Who flipping well goes to ASCOT??

[UnquietDad]

It just seems like such a poncy waste of time. Why does it get so much coverage? Stupid hats, idiotic people with too many names and too much time on their hands... Nobody ever comments on the fact that it's during the week and during the DAY, when most normal people are either working or looking after the kids. I'd rather stick pins in my eyes than watch horse-racing.

I went a couple of years ago (I live nearby).

Apart from a few slebs all I saw was horrifically drunk Essex girls. They looked the part but the moment they opened their mouths mouths - no class at all!

In fact seeing the state of the woman in the loos (St John's ambulance in attendance) they'd be more at home in Faliriki (spelling?) or the horrid place in Ibiza.

As someone said - all sorts go to Ascot.

Yes it's fun to see them all dressed up in their finery first thing in the morning and all dishevelled on their way home.

I live right by it, been once and it was fun. But I like horses so... I guess some people just go because it's Ascot, weird.

Went yesterday. Had a fab time, thank you very much! ('Tis an expensive day out, though ... but we have a family get-together there every year because mother loves it and has been going since she was a wee lass).

bighatforLL

ah the human pompom look...there's not many that would have the nerve to try and carry that off...

Cowdray, Ascot, Glyndbourne = Champagne detox/wobbly Harvey Nicks account. But as I now live in deepest France, what do I care?

As Emerald Green will know - the worst thing about Ascot for 'local's is the traffic!

You have to plan all journaeys around the last and first race times.

what I can't understand is why people go to Ascot when really they should be saving themselves for Henley in two weeks' time...

Oooh love Henley as well.

my sister, special trip from ny too!

and..thats enough reason for me to not go!!

I think the OP misunderstands the general social dynamic at Ascot. It is a place where you will find more aristocrats per square foot than anywhere else, but they are still very much in the minority. Imagine your typical Saturday night in some provincial town with girls falling in the gutter with their skirts around their necks, well it's actually alot like that, but the girls are wearing River Island's finest, rather than New Look's sluttiest. It's just a massive 'Pub's Day Out' piss up, and as someone who earns their living in horseracing, forgive me when I say I too would rather stick pins in my eyes than go. There are much better race meetings to go to, it's just a shame because the actual racing at Royal Ascot is second to none, you just get to see it better on TV.

BTW, 'Ladies Day' is a complete misnomer.

You want to get yourself into the Royal Enclosure, daaarling! Mind you, plenty of pissheads in there, they just wear more expensive clothes (or not, if they're me!).

it seems to have been taken over as another venue for corporate days out which is a shame.

I did actually have leave to apply for Royal Enclosure this year...the form (completed) is still in my tray when I thought better of it!

"Mr & Mrs Grumpy present their compliments to Her Majesty's Representative" blah di blah di blah..............

Come on,Grumpy. It's a laugh - honest! I love ear-wigging on other people's conversations and checking out the name badges for posh names - perhaps slightly odd seeing as my mother is herself v. v. posh indeed and prone to having loud, braying conversations with people she only ever sees once a year and therefore barely knows.

I must confess that's one of my favourite bits of Henley

that and seeing how many old buffers come up to DH and quiz him about his (non-existent) military service - his tie is remarkably like that of one of the smarter regiments but is actually nothing of the sort...

DH is Irish and trains racehorses, so at least we find ourselves exempt from the assumptions of others (anyone horsy is likely to know him when they see him). Unfortunately, I myself tend towards the bit too loud (hopefully stopping short of braying!) animated conversations when under the influence of too much champers. I am perfectly nice and reasonable when sober, so it is probably for the best that I watch it on TV with nothing stronger than a cup of Yorkshire Tea in hand!

At least you'd be able to go and know what you were talking about, Grumpy. Perhaps you'd even win rather than lose, the way I did. I have a very scientific approach to betting on horses, which works this way: (a) does the horse look like it's got a bit of character? (b) does he have a funky name or something which seems appropriate in one way or another? (c) is the horse ridden by Frankie Dettori? (d) does the jockey have nice colours? 4 points for (a), 3 for (b) etc. Place my bet. Lose. Works every time!

Gamegirly!

BTW, every time Frankie Dettori has ridden for us he has not won. Perhaps it was one of ours that you backed! (If so, I am sorry)

One year I did do particularly well by backing Frankie each way on every race ... but I think it was some time ago now!

Very lucky you, being involved in such a thrilling business, though - I love horses and racing, despite being a numpty when it comes to choosing a winner.