June 16th, 2011

Royal Ascot has always been a fantastic showcase for millinery fashion. Ladies Day in particular provides some wonderfully eye-catching images as a huge range of hats, from the glamorous to the downright eccentric, compete for a place on the newspaper front pages.

June 15th, 2011

The highlight of today’s racing at Royal Ascot was a heart-stopping finish by Frankie Dettori on 17-2 Rewilding in the 3.45 Prince of Wales Stakes, finally vanquishing a three-length lead by race favourite So You Think just before the line.

Dettori’s subsequent nine day ban for over-use of the whip, however, took the gloss off the moment for the jockey, who will now miss the Coral Eclipse Stakes at Sandown on 2 July. This is a blow for Dettori, the rider with the highest number of wins at Royal Ascot.

June 15th, 2011

Queen Elizabeth II has previously admitted that, were she not engaged in Royal duty, she would have loved to be a “lady living in the country with lots of horses and dogs”. Indeed, she is well-respected for her impressive knowledge of the racing industry, particularly her own riders and runners, with her trusted racing manager and Royal bloodstock advisor John Warren at her side.

June 14th, 2011

The starter gun for first race of Ascot 2011 fired at 2.30 this afternoon following the arrival of many members of the Royal Family, enjoying glorious sunshine in their biggest fashion fixture since the Royal Wedding.

The Queen was elegant as ever in a mint coat and brimmed hat, and Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice had both settled for rather more subtle ensembles than on the 29th April. The Duchess of Cornwall, however, showed customary practicality by wearing exactly the same outfit.

June 14th, 2011

Queens who love horse racing are a constant in British history, and it was in 1711 that Queen Anne first declared East Cote heath the perfect place for “horses to gallop at full stretch”. Shortly afterwards, on August 11th of that year, the first formal race took place on the land that would later become Ascot.

And in fact today, Tuesday 14th June 2011, not only marks the opening of this year’s Royal Ascot, but also the celebration of its three hundredth anniversary.  Our own Queen, Elizabeth II, will be entering her horses into a number of the races at this year’s event, bringing the Royal patronage of this turf right up to modern times. In fact, the land is still owned by the Crown, although the Act of Enclosure in 1815 secured its use as a public racecourse in perpetuity.

May 3rd, 2011

There are few sporting venues that can match the rich heritage and history of Ascot Racecourse. Dating back to 1711, Royal Ascot has established itself as a national institution and the centrepiece of the British social calendar as well as acting as the ultimate stage for the best racehorses in the world.

Royal Ascot’s five days of the finest racing, glamour and luxury attracts over 300,000 race-goers, including Her Majesty The Queen, to what is arguably the most beautiful racecourse in the country.

The quality of the horseracing at Royal Ascot is simply outstanding, with nearly £4 million in prize money on offer and a total of eighteen ‘Group’ races over the five days.

Possibly the most anticipated day of the five-day festivities is the Thursday – or Ladies Day, as it is better known. Although the whole week of Royal Ascot is a fashion show like no other, it is Thursday when the designer creations and millinery masterpieces reach new heights.

Champagne Bollinger is proud to support Royal Ascot and shall be in residence in the Royal Enclosure throughout.

Royal Ascot will this year take place from Tuesday June 14th to Saturday 18th.

Photo credit:  monkeywing