| Dating
back to 1711 when it was founded by Queen Anne, Royal Ascot is
one of the world’s most famous race meetings. To arrive
in style in a luxury saloon or S Class Mercedes Viano driven by
a liveried chauffeur is the only way to attend this major event
of the British social calendar. The new grandstand was opened
by Her Majesty the Queen in 2006 who along with other members
of the Royal Family attends each day.
The extreme fashions on show often eclipse the coverage of the
event by the media but the more restrained elegance of the Royal
Enclosure with the gentlemen in obligatory morning suits and ladies
in their dresses and hats is a treat for the eye. Even those not
in this privileged area adopt the same dress code making the whole
affair an even more splendid occasion. It’s worth noting
that admission to the royal Enclosure for the first time requires
being sponsored by someone who has attended at least four times.
So start networking!
Over the five days of the event one of the big races is the Ascot
Gold Cup which is held on Thursday, Ladies Day. The whole event
carries over £3.0m of prize money a long way from the first
race back in 1711 when the purse was 100guineas. These days, it’s
often said that the majority of the 300,000 people who attend
over the period are more interested in drinking champagne and
looking at the fashions than the form of the horses, jockeys and
the racing itself.
Whether you attend for a day or the whole five days the experience
is a delight and if you don’t fancy one of the many restaurants
on the course then a picnic hamper with all your favourite things
and a chilled glass of champagne and wine of your choice is yours
for the asking along with a chauffeur driven luxury car or if
you have a party, a Mercedes S Class Viano or even more how about
a Minibus.
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