Likes
The card. Absolutely fantatsic and unrivalled anywhere in Europe. Easily the Cheltenham of the flat season.
The track. I personally think it's the best in the country by a long chalk
Ballydoyle carrying all before it on too many occasions to mention.
Dislikes
The royal parade before hand. It can damage the course meaning that some horses are at a disadvantage during their races and can actually get beaten as a result.
The dress code - if I'm paying £100 for a ticket i expect to be able to wear anything i like and not just have to dress like something you see on the top of a wedding cake
The clientele - there's no happy medium. Upper class snobs or chavs and nothing in between.
The marketing - it's a race meeting pure and simple. It shouldnlt be a champagne and pimms fuelled orgy where Tarquin gets one off the wrist from Felicity just because she's had a few too many.
The distance handicaps - we see enough of the likes of Nicky Henderson on our screens during the national hunt season. We really don't want buffoons like him turning up during the highlight of the flat season please.
Any other views welcome.
Royal Ascot - likes and dislikes
posted on 8/6/11
Bob, hang your head in shame! Mr Henderson is a bastion of the sport and probably the most admired and respected man in racing. Amazingly, though he’s only ever won 1 race at Royal Ascot but I’ll predict that he’ll double that score next week! Much to the delight of the forum and the assembled crowd. I’m sure top hats will thrown in the air throughout the land!
I like the card as well – top races and top horses abound. Interestingly, re the course in last week’s paper read an article where the reporter quipped that there are 4 racing surfaces in this country – polytrack, fibresand, turf and the straight course at Ascot. I’m not that big a fan as so many races on the straight course are draw dependent.
Also dislike most of the clueless clientele a high proportion of which are oblivious to there being races taking place. Also, the BBC coverage which is usually appalling with the exception of the acerbic little fellow who does the fashion – his ‘put down’ lines are so funny.
As at Cheltenham the strength of the market at Royal Ascot is very strong which is a huge plus I think and the early morning prices usually display many examples of value.
posted on 8/6/11
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 8/6/11
great racing,good course.cannot get my head around the draw at all.the beeb,imo,concentrate far too much on the fashion side
posted on 9/6/11
its called royal ascot for a reason. everyone should have to wear top hats in respect for Her Majesty.
posted on 9/6/11
The Royals should have to wear top hats out of respect for me!
The BBC coverage is going to be dire as usual. Too much fashion. Too many pundits who know nothing about racing. How many seconds do you think it will take for them to mention the "disappointment" of the nation when Carlton House didn't win The Derby?
Other dislikes (not that I'll be there) - the awful revamp of the Grandstand. Yuck!
Likes - the racing of course.