourself among the classy dressed ladies and gentlemen, and even in the presence of the royal family, you will undoubtedly feel the spirit of the past. Each event has a touch of aristocracy. It is thanks to the unique traditions and indescribable atmosphere that this is not just a horse race, but the peak of the social season.
Things They Don’t Tell You About Royal Ascot
Despite its royal status, this glittering event has its own dark side. It is not visible behind the beautiful hats and luxurious dresses. However, it is still worth knowing about.
Horses Suffer and Die at Ascot
It is worth remembering that these are races in which the winner receives a significant prize. Therefore, the methods of working with horses are not always honest. Animals suffer because of the exorbitant ambitions of their owners. Of course, injuries do happen. Some of them result in the horse being disposed of. So, underneath the pretty wrapper is occasional animal exploitation and often cruelty.
Horses May Be Drugged
Most likely, you have heard about the scandal when a horse from the royal stable was caught doping.
In 2013, the Royal Horse Gold Cup was won for the first time by a horse owned by a monarch. Her name was Estimate, and she was a thoroughbred racemare of Irish descent.
However, the winner was immediately suspected of doping. Test samples taken after the competition showed traces of morphine in the animal’s blood. Buckingham Palace suggested that the substance could have accidentally gotten into the horse’s feed.
Horses May Be ‘Retired’ to the Abattoir
Keeping a thoroughbred horse is an expensive pleasure. And if it does not bring victories, then the owners often send the animal to the slaughter. Do not think that the participants of the royal races live out their days in cozy stables. This is a business. And if the horse is unprofitable, they get rid of it.
It’s All About Money
At first glance, it may seem that this beautiful event is a tribute to tradition. But this is only partly true. Of course, racing is always based on money. In itself, this is neither good nor bad.
However, large sums of money at stake provoke violations and harm to horses in the desire to win at any cost. If you want to make money in a humane way, use India 1xBet as the safest option to make bets. This way, you can enjoy the race without leaving your home and traveling to the UK to do it.
Conclusion
The Royal Ascot Race is a landmark event in British social life. It is a feast for the eyes and a chance to touch the world of aristocracy. Of course, first of all, it is the excitement of racing. If you love this sport, then you should definitely visit Royal Ascot. It will be an unforgettable experience.