When The Times, in its infancy, began reporting on racing at Ascot, the largest 100 guinea prize was “for Hunters which have regularly hunted with his Majesty’s hounds”. That was in 1789, and racing on Ascot Heath, previously known as East Cote, had already been a fixture for 78 years. The ale and pie opportunities, not to mention the rest of the facilities, were rudimentary.
Two years ago many who love Ascot believed their world had come to an end. Their beloved grandstand was to be torn down, the fine turf torn up and everything “improved”. The plans, with a tight deadline, had all the makings of a financial and commercial disaster. Was it really necessary?
The answer came yesterday when the new Ascot threw open its gates to acclaim. Whether the changes were necessary is not, necessarily, the point. That they are magnificent is beyond dispute. A galleon of a grandstand, seven storeys high and curving with the track, better public access, 24 escalators and 1,000 TV screens — the transformed Ascot has a claim to be the finest racecourse in the world and the best sporting venue in the country.
Britain’s Olympic planners should note the value of detailed timetabling: Ascot’s new turf was seeded in Lincolnshire five years ago. Had Wembley’s planners been as vigilant, the yet-to-be completed stadium might have met at least one of its many deadlines.
A grandstand is worthless without sport to match, but although there were teething problems yesterday, they were not in the drama stakes. The Australian rags-to-riches victor, Takeover Target, may never have hunted with royal hounds, but he rode off with a cool £114,000.