15 hours ago
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Felicity Barnard, Ascot’s chief executive, is adamant the Royal meeting provided an accurate reflection of racing’s popularity and showed the sport has the potential to grow.
The build-up had featured discussion about waning crowds, a point that had been exacerbated by the dispiriting Derby meeting at Epsom, where crowds were down 17 per cent on the previous year.
But the pendulum swung the other way at Ascot, as crowds were up on each of the five days, culminating in an attendance of 71,000 on Saturday.
The combined figure was 286,541 and there is nothing to suggest the figure won’t be around the same in 12 months.
Barnard said: ‘It has been a fantastic week with some brilliant sport to enjoy. We have been a window for our sport and I am absolutely thrilled. We have welcomed more than 285,000 people, nearly a five per cent increase on last year.
‘We have worked really hard across the year to understand what people want when they come to a world-class event like this; the right pricing, the right product, and we have worked really hard at the experience.
Ascot chief Felicity Barnard highlighted better pricing and experience for racegoers
Crowds rose nearly five per cent at Ascot, with over 286,000 attending across five days
The week provided a boost for racing after crowds were down at the Epsom derby - pictured
‘We want to make sure everyone has a great time, whether they are here for the horses, the food or the fashion. It is a wonderful eco-system and we are already excited for next year.’
Exciting times beckon for Wathnan Racing, the venture of Qatar’s Emir, who enjoyed their best-ever Ascot with five winners, headed by Lazzat in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.
The gelding, who caused a scene when he got rid of jockey James Doyle after the race before going on a lap of Ascot, will now be given a rest rather than running in Newmarket’s July Cup.
