Royal Ascot opens Tuesday

After a one-year sojourn to York, the Royal meeting returns to its historical

base at a newly renovated Ascot Tuesday. Now firmly entrenched as a five-day

spectacle, the festival kicks off against the backdrop of the state-of-the-art

grandstand, which is the focal point of the £200 million

redevelopment program initiated in 2004. With prize money increased by 12.5

percent to a total of £3,665,000 and 17

group races in store, this could prove one of the most significant renewals in

the rich heritage of the race meeting that fascinates the world.

While racing was introduced at this venue by Queen Anne in 1711, the Royal

meeting was the amalgamation of several turning points in history. In 1768, the

four-day format was created and in 1807 the inaugural running of the centerpiece

Gold Cup took place. In 1825 the Royal Procession was born and 20 years later

the Royal Enclosure followed, courtesy of King George IV. If the mainstays of

the meeting were in evidence at York, these unique five days are essentially

about this track.

Tuesday's action kicks off on good-to-firm ground, which has been watered to

avoid jarring conditions.

"We're doing our final bit of watering and its good-to-firm all the way

round," Clerk of the Course Chris Stickels said Monday. "It's looking fantastic

and the forecast is predominantly dry."