Ascot through the decades

(Extracted from Expat Telegraph's newsletter)

It was Queen Anne who initiated Ascot, when she noticed an area of open heath near Windsor castle which looked perfect for racing. She purchased the land for £558 and the first inaugural event was held in August 1711. Called "Her Majesty's Plate," the race was open to any horse over the age of six, and had a 100 guinea prize.

The first permanent building on the racecourse was built in 1793 by George Slingsby, and was used until the nineteenth century. Royal Ascot, which traditionally takes place on the 15th to 19th of June, attracts around 300,000 people every year.

Royal Ascot soon became a magnet for the rich and well connected, but lower classes often turned up to watch from a distance.

Fashionable racegoers parade around the paddock in 1905 on Gold Cup Day, now popularly known as Ladies Day. The Gold Cup was introduced in 1807, but the term Ladies Day wasn't coined till 1823. Ladies Day has evolved into a fierce fashion competion for female attendees over the last century. Those lucky enough to be in the royal enclosure must wear a hat, and dresses and skirts must not be far above the knee.

Eating at Ascot has always been a decadent affair. Some pictures from 1844 shows an elaborate picnic party in the grounds. At Royal Ascot in 2008, around 60,000 bottles of champagne, 8,300 gallons of Pimms,1,500 lobsters and 11,500 punnets of strawberries were consumed.

There were tickets for the ladies' toilets, dating from around 1920. They promise an "ample supply of Eau-de-Cologne, Smellings Salts and other Necessaries," for visitors.

Arriving in style is important for many visitors to Ascot, but Lonsdale took the biscuit by driving every day from his house to the race course entrance with an enormous procession of staff, all wearing his yellow livery. Critics accused him of trying to rival the royals.

It's said that Beau Brummel, a close friend of the Prince Regent, was the originator of the tradition that men wore waisted black coats and white cravats. Now morning suits for men and formal wear for women are considered appropriate.

Hats range from the traditional to the eccentric at Ascot. A bad hat choice can be a disaster for a socialite. In the late 19th century, Lord Harris is said to have attended Ascot wearing a brown bowler. Edward VII looked at him, and loudly asked: "Goin' rattin', 'Arris?"

King George IV began the tradition of the royal carriage procession on the track in 1825, and it has continued since then.

In 2004, Ascot's racecourses closed for 20 months for a £185 million redevelopment. The new grandstand, has been criticised for insufficiently raised viewing, especially from the lower levels.

There are 70 fulltime staff at Ascot, with 6000 extra temporary staff during Royal Ascot. Ascot's stewards are named Greencoats.

Ascot has made appearances in many films over the years - from the James Bond film A View to Kill to My Fair Lady, where Audrey Hepburn's Eliza made her famous "Move your bloomin' arse," remark.

There are three enclosures at Ascot - the silver ring, the grandstand and paddock and the royal enclosure. Royal enclosure access is extremely exclusive, with membership only available if you are nominated by an existing member who has attended Royal Ascot at least four times. We're not sure the cigar is mandatory, though.