The Benefits of becoming an Ascot Annual Badgeholder in 2011

The 2011 Ascot Annual Badge marking Ascot's tercentenary.

Learn more about the benefit of becoming an Ascot Annual Badgeholder in 2011. For just £320 including VAT in 2011, the Ascot Annual Badgeholder benefits include:

• Access to the Racecourse and the Premier Admission areas on all 21 Ascot racedays outside Royal Ascot (Tuesday 14th to Saturday 18th June 2011).


• Premier Admission access to British Champions' Day (Saturday 15th October 2011).


• A comprehensive calendar of over 30 reciprocal dates, including Future Champions' Day at Newmarket (Saturday 8th October 2011).


• Exclusive half price tickets on all days of Royal Ascot (maximum of four per person per day of Royal Ascot).


• An Ascot Badgeholder metal badge and Badgeholder passcard. For existing Badgeholders, as soon as your renewal form is received, we will issue you a new passcard to allow you access into the Racecourse on all the relevant 2011 racedays. For new Badgeholders, a passport sized photograph will be required.


• The opportunity to purchase metal guest badges with passcards.


• Exclusive access to the Trackside Room, a private bar and restaurant facility located in the west end of the Grandstand offering a full bar facility, tea and coffee, hot dish of the day, sandwiches, baguettes and cakes.


• Ascot Badgeholders are permitted to bring one accompanied Premier Admission guest into the Trackside Room on all racedays except Saturday 23rd July, Saturday 6th August, Saturday 15th October and Saturday 17th December.


• Access to the Ascot Badgeholders’ viewing area on Level 2 of the Grandstand.


• Access to Premier Admission on Level 4 of the Grandstand.


• A car parking space in Car Park 1 or Car Park 2 at all 21 racedays.


• Free copy of the Royal Ascot Magazine.

Children and Grandchildren aged 17 and under are welcome in the Trackside Room on all days.
Up to two tickets at half price to any day outside Royal Ascot to entertain friends and family.
The Ascot Badgeholder metal badge should be worn so that it is clearly visible at all times. In the event of an Ascot Badgeholder losing his or her badge, passcard or car park label an administration fee of £25 will be charged for replacements.

The Ascot Badgeholder passcard will act as the entrance ticket on the day of the meeting. Once inside the course, the metal badge will allow access to the Ascot Badgeholders’ facilities.

For further information, or to join, call 01344 878 513 or visit http://www.ascot.co.uk/?page=Racing_Information

Ascot Racecourse Awarded Quality Assured Status by Visit England

Ascot Racecourse has been awarded Quality Assured status by Visit England. The accolade assesses the level of customer care and service at visitor attractions across the country with everything from hotels to zoos. By displaying the easily recognised Enjoy England Quality Rose at the Berkshire track, racegoers can be confident their experience will be of the highest quality.

The Enjoy England Quality Rose was created to reassure customers before they visit their chosen attraction. The criteria is judged by an independent assessor on an annual basis and Enjoy England can then ensure that the standards experienced are as high as possible and the venue is worthy of carrying this auspicious mark. Customers can relax, book with confidence and get on with the real business of having a fantastic day out in confidence. The Quality Rose is the mark of England’s official, nationwide quality assessment scheme and is an independent, reliable, impartial assessment of quality covering just about every type of place you might want to stay or visit.

‘We are thrilled to have been awarded the Quality Rose by Enjoy England. This recognition underpins our status as a first class national tourism attraction. It is especially exciting as it rounds off a wonderful ten days with Royal Ascot being awarded Gold in the Tourism South-East Excellence Awards last Thursday,’ said John Blake, Head of Sales and Marketing at the Berkshire track.

‘England has a world famous sporting heritage and for many parts of the country horseracing is at the core of the community. I can't think of a more thrilling day out than a day at the races. The Visit England Quality Rose marque provides a recognised stamp of approval showing visitors that Ascot Racecourse has been assessed along similar lines to a more traditional type of visitor attraction providing regular racegoers and first time visitors alike with a high quality, highly memorable experience,’ added James Berresford, Chief Executive of Visit England.

Ascot is committed to providing a value-for-money fun day out for all customers with Royal Ascot, live music, wine and beer festivals, family days and world class racing action.

For further information, images and logos, please contact:
John Blake, Head of Sales & Marketing, Ascot Racecourse, 01344 878512, 07917 521429, john.blake@ascot.co.uk, www.ascot.co.uk

Free Racing For Students at Ascot on Saturday 30th October

Saturday 30th October rases the curtain on the Ascot Jumps season

Fizz, Bang Pop! Don't miss the Fireworks Spectacular after Racing

Ascot Racecourse is opening its doors free of charge for all valid Student Card and NUS Card holders on Saturday 30th October: United House Group Day. The day heralds Ascot's first meeting of the 2010/2011 Jumps season and features the £100,000 United House Group Gold Cup Chase over three miles.

The offer is being communicated through British Horseracing Authority Student Ambassadors at universities across the country, promoted in the Student Racing magazine, via www.studentracing.co.uk and through viral campaigns on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

‘Opening our doors free of charge to students gives Ascot the opportunity to show off our impressive Grandstand and showcase some great racing to an audience that would not otherwise consider a day at the races,’ said John Blake, Head of Sales and Marketing at Ascot Racecourse.

‘We’re delighted that Ascot is giving such strong support to our student racing programme. Racing for Change has been tasked with broadening the appeal of horseracing, especially amongst younger adults, so we’re delighted that students will be getting the chance to sample the sport at such a magnificent venue’, added Nick Attenborough, Director of Consumer PR, Racing Enterprises.

All students have to do is bring their Student Card and NUS Card along to any of the Ascot ticket offices from 10.45am on Saturday 30th October and they will be given a complimentary Grandstand Admission ticket that entitles them to a free day of racing. They can also stay on to watch the Firework Spectacular after racing in association with the Ascot Round Table.

To make the event more affordable, Ascot will be running its £5 Pie and a Pint promotion and the tote will be handing out betting booklets for students containing vouchers for £2 off £5 bets.

ENDS

Notes for editors
Free Student Racing is a Racing for Change/Racing Enterprises initiative designed to encourage more people racing and is run by the British Horseracing Authority.

Timings
· Gates open: 10.45am
· First Race: 1.50pm
· Last race: 5.35pm
· Fireworks commence: 6.30pm

Standard Ticket Prices
· Premier Admission: £26
· Grandstand Admission: £16
· Children under 18: Free
· After 4,30pm, Ascot Round Table will take over the ticket offices for Fireworks only tickets which are charged at £7 for an adult 13+, £5 for a child aged 5 to 12 and under 4s are free

For further information:
John Blake, Head of Sales and Marketing, Ascot Racecourse; 01344 878512 / 07917 521429
Nick Attenborough, Director of Consumer PR, Racing Enterprises: 0207 152 0236

Please contact John Blake for logos and images.

Pitstop Brewery’s Horsepower Wins Ascot’s Beer of the Festival 2010

Frankie Dettori performs his flying dismount after winning the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (sponsored by Sony) on board Poet's Voice

23,250 pints were consmed over the two days of this year's Ascot Beer Festival

4th CAMRA Ascot Racecourse Beer Festival: Friday 24th & Saturday 25th September 2010

Horsepower, an American style IPA heavily hopped Centennial, Chinook and Cascade hops and brewed especially for the Ascot Racecourse Beer Festival, beat off 202 other real ales to scoop the Beer of the Festival award as voted for by racegoers. A great achievement in itself, but made even more remarkable as Pitstop Brewery won the same accolade last year with Sump, a Russian style stout.

Pitstop Brewery in Wantage and is the brainchild of Peter Fowler. ‘The Beer of the Festival award is keenly contested and to win two years in a row is a fantastic achievement for Pitstop as Peter only started brewing commercially 2 years ago’ said John Blake, Head of Sales and Marketing at Ascot Racecourse.

Peter Fowler, head brewer at Pitstop, said he was absolutely delighted that Horsepower had won the Beer of the Festival Award at Ascot. ‘This was the second year running that the fledgling brewery has scooped the award. What makes this award special is that it’s voted for by the drinkers at the Beer Festival, rather than a panel of judges. It’s particularly pleasing that a beer that was created for Ascot proved so popular, especially considering that there were over 200 to choose from’. Peter will now be adding Horsepower to his expanding portfolio. Peter said that the continuing success of Pitstop’s craft beers means that he is currently looking for larger premises to meet the increasing demand for his beers.

‘Yet again the Ascot Racecourse Beer Festival proved to be huge success despite the cooler weather. The choice and quality of the beer on offer was excellent and Pitstop Horsepower proved to be a deserved winner and clearly comes from a thoroughbred stable!’ added Nick Boley, Berkshire South-East CAMRA branch chair.

Record crowds attended the two day beer festival, which combines real ale with superb quality horseracing. Whilst Horsepower won the plaudits on the track, Frankie Dettori stole the show with four consecutive wins on Saturday; most notably partnering Poet’s Voice in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, sponsored by Sony.

The 5th Ascot Racecourse CAMRA Beer Festival will be held on Friday 30th September to Saturday 1st October 2011.

ENDS

Notes for editors
· Attendance over the two days was 35,210, 2% up on 2009
· A total of 23,250 pints were consumed over the two days; 12% up on 2009
· The Beer Festival showcased a total of 228 real ales, ciders and perries predominantly form local craft brewers and producers; 20% more than in 2009.

Past winners of the Beer of the Festival Award as voted for by racegoers are as follows:
· 2007: Summer Lightning brewed by Hop Back Brewery, Downton, Wiltshire.
· 2008: Barbus Barbus brewed by Butts Brewery, Great Shefford, Berkshire.
· 2009: Sump brewed by Pitstop Brewery, Wantage, Oxfordshire.
· 2010: Horsepower brewed by Pitstop Brewery, Wantage, Oxfordshire.

For further information:
John Blake, Head of Sales and Marketing, Ascot Racecourse; 01344 878512 / 07917 521429
Peter Fowler, Head Brewer, Pitstop Brewery; 07870 577742