OpinionScott Burton
premium

Royal Ascot is booming - but at what cost to the Derby?

Scott Burton considers whether the Royal Ascot success story is pushing the Derby out of the public's minds

author image
France correspondent
Racegoers are arriving at Royal Ascot for the opening day
Royal Ascot appears to be winning over more and more people as a 'must be there' experience Credit: Edward Whitaker

Is Royal Ascot becoming too successful? Yes, you did read the exam question correctly, although perhaps a more refined version of it would ask whether the recent rise and rise of a meeting that is more than 300 years old is beginning to contribute to the travails of others. 

In particular, is the Derby suffering as a partial consequence of the huge gravitational pull Royal Ascot exerts on both the public and the media?

Attendance at Epsom was down a combined 7,500 people across Betfred Oaks and Derby days, whereas Ascot got close to a five per cent bump year on year

Read the full story

Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.

Subscribe to unlock
  • Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
  • Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
  • Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
  • Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
  • Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
  • Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Subscribe

Already a subscriber?Log in

Published on inScott Burton

Last updated

iconCopy