For the past few years, we have celebrated the highs and sometimes lows, of the Royal Ascot meet with A Tip of the Top Hat awards. Originally over these five days, we presented `The Down the Stretch' awards, but the homestretch at Ascot is a gradual uphill tussle. I think it is much harder for [...]

Are you lucky enough to be a real fan of the industry you live and work in? I am. And my new hero is Ian Bartlett. Never met the chap, but he is a well traveled race commentator for more than 31 years, with stints in his native England for the BBC, and for races [...]

Forget Junes in years past. Forget the top hat and tailcoat. Forget the long airline flight to London. Forget the face mask and gloves. It's a new world in 2020 for those who love top-quality horse racing and believe that “mass follows class” on both sides of the Atlantic. Now in the light of COVID-19, [...]

The result of this year's Arc de Triomphe was…..”almost.” Because the race, the day, in fact the season, became all about Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire)}, and if the mare could win the most important single race in the world for the third consecutive year. The answer was…almost. A furlong from the line, I thought she [...]

I don't speak French, but I do eavesdrop in both English and French. Wearing ear-buds, as if I am listening to Sirius SXM, makes it easy. What I have gathered by being “on the earie” here in Paris this week is that there is a frenzy going on. Almost every overheard conversation comments about one [...]

For the past 24 years I have broken up my journey to the Arc de Triomphe with a stop in the U.K. My favorite spot in England is Mayfair. In the 1500's every year there would be a fayre (fair) in this little corner of London, thus the name. I can recharge my batteries here, [...]

I can tell there is more attention than ever for eyes and wallets on this Royal Ascot meeting, which ends Saturday. The amount of emails I am getting asking questions only a punter would serve up are more than any other years. Quite telling. If you won a bet, the difference in the win price [...]

With the first Democratic debate next week, and the 2020 election seemingly nearer than that date, one marvels at how big this sport is in this small country. One reason is because of Queen Elizabeth II. Hard to imagine that she has been coming to this race meeting every year, in person for 47 years! [...]

There is a camaraderie at any racetrack that you seldom find in other sports or businesses–not only among the trainers who show up at an unfamiliar venue with a horse box and one or twofour-legged lifelines to the sport; not only among the riders who check into a new jockey's room with a duffel bag, [...]

For you, would Royal Ascot be more of a social occasion or a sporting opportunity? More of “who's that?” or “I had that!” Would you know who was in the second carriage of the Royal Procession today by only knowing their first names: Wills & Kate, Camilla & Charles? Or, would you know the first [...]

The day before the Royal Meeting at Ascot begins, it is all about the humans who will be working over the prestigious five-day spectacle. Some in top hat and tails, some in jockey silks. Many have pointed their skills, their horses, their hats and their bankrolls to this week in June. As for the jockey [...]

Every few days I splurge for a breakfast at my local diner. Years ago, I remember stopping in my hometown of St. Louis for fresh fruit, two eggs, toast and coffee for less than five bucks. Now in Manhattan, the cost is $14.05 plus tip.　That's 11 British Pounds and 8 pence. With the Royal Ascot [...]