Royal Ascot
Dateline: 06/26/01
Ascot Racecourse, located about 45 minutes north of London, was founded in 1711 by Queen Anne and is one of the world's premier racecourses. The first four-day Royal Meeting was held in June 1768 and has continued to the present day, still in late June. Royal Ascot is renowned as an international occasion of tradition and style. Even the dress codes in the Royal Enclosure stress the difference of this meet from others, requiring formal dresses and hats for the women and morning suits with top hats for the men. In addition to the rich, beautiful and famous in attendance, top class Thoroughbreds from all over Europe are in action. Over £2.5 million in prize money was offered this year, featuring 15 Group races, including a Group One on each of the four days.
The 2001 meet was a huge success with a total of 233,808 attending the four day meet (second largest ever), including a new record of 60,862 for the final day (Friday). New records were being set at the betting windows as well, with the total Tote handle for the meet hitting £7 million! For more detailed statistics, check here.
For a taste of Royal Ascot, here are some pictures from photographer Bill Selwyn for your enjoyment.
Wednesday in the Group 1 Prince of Wales Stakes, Godolphin's Fantastic Light prevailed by 2 1/2 lengths over last year's Breeders' Cup Turf winner Kalanisi with Hightori another 3/4 of a length back in third. Fantastic Light has a rigorous schedule laid out this year including the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. (More details from Sporting Life.)
The Group 1 feature for the final day was the Coronation Stakes and the French invader Banks Hill with Olivier Peslier up rallied in the final furlong to beat co-favorite Crystal Music by 1 1/2 lengths with Tempting Fate another 1/2 length back in third. This was the first Royal Ascot win in five years for trainer Andre Fabre who will likely send the filly out against the boys next. Another view of the finish is below. (More details from Sporting Life.)
The biggest of the other two Group 1 races during the meet was the 2 1/2 mile Ascot Gold Cup on Thursday which was won by Royal Rebel in a grueling duel to the finish with 9-year-old Persian Punch. (More details from Sporting Life.) The opening Group 1 event on Tuesday was the St. James's Palace Stakes where Black Minnaloushe got up to nip Noverre by a neck with Olden Times another head back in third. Black Minnaloushe was coming off a win in the Irish 2000 Guineas for trainer Aidan O'Brien. (More details from Sporting Life.)
Photos by Bill Selwyn. Ascot logo courtesy of Ascot Racecourse.
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