|
|
>> Ladies Day at Royal Ascot
|
June 19th 2008 |
| |
 |
The five days of the ROYAL MEETING at ASCOT provide one of the most unique and colourful occasions on the sporting calendar. Queen Ann founded Ascot Races in 1711 and members of the Royal family still lead the procession from Windsor Castle to Ascot each day. The GOLD CUP meeting, or ‘LADIES DAY' as it is famously known, is a great day at the races and one not to be missed. Focus switches from racing to fashion, in particular ladies and their hats!
|
|
|
As part of your day package you will be transferred by charter coach from London, be served a picnic style lunch with loads of wine, receive entry to the Silver Ring enclosure, and then upon return to London enjoy a post race party to celebrate your winnings (or to commiserate your losses!).
SPECIAL OFFER -
NOW ONLY £65 PER PERSON! |
| |
|
| Ladies Day at Royal Ascot Details |
|
| >> Ladies Day at Royal Ascot Tour Option |
|
| >> General Royal Ascot Details |
|
| >> Ladies Day at Royal Ascot Tour Itinerary |
|
|
|
>> Ladies Day at Royal Ascot 2008 Tour Option |
|
|
|
| Ladies Day at Royal Ascot Package: |
|
| Day Trip: Thursday 19 June 2008 - £70 per person |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| >> General Royal Ascot Details |
|
| |
|
The Royal Meeting: Tuesday 17th – Saturday 21st June, 2008
Royal Ascot is the world's most famous race meeting and is steeped in history that dates back to 1711. Always a superb sporting and social occasion, combining tradition and pageantry with unrivalled horse racing action, it promises to be bigger and better than ever before. With no less than fifteen group races and over £3 million prize money on offer over the five days, the quality of the horse racing remains simply outstanding. This magnificent event is steeped in centuries of history, tradition and style, for which it is still renowned for today. The action on the track is matched only by the fashions off it with a spectacular array of colourful outfits and hats on display, ranging from catwalk chic to interesting and obscure. Always a superb sporting and social occasion Royal Ascot is much more than just a race meeting. It represents the epitome of prestige, luxury and style, all in the perfect setting of the beautiful Berkshire countryside.
|
|
The Silver Ring Enclosure:
The Silver Ring Enclosure provides a great relaxed and informal environment, offering a good range of facilities and the chance to enjoy all of the excitement that Royal Ascot has to offer. 2000 free seats are available on a first come, first served basis. Alternatively you can stand by the rails to cheer on your horse as they sweep round the bend into the final straight. There is a massive lawned area with a variety of places to eat, drink, and bet to soak up the wonderful experience. Big screen TV's bring you full live coverage of all of the racing action, although you cannot access the Parade Ring or main Grandstand. There is also live music entertainment. There are no formal dress restrictions in the Silver Ring although we do encourage racegoers to make the most of the day and come in smart casual attire. |
|
Royal Ascot History:
Ascot Racecourse and the Royal Meeting are steeped in almost three centuries of tradition, heritage and prestige. It was Queen Anne who first saw the potential for a racecourse at Ascot, which in those days was called East Cote. Whilst out riding in 1711, she came upon an area of open heath, not far from Windsor Castle, that looked an ideal place for “horses to gallop at full stretch.” The first race meeting ever held at Ascot took place on Saturday 11 August 1711. Her Majesty's Plate, worth 100 guineas and open to any horse, mare or gelding over the age of six, was the inaugural event. Each horse was required to carry a weight of 12st and seven runners took part. This contest bore little resemblance to racing seen at Ascot today. The seven horses were all English Hunters, quite different to the speedy thoroughbreds that race on the flat now. The race consisted of three separate heats which were four miles long (imagine, one heat was about the length of the Grand National course!), so the winner would have been a horse with tremendous stamina. Sadly, there is no record of the winner of the first Plate. The racecourse was laid out by William Lowen, who was assisted by a team of helpers, William Erlybrown, a carpenter, Benjamin Cluchett, a painter, and John Grape, who prepared the paper work for racing. The first permanent building was erected in about 1794 by George Slingsby, a Windsor builder. It held 1,650 people and was used until 1838. In 1813, Parliament passed an Act of Enclosure. This Act ensured that Ascot Heath, although the property of the Crown, would be kept and used as a racecourse for the public in the future. Racing at Ascot was now secure. The precise origin of the Royal Meeting is unclear, it was an event that evolved perhaps, rather than was introduced at a specific time. Arguably, the meeting as we know it today started to take shape with the introduction of the Gold Cup in 1807. Gold Cup day remains the feature race of the third day of Royal Ascot and is traditionally the busiest day of the week. It is colloquially known as “Ladies' Day,” as, in the formative years, it was the dominant day in terms of the racing, attracting the largest crowds and, it must be assumed from the emergence of the term “Ladies' Day,” more ladies! Gold Cup Day remains the busiest day of the week but not by nearly as far as was once the case and the quality of the racing is equally high every day. The main Grandstands usually sell out well in advance all week. It was at around the time of the first running of the Gold Cup that the roots of today's traditional Royal Enclosure dress code emerged. Beau Brummell, a close friend of the Prince Regent, decreed that men of elegance should wear waisted black coats and white cravats with pantaloons. Over the years, this has evolved into the wearing of morning suits and equally “respectable” clothes for Ladies, who must wear hats. It was during the 1820s that the Royal Enclosure as we might recognise it now was born. King George IV commissioned a two-storey Royal Stand to be built with a surrounding lawn, access to which was by invitation of the King. Here, he entertained his friends in style. In 1825, the Royal Procession as an annual tradition began. The King and four other coaches with members of the Royal party drove up the centre of the racecourse in front of the crowds and this has continued year after year to the present day. In 1839, the first public Grandstand was erected next to the Royal Stand. The lower half of the stand could hold about 3,000 people and contained a betting hall. Although founded by a Queen and located on Crown property, the administration of Ascot has always been handled on behalf of the Crown by a representative appointed by the Monarch. The racecourse was run on behalf of the Sovereign by the Master of the Royal Buckhounds up until 1901 when Lord Churchill was appointed as His Majesty's Representative. He was responsible for running the course and determining entrance to the Royal Enclosure. In 1913, the Ascot Authority was established by an Act of Parliament. His Majesty's Representative became Chairman of the Authority with the Clerk of the Course acting as Secretary. Today, Ascot retains both these positions, but with the additional appointment of non-executive directors, a Chief Executive and departmental directors, of which the Clerk of The Course is one. In 1955, the rules of divorce were relaxed and divorcees were able to enter the Royal Enclosure. However, a redevelopment of the Enclosure shortly before this had added the new Queen's Lawn. To this area, entrance was by invitation only and the Court rules governing divorce still applied. In the modern era, Royal Ascot has become an event where everyone is welcome. Indeed, on some days there are six times as many people in the public enclosures, paying as little as £3 for admission, as there are in the Royal Enclosure. The Royal Enclosure itself is restricted only insofar as people must have applied in advance and new applicants must be sponsored by existing Royal Enclosure badge holders who have attended the Royal Meeting on at least four occasions. |
|
|
| |
|
| >> Ladies Day at Royal Ascot Tour Itinerary |
|
| |
|
Thursday 19th June:
Ladies Day is a sensational day out and great chance to experience one of the most famous events on the sporting calendar.
Departure from London
The coaches all depart from Goldhawk Road, Stamford Brook London at 08.30am. The drive to Royal Ascot from London takes about 90 minutes on race day and once we have departed London you will be given a full run down on the day ahead and issued with your Silver Ring Enclosure Ticket.
Royal Ascot Racecourse
On arrival at Royal Ascot you will be served a picnic style buffet lunch with wine, before the races start for the afternoon. The day is then yours to take in the delights of Ladies Day, whether it be trying your luck with the bookies, checking out the fine fashion on display, or simply kicking back with a bottle of bubbly!
Departure from Ascot
As the racing draws to a close, we'll load up the coaches and head back to London. Departure from Royal Ascot Racecourse is 6pm. Upon arrival back in sunny London the coaches will make a drop off at our post race venue on Acton High Street, before making a final drop at Goldhawk Road, Stamford Brook.
For any further enquiries regarding the Ladies Day schedule, please contact the First Festival Travel office where we will be happy to help.
|
|
| >> Tour Package Includes: |
|
 Return coach transport from central London
Picnic style buffet lunch (including wine)
Silver Ring enclosure ticket for Royal Ascot
Post race day party in London
|
|
| >> Tour Package Excludes: |
 Personal expenses
Meals unless otherwise stated
Drinks |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
