4 minute read
Girls Aloud
Cathy Grassick, chairman of the Irish Breeders’ Association, enjoyed a Royal Ascot week, which provided spectacle, pageantry and 21 Irish-bred winners
ROYAL ASCOT is one of the most important events on the British Flat racing calendar, but it is more than a celebration of thoroughbred horses. The huge social importance of the event and its impact on fashion, food and drink brings in the crowds who flock to the track for the five-day festival.
It was wonderful to have the daily attendance of HRH Queen Camilla and a real testament to the strength and dedication of HRH King Charles that, despite ongoing medical treatment, he was able to attend on all but one of the days.
With nearly 275,000 people attending over the five days and the meeting televised in over 200 different territories, this is clearly a formula that works and holds huge attraction for racegoers and viewers alike.
It is very encouraging to see an increase of 7,000 over the week on 2023 figures. It is clear that, when providing attendees with the right hospitality, facilities and entertainment, Flat racing and indeed the entire sport of horseracing can hold its own amongst the highlights of the sporting year.
Everybody is expected to look their best at Royal Ascot and even the men have to up their game with some sartorial splendour of morning suit, waist coat and top hat.
There is a delight taken in following the dress code and donning millinery and finery. This is a far cry from some of the previous criticism of racing which was perceived as preventing accessibility.
The spectacle and pageantry is enjoyed by all and I think it is something very special to see so many people enjoying looking their best, no matter which enclosure they were attending.
It is not just the attraction of the chance to rub shoulders with the good and the great of royalty and nobility, but also the many stars of sport and screen who are to be encountered whether they are attending as guests or presenting trophies with famous names such as Henry Winkler, Minnie Driver, Jerry Hall, Dame Prue Leith, Elizabeth Hurley, Penny Lancaster, Theo Walcott, Mike Tindall and Alex Jones among those in attendance.
The mix of sporting stars and those from the screen offers a great range of celebrity personalities.
Even the equine stars all come out to shine during the five-day meeting and this year was no exception with Rosallion, Inisherin, Haatem, Charyn, Khaadem, Calandagan, Auguste Rodin, Porta Fortuna and Kyprios some of the names who lit up the winners’ enclosure.
There were also some new names who announced their presence on the world racing stage such as Port Fairy, Fairy Godmother, Bedtime Story, Leovanni, Shareholder and Rashabar.
There were some very special moments as always at Royal Ascot
and I am sure Irish viewers were delighted see Heather and Henry De Bromhead, Willie and Jackie Mullins and Jessica Harrington all part of the Royal Procession, and Harrington was also very privileged to present a trophy on Saturday, as well.
With King Charles and Queen Camilla both so fond of Ireland maybe we can look forward to seeing some more Royal runners in Ireland soon or even an Irish-trained horse for them in the not too distant future!
IRISH RACING AND BLOODSTOCK had another great week with Aidan O’Brien winning the trainers’ title for the 13th time, while 21 of the 35 winners were bred in Ireland.
There was even a very special moment for trainer Gerry Keane and his champion jockey son Colin – they teamed up together with Crystal Black to win the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes.
Of course, cannot speak about Royal Ascot without mentioning the great and the good who mark the day out with a picnic in the car parks.
I myself can only vouch for the excitement of Car Park 2, which is always very genteel and sedate prior to racing, but which has a much more festive vibe at the end of the day.
The celebrations of every day didn’t end when racing finished but carried on at what can only be described as a veritable “United Nations of picnics” over the week.
French, Irish, English – everyone was in festive spirit whether catching up with old friends or making some new ones!
