The late Sir Henry Cecil with Frankel at Royal Ascot
It has been called horseracing’s Olympics. Royal Ascot is one of Europe’s most famous race meetings, and dates back to 1711 when it was founded by Queen Anne. Every year it is attended by HM Elizabeth II and various members of the British Royal Family such as The Prince of Wales.
They have arrived each day in a horse-drawn carriage with the Royal procession taking place at the start of each race day and the raising of the Queen’s Royal Standard. No doom or gloom or other sad mortal realities has rained on this major event on the British social calendar. Life goes on.
When it commenced on Tuesday this week, we were still recovering from the news of the sad passing of one of the most prolific racehorse trainers ever to ply his trade at Ascot. Sir Henry Cecil would not have wanted it any other way than for the party and celebrations to continue. His widow Jane has been granted a temporary licence and she will bring the Cecil horses racing. This includes Joyeuse, a half sister to the legendary Frankel. The horse that won the opening race for Cecil last year. Life goes on.
The acid tests have been there in abundance for racing recently. The disgrace of Mahmood al-Zarooni, whose success with Rewilding in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes here two years ago had seemed to announce a young talent to rejuvenate Sheikh Mohammed’s stagnating Godolphin stable. In April, the sport was stunned by exposure of Zarooni’s use of anabolic steroids, and he was promptly banned for eight years.
A top-class rider, Eddie Ahern, has since had his own career ruined by allegations of corruption. Even the sport’s long-standing pin-up, Frankie Dettori, has contrived to let it down. He is back on the track where seven winners in one afternoon once sealed his status as a superstar, 18 days into his freelance career after ending an 18-year association with Godolphin. Dettori has mustered five winners since returning from that six-month suspension, for a failed cocaine test, and a Royal Ascot winner this week would be as precious as any of the previous 47.
His former employer was anxious to see prestige restored to the Godolphin silks by Dawn Approach, making a quick reappearance after his Derby debacle. Over 300 000 people will make the annual visit to Berkshire during Royal Ascot week, making this Europe’s best-attended race meeting. There are sixteen group races on offer, with at least one Group One event on each of the five days. The Gold Cup is on Ladies’ Day on the Thursday. Royal Ascot for the first time in 2013 will feature prize-money of £5,000,000. Life Goes on. Let the sun shine!
