Royal Ascot 2024: A Spectacle of Tradition and Competition

24 Jun

Royal Ascot is one of the United Kingdom's most prestigious events, combining tradition and high-level competition. Founded in 1711 by Queen Anne, the race has become a landmark in the British social calendar, attracting royalty and thousands of spectators each year.

This year, Royal Ascot 2024 set a new attendance record, with 66,000 people present on Saturday, surpassing previous numbers. In recent years, the average attendance over the five-day event has been around 300,000 people.

The St James’s Palace Stakes was one of the major highlights of this edition. Rosallion, ridden by Sean Levey, won spectacularly, narrowly defeating Henry Longfellow. Richard Hannon, Rosallion’s trainer, praised the horse's performance, highlighting his skill and competitive spirit.

Another memorable moment was Asfoora's victory in the King Charles III Stakes. The Australian mare, trained by Henry Dwyer and ridden by Oisin Murphy, stood out for her speed and endurance, confirming the reputation of Australian sprinters on the international stage.

In the Coronation Stakes, Porta Fortuna, ridden by Tom Marquand, triumphed over Opera Singer. Marquand celebrated emotionally alongside his wife and fellow jockey, Hollie Doyle, underscoring the personal significance of the victory.

Inisherin, ridden by Tom Eaves, shone in the Commonwealth Cup, while Bedtime Story, trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Ryan Moore, dominated the Chesham Stakes. Bedtime Story’s victory marked the sixth win of the week for the O’Brien-Moore duo, solidifying their standing at the event.

Young jockey Billy Loughnane also had a notable performance, winning the Sandringham Stakes with Soprano, showing great promise for the future of racing. Callum Shepherd, in turn, had an emotional victory in the Hardwicke Stakes with Isle Of Jura, dedicating the win to his late friend Stefano Cherchi.

This year’s event also saw Colin Keane win the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes with Crystal Black, in an emotional family celebration. The perfect weather and the presence of royalty, including King Charles and the Queen, added extra shine to the occasion.

Royal Ascot 2024 was not just a spectacle of racing but a celebration of tradition, elegance, and excellence. We at Avesso Magazine were honoured to attend for the second time, witnessing these unforgettable moments and sharing the grandeur of this iconic event with our readers.