Royal Ascot

Royal Ascot, speak up Text....

Royal Ascot is the social event of the year for the British upper classes. It's also a big occasion for the racing fans. Thousands come to this Berkshire racecourse to enjoy five days of top-class horse racing; but that's not all, there's also high fashion and fine wine. This year's Royal Ascot runs from June 17th to 21st. The Queen has attended Ascot since 1945, when she was still a princess. She enters her own horse in the races and stays at nearbly windsor Castle during Ascot week. Each day after lunch members of the Royal Family drive up to the racecourse, then climb into opon horse-dawn coaches to pass through the waving crowds and enter the Royal Box.

DRESS CODE

How should visitors dress? There is a scrict dress code only for visitors to the Real Enclosure: gentlemen must wear morning suits and a top hat; women must dress formally and also wear-they cannot wear strapless dresses or reveal their midriff. In 2002 the singer Rod Stewart was turned away from the Royal Enclosure, not because he was Rod Stewart, but because he was wearing a blue suit and white shoes. Visitors who wish to see the most bizarre and spetacular hats mustn't miss Ladies Day (Thursday), when the racecourse seems more like a fashion show than a race meeting.

Can anyone enter the Royal Enclosure? No they Can't. This is an exclusive area, and visitors must be invited by someone who has attended the enclosure for at least four years. Overseas visitors can apply through their London Embassy. On the contrary, the Silver Ring Enclosure is open to all. With its relaxed atmosphere, informal dress, and great facilities.

A DAY OF THE RACE

Let's not to forget the races themselves. Each day offers world-class racing with total prize money of more than 5 million. this makes the richest meeting in Europe. The Queen presents prizes to the winners of the most prestigious races, including Thursday's Gold Cup.

A Royal Tradition

In 1771 Queen Anne was riding in the countryside near Windsor Castle when she discovered an open heath that she considered ideal for horse racing. The heath was near a village called East Cote, which is today known as Ascot, and it was here that she organised the first race on August 11th. The race was run over a four mile course, and the winner received Her Majesty's Plate (worth 100 guineas) as his prize. Today the Ascot race programme still includes the Queen Anne Stakes to commemorate her role in the track's origin. Ascot Racecourse is built on 140 acres of land which belong to the Crown; an 1813 Parliament Act guarantees the continued existence of the racecourse.

The Royal Enclosure came into existence in the 1790s: people invitation from King George III. Enclosure guest wear a badge that shows their name and title.

Glossary:

Racing fans: Fãs de corrida (de cavalos)

Racecourse: Pista de corrida de cavalos,hipódromo

She enters...in the races: Ela inscreve seus próprios cavalos pra as corridas

Climb into open horse-drawn coaches: Sobem nas carruagens abertas

Waving crowds: acenando para a multidão.

Morning suits and a top hat: fraque e cartola

Strapless dresses: vestido tomara que caia

Reveal the middrif: Deixando exposta a área do umbigo

Turned away: barrado

Blue suit: terno azul

Facilities: Instalações

Heath: típico campo inglês coberto com capim

Guineas: Guinéu, antiga moeda de ouro inglesa

Stakes: Prêmio