ROYAL ASCOT

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 25, 29 July 1932, Page 3

ROYAL ASCOT

FOUR PERFECT DAYS

; : SOC|JETY EN FETE "' TKIUMPH OF THE "TOTE" J l;','

.(From "The' Post's" Representative.) [ . '. LONDON, 17th June.

!N/ot for years past has there been an Ascot week of such brilliance as this wjeek. The fixturo has been favoured with such splendid weather conditions, tfiat Here have' been two semi-State Bpyal processions on each of .the four d4ys.. In the early afternoon the King and Queen, with their family and entourage, have' arrived from Windsor well in advance of the first race, coming in seven open landaus, and after tlie 4.30 event tho procession has been reformed for -the return drive to "Windsor Castle. This colourful and dignified spectacle has not been continuously possible on'all-four days for a number of yearsj for usually there have boen interfering weather conditions. jThe going this time has been excellent; the crowds- have been abnormally large and keen; tho racing has been of; the highest quality; on the whole, winner-spotting has not been so difficult as usual; so that smiling and happy faces!have been' seen everywhere. Tho installation of'tho electric "tote"-has bden'a very popular move. Tho buildings for this robot lightning calculator ate in three different places, and tho looker-on never seems to tire of watching tho twinkling figure changes as tho money goes in. 'All;'the arrangements for the meeting were perfectly carried out by the "King's"representative, Viscount Churchill, G.C.V.0., and Lieut.-Colonel Sit Gordon Carter, X.C.V.0., clerk of the course. The flowers were effective and choice—pale blue hydrangeas and white Harrissi lilies were massed in generous profusion in the shade beneath the Boyal Box; rambler roses of brilliant flame ..colour mingled with flowers of blue and white round the cool bandstand lawns; while the hydrangea bed behind the Boyal _Enclosure was a marvellous scheme of pinks and crimsons. .The spacious, and leafy paddock is one of the most beautiful of. such enclosures to ,be found anywhere in this country, while the distant vista from every angle of the grandstands is a dense boundary of trees belonging large^to the surrounding private country residences. The course is just outside' Windsor Great Park. COMMENCED ■WITH QUEEN ANNE. In "1711 the meeting was inaugurated by Queen Anne, and it continues to ■ constitute one of the most important social/functions of the London soason. One's only regret is—to reiterate a regret/ expressed frequently before—that the beautiful Ascot racecourse is used bo seldom. 'Once in a year seems all too The railway arrangements from are excellent, while accommodation for car parks has been ttttfeb^extended. , People who take tickets for the stand* cMc of the course cannot iejp being interested and thrilled, for the scenes are like "a kaleidoscope; interesting people in '.lovely dresses are always moving 'to and fro, and now with the establishment of the "tote" and /its 163 windows there is more animation and movement 'than ever. Here the machine will take anything from a florin to £10, and it is marvellous to see how enthusiastic are the elect from tho Royal Enclosure—especially the women and girls—with their name-"badges of white and gold— about exchanging their small silver coin for a number-ticket. It is still not-permitted for ladies of the Royal Enclosure to be seen communicating ■with bookmakers over the rails, but it is quite in order for them to go to the "tote" in the paddock. In the past, their husbands and. men friends were constantly on the trot, placing commission's'with bookmakers for them or else sending wires for them. Now thoy are -still further emancipated, for all is quite different and so simple, provided one"ife not in a hurry. So tremendously.ltfng are the queues for paying and receiving that the half-hour interval between races is nearly all .occupied, leaving little timo to look at tho horses ia-the,. rings, or to stroll ,out along the course outside the^ Boyal Enclosure and1 loo^ati.'tho King and Queen and all those,with them behind the sotting'of lovely ri blue flowers. True, Boyalty ooifigg^into the\paddock and mingles unceremoniously with the crowd there. The, Princes are ( generally accompanied by*girl, friends; the Princess Boyal and the Earlof Harewood like to see-the lKjraes; Prince Arthur of Connaugnt was -for ia, ' long while sitting with a fnen^.on'the white steps that border the saddling ring. Lady Patricia Bamsay is always eas-ily-recognised, for she is so tall, and has, a distinguished bearing. Indeed, one is often quite surprised to turn round,and find5 a. member of tho Eoyal bamily standing at one's side. For New Zealand visitors one visit at least to Ascot cannot fail to mako a lasting impression. This year several of the debutantes from New Zealand included Ascot as part of 'their season's 'round— they, had been to Court, and Ascot was a natural sequel. Vory charming they lo6ked, too! ' '"'■' THE ROYAL TASHIONS. On the first'day the Queen was entirelym white, with ( a swathed toque offdelicate aquamarine blue tissue shot ■with gdld, which just matched tho-siiu. shade used when arriving in the sepi-State procession, with the King and tw,o of. their sons. Tho Princess Boyal was in,a dress of the faintest creamy pink georgette, and a large leghorn hat trimmed with, folds, of tho same tint. Lady Patricia Ea'msay was in her favourite golden, brown lace, with a very large brown picture hat. Everyone missed the animated little Duchess of York. With tho Duke and the little Ptincesses she is at Sandwich enioyine ■.a^quiet'rest, for the strenuous nature ;of I her duties so far this season has Wther told, upon her. The Duchess also bright and so happy, and ?■»* "m;- become accustomed to seeing nets with- the Queen. b r Cap Day the Queen was a T?g,al figure m a long coat of primrose ?5? S- oroeaded tissue, the sleeves of, which were gauged to tho elbow, and of ? bishop, shape. A collar of exquisite sable^fur finished the coat, which was a gown of ivory double georgette inset with panels of deep cjeam lace. Emerald and diamond ornaments were worn, and the draped & 6' Z£* °f gold snd bronze "ssue, f*6t with palest green. S&'Ehe Princess Boyal was in a more deflmte shade of pink than previously— Jt-was of rose-patterned chiffon with touches of green and blue, and at the woe of a pink straw hat was a cluster .of pmk roses. Queen Augusta Victoria, who was cW^ ManOel of Portugai: was ™ chestnut-brown and white chiffon with a chestnut-brown hat and feather boa to match. Lady Patricia Bamsay had a large creamy straw hat with a twist of marron ribbon as a_ trimming, with a chiffon dress having a fine pattern in navy ?? l on >a ere.am background. Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone. wore a chiffon dress with a largo pattern of flowors in lime-green, pink, and black on t a white ground, and a black taffeta coatee. , OABDEN PABTY STYLES. On- each* jday there wcro attractive frocks, and on the wholo only a few

freaks. With weather so settled one could set off early in the morning without a qualm, and with a sunshade instead of an umbrella; furthermore, the "ABOot':' hat,-with liberal brim-dimen-sions, was a necessity, its shado imparting comfort while adding to the picturesquoness of tho general vista. Thero were, of course, some strange apologies for hats—more pancakes worn at ono sido over ail ear, held in place with a ribbon strap surrounding- the othor side, and leaving half the head exposed to. tho fierce rays of the sun. One lady in the Enclosure created considerable interest by having across the front of Jier spring black straw boater tho name "Boscmary" in shining letters; it crowned a dress of sugar-stick straps of red, blue, white, and black, and a tight-fitting coatee of bright red. Two women were seen wearing dresses, baro to the waist at the back; they may have been mannequins; they certainly were sensations! Most' of tho dresses, however, were very choice—self-toned georgette, cobweb lace, patterned chiffons, firm organdies, soft satins, and. sprigged muslins were frequently seen. Most skirts wore long, but escaped tho ground. Quito a feature of all new dresses was some' variety of capo attachment. It might bo of chiffon bordered;with a summbr fur, or it might bo of chiffon velvet cunningly gauged at tho back, worn ovor a frock Of georgette to tone. Pretty little satin slippers of many hues peeped from beneath tho frilly skirts, and they were very effective on tho perfect grass. Some of the debutantes wore tho simplest possible of frocks in sprigged muslin, full of skirt, sashed, at the waist, tiny puffs forming the sleeves, and tuckers drawn up with narrow ribbon outlining tho necks. These dresses were reminiscent of those worn by girls of two generations ago, especially when completed with a pokebonnet hat, and with long mitten-sleeves in the place of gloves. Marvellously effective were the blendings of white with black, and white with white—either in supple satin or in fluffy chiffon. As always, there was again an effectivo sprinkling of reds and crimsons; maize tones were effective and select; palo blues were the frequent choice of girls; but pure white, soft and flowing, was very noticeable everywhere. l , The mero novice, in his first experience of Ascot, retains tho memory of "a cloudless sky, cool breeze, green lawns, and shady trees, benches to rest on between races whilo ono watches tKo flickering numbers on the totalisator •indicator, listens to bands playing, and looks at beautiful women in expensive and perfect' gowns, men in their morning coats and grey top hats—how many taken out-only once'a-ycar; how many are hired for the occasion? By tho same token ono wonders if ono per cent. of- the dresses are .paid for, or whether" 50"per cent, of them will bo paid for in tho next six months. STOBY OP THE "TOTE." Perhaps it is all well, for even in the,paddock where the privileged ones only may go, there are very long queues passing in to the 2s ticket boxes, whilo a mere handful of people aro patronising thelOs and £1 box.es of the totalisator. It'ia a strange reflection on human nature. .Before tho days of tho. totalisator these samo people would .seldom have dared to, offer less than' a £1 note to a bookmaker. .With this soulless machine and tho clerk 'who expresses no .scorn it is different. The women who are wearing soventy guinea dresses and'the immaculate men have no pride of purse. Thero, is no bookmaker's scorn to face, and so it is the humble-florin that has come into its own. Possibly, the "enormous saving in the .betting bill may mean that the Court dressmakers will get their money after all. It may bo a symptom, of the times that tho florin has come into its own. On,the other hand, it is probable that the-people realise that the extra excitement one may get, in a race by-"backing one particular horse may be obtained' just as readily on the basis of a florin as on a £. 1 note, and there is much less regret when the horse fails to secure a place. This, then, is the only indication of economy. Ascot, otherwise, is as bright as ever. For four days the King and Queen and members of the Royal Family have driven in semi-state down tho coursovfrom Windsor. It is a 'fine sight and the people are wildly enthusiastic as the King goos'by. Tho cheers from tho heathside of tho course aro just as lusty as those from the grandstand and enclosure side. For the few moments when tho Royal procession is passing all other activities are suspended,, and the people accept this splendid cavalcade as a symbol .of the past, present, and future glory of England's system of Eoyalty. There are two cream horses bearing tho outriders. Then comes the carriage of the King and Queen drawn by four more 'cream horses. , A half-a-dozen landaus 'follow, each drawn by four splendid bays, and bearing, other members of the Royal Family. .Postilions aTe in. scarlet and bine. ' 1 One hears vjsry little of the popular side of Ascot. There is one. Tents, bookmakers' booths, charabancs, and alb the other" pavaphornalia of a popular racecourse are there, and the scores of'thousands of people who'pay nothing'for the privilege of being *there (except their fare) fill the area all along the- course- 200 yards- from the rails. That is another Ascot which has nothing whatever to do With the social Ascot. A section o£ this other side, however,is devoted to something more select. Here are the tents of the cavalry, the guards, and a number of West End clubs. Inside tlierd is every luxury for the members and their friends; outside there are pleasant tnclosed lawns,. A lino of "four-in-hands" are close against the,rails and act as a grandstand for those_ who drive from, town in these old-fashioned vehicles. Betwqen each race large numbers of this colony of "West End" people cross the course to the paddock. After every race tho grandstands onipty;arid'tho people 'withfirh.iv tovthe" paddock, or to the other well-kept lawns at the -back of the stands. There are trees, for shelter, refreshment booths, froo benches for many hundreds, and totalisator indicators- to study. The changing figures aie shown by means of an arrangement of electric lights. It does not takalong for tho figures opposite a favourite to flicker up and up to £18,000. One may judgn from tho Ascot meeting'that tho totalisator has definitely come into favour with the public, mainly becauso it provides for the 2s wager. It is interesting to learn that it has broken all records, with a total turnover of £260,145. Details arc: Tuesday, £46,570; Wednesday, £74,881; Thursday, £77.878; Friday, £00,807.