No modern phenomenon
NAME:
DATE/PLACE OF BIRTH:
HEIGHT:
FIRST WINNER IN GB:
FIRST ROYAL ASCOT WINNER:
ROYAL ASCOT WINNERS: ROYAL ASCOT TOP JOCKEY AWARDS:
CLASSIC WINS:
the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo triggered the start of World War I.
The racecourse served as an army recruitment office, a military hospital, a base for the Royal Flying Corps and a servicemen’s cinema before the meeting returned in 1919.
World War II saw Royal Ascot suspended between 1940 and 1945, although some Royal Ascot races were transferred to Newmarket and the Jockey Club did stage cards at Ascot in 1943 and 1944.
In 1945, the Coventry Stakes and
Queen Mary Stakes were run at a one-day meeting in June, with the Gold Cup and Royal Hunt Cup in July.
When Royal Ascot returned amid austerity and rationing in 1946, the dress code was switched from morning dress to lounge suits.
THE stable lads’ strike ran for 10 weeks between April and July 1975.
At Royal Ascot, there was a march by stable lads on the course and an organised picket outside the racecourse. With significant numbers of the BBC’S outside broadcast staff unwilling to cross the picket line, there was no televised coverage of the meeting in 1975.
INDUSTRIAL ACTION
OUR FRIENDS IN THE NORTH
ASCOT racecourse underwent a £220million redevelopment between September 2004 and June 2006.
York stepped in to host the five days in 2005, with the Queen in attendance every day
The Knavesmire track was also modified from a ‘horseshoe’ to a round course to accommodate the Gold Cup and Queen Alexandra Stakes.