Ascot racegoer in hospital with heatstroke as hundreds treated by medics
Hundreds of racegoers were treated at Royal Ascot's medical centre over the opening two days as the heatwave surged to 28C.
One spectator to fall ill with suspected heatstroke was sent to hospital on Tuesday, with crowds warned temperatures will hit 31C by Saturday.
By early evening at the racecourse on Wednesday, a total of 121 had reported themselves to medics on that day alone. Yet again lengthy queues had been forming at the water dispensers, in some cases longer than the bars, as crowds in top hats and tails sweltered.
An Ascot spokesman told Telegraph Sport that extra gazebos and parasols had been erected around the grounds to help provide extra shade.
'As of 5.30pm today, there had been 121 heat-related calls to the medical centre from a total number of around 200 in an overall crowd of 41,571,' a spokesman added. 'That overall number is less calls than yesterday. One person has been taken to hospital due to heat-related illness. We have once again been providing free water at hydration stations across all enclosures and free bottled water is being handed out on exit.'
Official temperatures reached a maximum of 27.9C on the course, but for many it felt much hotter in the areas where crowds have been denser. Crowds are up this year and there has been little sign of trouble, despite the stifling heat.
The first race of the meeting's second day was overshadowed, however, by the death of Harry's Girl.
Harry's Girl, trained by Richard Hannon, was pulled up with a serious leg injury by jockey Sean Levey during the Queen Mary Stakes. The filly broke down midway through the five-furlong sprint for two-year-old horses. 'Our thoughts go out to all connections at this time,' a spokesman said as festival recorded its fourth death in 10 years.
The race was won by 9-4 favourite True Love, under Ryan Moore for trainer Aidan O'Brien, from 100-1 shot Flowerhead.
A mobile bowser, misting fans and 3,000 litres of iced water are keeping the horses cool.
Gosdens strike again as Ombudsman finds route through traffic
Royal Ascot may only be two days old but a pretty clear pattern is emerging; John and Thady Gosden take the day's big race and one other for good measure.
Everything the Gosdens have touched this week seems to have turned to gold – a good sign for Trawlerman's chances in today's Gold Cup – but even they could not get the King and Queen on the scoresheet after Rainbows Edge became their second beaten favourite of the week, only finishing midfield in the Kensington Palace Stakes.
Without wishing to risk the Tower, the Queen might now concur with the old racing superstition that wearing green is considered unlucky at the races.
But with Tuesday's St James's Palace already in the bank courtesy of Field Of Gold, Wednesday was the turn of the Godolphin-owned 7-1 shot Ombudsman to star for Gosden and son after running out a two-length winner of the Prince of Wales's Stakes. Any victory, let alone a clear-cut one, looked an outside bet, however, as the four-year-old was repeatedly denied a run inside the penultimate furlong.
Ombudsman wins the Prince Of Wales's Stakes under @WilliamBuickX for Godolphin 🔵🏆 #RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/nzTMALBd0j
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) June 18, 2025
Sometimes being held up in traffic and having to take a 'breather' while everyone else is flat to the boards is no bad thing and that is, essentially, what Ombudsman had to do as he went sideways from inside rail to outside, knocking on each door, only to be turned away as he went.
Did the field go too quick in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes? 🤔 @Ruby_Walsh gives us his opinion 💬 pic.twitter.com/OeBteVBsIN
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) June 18, 2025
However, the Ballydoyle pacemaker Continuous had set a pretty ferocious gallop for Los Angeles, which set it up for someone coming off the pace. When William Buick finally found daylight, Ombudsman showed his rivals a clean pair of hooves coming home two lengths ahead of Anmaat and See The Fire.
'The plan was to just relax off the pace, which was strong and set up for Los Angeles, who is a real dour, long-striding staying horse,' explained Gosden, who notched up his 70th Royal Ascot winner.
'It was just the question of when you get in the straight, would you get the luck? William wasn't in a position where he could swing around the field; it was more a case of waiting for the gap. And he was very patient, but I knew when he got a gap at the furlong pole, that this horse has an extraordinary turn of foot. So he was patient and he was rewarded.
'I think it is all down to the owner Sheikh Mohammed, because I said, 'look, he's an immature horse, give me a chance with him', and he said, 'take as long as you like'. Sheikh Mohammed is without doubt the easiest owner I've ever trained for. Now Ombudsman has fully grown and developed – a proper four-year-old – the owner is getting rewarded. When you are a trainer, it's very nice to train for people who aren't putting the pressure on.'
The leading owner at this meeting with three winners so far is Wathnan, the big-spending Qatari outfit.
Clearly being Wathnan-owned and Gosden-trained, Crimson Advocate was meant to be in the Duke of Cambridge. She won the Queen Mary two years ago for US trainer George Weaver before she was bought by Wathnan and, eventually, transferred to Newmarket. Ridden cold by James McDonald, she flew at the finish to win by a length and three quarters.
Crimson Advocate wins the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes under @mcacajamez 🏆
Another big win for Wathnan Racing 💪 #RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/bGirZfrxtD
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) June 18, 2025
Having landed the Coventry with Gstaad on Tuesday, Aidan O'Brien took the Queen Mary with True Love, probably the biggest filly in the race, who beat the Amo-owned 100-1 shot Flowerhead a length and a quarter.
She had been beaten on both her previous starts, once by Gstaad and once by the unbeaten Lady Iman.
Another juvenile winner for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore 👏
True Love wins The Queen Mary Stakes ❤️ #RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/BYoE2Lr8eI
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) June 18, 2025
'She's lovely,' O'Brien said. 'She looks like a four-year-old. After her first run Ryan said they won't beat her again and after her second, Wayne [Lordan] said the same and you've seen what they did. Ryan said she might be better over six but No Nay Never is a big influence for speed, so you never know.'
Paddy Twomey, who describes himself as a 'small' trainer (relative to what I am not quite sure) but has only had five horses out of the first three from 61 runners this season at home, and has a reputation for being the shrewdest trainer in Ireland.
He saddled his first Royal Ascot winner when Carmers, named after the owner-breeder Fiona Carmichael's late husband, won the Queen's Vase and set himself up for a possible crack at the St Leger. It was the horse's third start and third win and he set a course record in the process.
The well-backed Carmers wins the Queen's Vase under Billy Lee 💜💚 @ptwomeyracing | #RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/QvKtxFCmFu
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) June 18, 2025
Eve Johnson-Houghton, an outspoken critic of some of the changes about to be implemented to the conditions of the Windsor Castle, including making it a six-furlong contest, prevented a Ballydoyle whitewash of the juvenile races when Havana Hurricane and Charlie Bishop won the Windsor Castle. She won the same race in 2021 with Chipotle.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
ATP roundup: Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev advance in Halle
June 19 - World No. 3 Alexander Zverev of Germany cruised to a 6-2, 6-1 win over Marcos Giron in the first round Wednesday at the Terra Wortmann Open in Halle, Germany. Overpowering Giron with his serve, Zverev had 10 aces and never faced a break point while winning 28 of 34 points on first serve (82 percent). 11th-ranked Daniil Medvedev of Russia also defeated France's Quentin Halys 6-2, 7-5 in the second round. With just six unforced errors (compared to 21 for Halys) and three of five break points converted, Medvedev controlled play while winning 60 percent of points in the match. Eighth-seeded Karen Khachanov of Russia and Alex Michelsen found the winner's circle as well. HSBC Championships Second seed Jack Draper of the UK got the best of Australia's Alexei Popyrin, 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (5) in Round 2 play in London. The match took 2 hours, 13 minutes and Draper won just 51% of total points. With 14 aces and 33 winners, the World No. 6 outlasted Popyrin in a grueling slugfest. Fourth-seeded Holger Rune of Denmark rallied to a 2-6, 6-1, 6-1 win over Mackenzie McDonald. After a slow start, Rune settled in and dominated the stat columns throughout the remainder of the match. The ninth-ranked player in the world had the advantage in winners (30-22), aces (13-3), break points converted (5-2) and net points won (11-6). Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut and Brandon Nakashima were also winners in Round of 16 action. --Field Level Media
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Ascot fans furious as wheelie bins dumped outside Frankie Dettori statue
Race-goers blasted Ascot bosses yesterday as wheelie bins were dumped near a statue of the world famous jockey Frankie Dettori. Guests at the posh festival found the bronze sculpture - depicting the super jockey performing one of his trademark flying dismounts - surrounded by wheelie bins. One fan said: "It's a bloody outrage" while another reveller added: "It looks like Frankie's been dumped." The life-sized statue marks Dettori, 54, riding all seven winners in one day at the Berkshire course in 1996 at staggering odds of 25,051/1. Fans - and bookies - yesterday said they therefore felt it was disrespectful the bins had been abandoned in front of the statue, erected in 2001 by Ascot management. One visitor said: "It's a shame. Frankie's a hero to everyone here. He's won us all money. I think they should leave the bins where they are and move the statue to a more prominent position. Lots of people will want selfies taken with it. They're missing a trick." The sculpture, near the Royal Enclosure, and shows the Italian jockey performing his trademark flying dismount. The army of bins has grown as the week has progressed, according to the Daily Star with, at one stage, six wheelies lined up in front of the statue. When an official spotted photographers taking pictures of the bins two were wheeled away and the others were hastily moved to the side, our sister publication added. But the sight did not go unnoticed by guests at the four-day race meeting, a highlight in the sporting calendar. One said: "It's like an after-thought. It should be in the parade ring to mark where he did his dismounts. It's a bloody outrage." Another said: "I guess this just proves one minute you're hot and the next you're not. It's a bit like someone's book ending up in the bargain basement section." Another joked: "Bloody hell… it's just like Birmingham," in a jibe to the city's ongoing bin strike chaos. Mountains of full rubbish bags and overflowing wheelie bins are lining residential strikes there amid the turmoil. Dettori, who was born in Milan, announced he was filing for bankruptcy in March after a tax dispute. The racing legend, made an MBE in 2001, had been attempting to untangle his tax arrangements in Britain after they were challenged by HMRC after moving to the US. But fans and pundits said this shouldn't detract from Dettori's impressive career and fury around the bins. His "Magnificent Seven" triumphs at odds of more than 25,000/1 at the Festival of British Racing in September 1996 cleaned the bookies out of £1million - and has never been matched since. A spokesman for a major bookmaker said: "It does seem just a little bit trashy of Ascot at Britain's showpiece meeting to place the bins in front of Frankie after the Italian stallion smashed us for millions with his 25,000/1 Magnificent Seven." Daily Star and the Mirror has approached Ascot for comment. Dettori has not responded to requests for comment.
Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Telegraph
Andy Farrell's Test team taking shape with powerhouse back line
There was no sense of a celebratory or carnival send-off for the British and Irish Lions when Andy Farrell named his first side to face Argentina in Dublin on Friday night. Technically it is a non-cap match, but good luck telling that to Farrell. The Lions head coach has picked a side dripping with potential Test-match combinations, a powerhouse back line featuring four players who weigh in at over 100kg, and his tour captain Maro Itoje. Half-backs Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith, of Northampton Saints and England, are given a first start together, the midfield of Bundee Aki and Sione Tuipulotu combines the squad's two most destructive ball-carriers, while outside stand two physically imposing wingers in Tommy Freeman and Duhan van der Merwe. It is the heaviest back line selected since Warren Gatland's series-winning picks for the third Test against Australia in 2013. Behind this imposing heft, Farrell has opted to sprinkle some stardust by starting Marcus Smith at full-back, reuniting the Smith-Smith 10-15 combination that England featured three times in the Six Nations. It is as if Farrell is the rugby fan having a first go at picking a side stacked with the 'fantasy rugby' subplots that make Lions tours so special. The pack is equally formidable, even with none of those involved in last week's Premiership and United Rugby Championship finals in the starting XV. A second-row combination of Itoje and Tadhg Beirne would be many people's Test selection, and a back row of Tom Curry, Jac Morgan and Ben Earl is laced with ball-carrying power, pace and breakdown menace. Ellie Genge and Luke Cowan-Dickie will also relish the first opportunity to lay down their markers in the front row. Yet the stamp of intent for this first act of the 2025 Lions tour comes from Farrell himself, both by his front-footed selection but also his tone. No excuses, no fear of picking up an injury before the flight to Perth the following day. In previous tours it has potentially been a game that is best to avoid for your hopes of making the Test side. But Farrell was keen to emphasise the sense of opportunity that this 23 can grab before the Leinster, Leicester and Bath players become available for the opening match against the Western Force in Perth. Huw Jones (Achilles), Hugo Keenan (calf) and Jamison Gibson-Park (glute), who are currently unavailable because of injury, are also expected to be available, according to Farrell, 'in the next week or so'. Blair Kinghorn's season for Toulouse has not yet finished. 'I want this team to put as much pressure as they possibly can [on the players watching the game from the stand], and they should want that from each other,' Farrell said. 'They should want this team on the weekend to put everyone who's in the stands under pressure, as that's what the shirt should do. It should bring the best out of everyone, and everyone has to rise to that challenge. 'You can tell with the buzz in the group, what it means to them and the excitement around the place, it just shows what it means. We have seen it in the preparation, how diligent they have been, how quickly they have come together as a group and the bond they have got already in a short space of time. Best foot forward and all that, it is all about the performance on Friday night. That is how we are going to get judged, how we want to do the shirt proud and represent the group properly on Friday night.' Farrell said he wanted to see 'cohesion and connection' from the side, including a bench that includes Henry Pollock and heavyweight experience of Tadhg Furlong, who has not played since May 3 because of a calf injury, Pierre Schoeman, Elliot Daly and Mack Hansen. '(I want) an ability to attack the game from the off and be the best version of themselves individually and collectively,' Farrell added. 'You can give yourself any excuse in terms of time together. But we've had good preparation. If you want to be a good Lions player, you have to hit your straps straight from the off. We want to see these players compete.' Beirne knows Farrell more than most, and he is one of a number of players who experienced the 2021 'Covid' tour of South Africa. He is desperate to seize the moment of playing on a proper tour with supporters for the first time. 'The expectation we would have of each other is that you can adapt to any system you're given and that's the challenge laid in front of us,' Beirne said. 'That's the challenge of being a Lion. 'Every four years there's going to be a new system, the coach is going to want to play a certain way and if you want to be a Lion, you're going to have to adapt or you'll get left behind. 'I would say if you came in here thinking that you could just play your club system or your country system, then you're probably already at a loss. 'So I think everyone comes into these things with a massive open mind and look forward to getting to play these new systems, getting to try something new and eager to learn. 'If you're not floating ideas of players in your position, you're already at a loss as well. We're in such a privileged position to come into these environments and learn from one another and get better as rugby players. Adaptation is a big part of that. We all want to be on the same page.'
