Owners at home set for virtual experience at Ascot Racecourse
11 Jun 2020
An online Racing Hub has been set up which will house the Turftrax live feed to real time weather data and going stick readings plus, during race days, access to a live 360 degree Parade Ring camera feed which will pick up every horse as it walks around the Parade Ring.
Ascot’s official photographer will take pictures of every horse in the Parade Ring for owners to access post-event. Trainers and jockeys are very welcome to film/Facetime pre and post race debriefs with owners on their smartphones.
Also available on the Racing Hub will be the full sectionals from every race, courtesy of Ascot’s Official Timekeeper, Longines. Both ITV and Sky Sports Racing will show sectional times on screen.
On Sunday, Sky Sports Racing will be filming a behind the scenes piece with Clerk of the Course, Chris Stickels, in the Weighing Room and Parade Ring area. A link to this will be sent to owners, and indeed horsemen generally, via the ROA and respective industry bodies in advance of racing.
Owners will receive a pair of traditional, printed Royal Ascot racecards in advance of racedays, personalized with the name of their horse. In addition, as many horses are in multiple ownerships, the full racecards will be digitally produced on the Racing Hub. Included with the posted racecards will be souvenir “Royal Ascot At Home” Owners Badges.
Whilst there won’t be formal trophy presentations this year, for obvious reasons, the historical Royal Ascot trophies will be sent to winning Owners after the event along with mementos for winning trainers and jockeys.
Winning Owners will receive a video card of the race and photograph montage, as normal. In addition, in conjunction with Ascot’s Official Champagne, Moet & Chandon and sponsor, Fortnum & Mason, the owners of the first four home in all 36 races, and the winning Breeders, will receive a gift to celebrate with.
Nick Smith, Director of Racing and Public Affairs at Ascot, said:
“Whilst the ultimate experience of being at Royal Ascot sadly isn’t possible this year, we hope that what we are planning will make ownership at home as special as possible. We are particularly pleased to be able to provide Owners with a feed to the Parade Ring, and to be housing all the data that all horsemen need from real time weather and going reports to post race sectionals in one, convenient place.
“We are very conscious of the loyalty and commitment to the sport that Owners have shown over the past months and when permitted, of course they will be the first constituents welcomed back to Ascot.”
Charlie Liverton, Chief Executive of the Racehorse Owners’ Association, added:
“I am thrilled that Royal Ascot and the ROA have been able to put together some fantastic initiatives that help to bring the magic of Royal Ascot home.
“They have gone to extraordinary lengths to bring Owners virtually in to the paddock, to speak with their trainers and jockeys and receive special behind the scenes access, along with personalized racecards for all those with a horse running. As ever, it will never replicate being able to attend in person, but rest assured we are working hard with the BHA and racecourses to get Owners back on course as a priority.”