At a time of significant uncertainty for the centuries-old sport of horse racing, what better event could there be to steady the nerves than the royal meeting at Ascot? Crowd numbers are in decline at a long list of showpiece occasions, senior executives are moving on and the much-feared affordability checks on punters appear imminent. There is also, almost certainly, a new government on the way. Royal Ascot, though, remains a living, breathing embodiment of Keep Calm & Carry On.
This is a meeting with the cheery self-confidence to stage three of its eight Group One events on Tuesday’s opening card, which always attracts the second-lowest attendance of the week. It maintains a dress code based on Victorian levels of class-consciousness, and remains aloof from the grubby business of sponsorship for its races, at least in part because, well, that is how they have always done it.
