Letter From Ascot: Cheers!

When you think of “old” or “historic” races or racetracks, The Travers at Saratoga or perhaps The Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs come to mind. Those events and venues are rookies when it comes to the racecourse about an hour east of London called Ascot.

Queen Anne saw this glorious chunk of flat real estate just a few furlongs from Windsor Castle over three centuries ago. She decided in 1711 to present racing there, 164 years before Aristides won the first Kentucky Derby.

A hundred years later the English Parliament passed an act ensuring that these grounds would remain a public racecourse. That was 51 years before the inaugural Travers was contested at the August place to be.

Big sport in a small country. And the current monarch knows and loves this game from bloodlines to finish lines. Queen Elizabeth II has attended every day of the Royal Meetings for the past 63 years! She has owned 71 Ascot winners since she ascended the throne in 1952.

Don't you wish our political leaders loved racing and went to the tracks with family, instead of just

to present a trophy and get on television?

For me this is my favorite week of the year. Mostly ideal weather, a setting out of Harry Potter or Walt Disney, food and beverages in front of old pals who love the sport and are on the course on five of the most important days of racing in Europe or, perhaps the world.

More and more an American presence can be felt during these afternoons, when the sun does not set until well after nine in the evening.

Wesley Ward, who became the first American trainer to win at Royal Ascot now has seven victories. Graham Motion brings Miss Temple City to take on the colts in the G1 Queen Anne with Edgar Prado, but little steering will be needed, as this is over a straight mile.

American Patriot, trained by Todd Pletcher will also be in the field with Frankie Dettori, the most successful

active jockey at Royal Ascot with 56 winners on his CV.

This is the race that Tepin won last year, capturing the hearts of the racing fans from all over the world. I think she opened the door to another Yankee victory on Tuesday.

In addition to the race by race gambling, you can bet on the color of the hat that Queen wears each day. No thanks.

And you can bet on who gets the Ritz trophy on Saturday. That prize goes to the jockey with the most wins during the regal fortnight. My money is already on William Buick (7-1), third choice behind favorite, Ryan Moore (2/7) and Frankie Dettori (4-1).

At the end of this week I will be giving out my annual “Down The Stretch” awards with a tip of my top hat to Queen Anne for making this all possible.

Let me get my hands around one of the 150,000 bottles of champagne that were delivered to Ascot catering, and are chilling right now, and say….

“Cheers!”

Editor's note: Dave Johnson is a racecaller and sportscaster (famous for his signature `And down the stretch they come!') who is attending his 23rd consecutive Royal Ascot meeting this year. He is writing a daily Ascot report for the TDN.