The HWPA newsletter for May…
Royal Ascot Accreditation Now Open
You can now apply for press accreditation at Royal Ascot in 2022 by following this link. Please note this is a new accreditation system so you will have to register a new account and then apply via the online form. Step-by-step information on how to complete the process is available here. If you have any questions please contact RAMediaAccred@ascot.com.
The closing date for applications is Monday 30th May.
The new level 3 Press room at Ascot was open for the first time last week. In terms of watching a race and the route to the winner’s enclosure, it is an improvement on what we had before. The desks are not ideal, a little too narrow and a little too shallow, but it’s unlikely anything can be done about that in the short term.
HWPA Derby Awards Lunch
The Derby Awards Lunch, in its fifty-sixth year, will take place as usual on the first Monday in December at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, and we look forward to seeing friends old and new there on the 5th this year.
Tickets will be on sale from 1st August. Due to the significant increases in the charges from the hotel, the Committee has agreed that ticket prices should increase from £105 to £115. Although the Lunch was run at a surplus last December, it wouldn’t be possible to absorb all the increased costs into the ticket price if it remained the same. I trust members will be understanding of this increase, the new price is still very competitive against other similar functions.
Tipping Competition – supported by Sky Bet
Round 2 – Aintree
A spectacular final day by Jordan McBride saw him fly up the Elbow and land the second round of the competition at Aintree’s Grand National meeting. Jordan left it late and was the only entrant to find the last winner on National day, 28-1 chance Lookaway, to add to the 16-1 selection of Sire Du Berlais. There were very few other high scores, with Richard Williams finishing an unlucky fourth on £20.50 to miss out on the prizes.
Jordan McBride – £44.00
Jason Heavey – £34.91 (4 winners on Thursday inc 12-1 nap)
Will Hayler – £33.00 (tipped 28-1 Sam Brown)
Not a soul found the Grand National winner Noble Yeats which means that Daragh Ó Conchúir takes the Jumps Grand Slam prize, just in front of Jack Millan, after his impressive run at Cheltenham.
Round 3 opened with the three days of the Guineas meeting and will conclude with the two days of the Derby meeting at Epsom.
Desmond Stoneham
As many members will be aware, Desmond Stoneham died last month at the age of 79. Desmond was the long-serving French correspondent for Racing Post, and before that for the Sporting Life, and for the Irish Field. Alongside his role as a journalist, he worked for the International Racing Bureau, helping those that went from Britain and Ireland to race in France and vice versa. He was made a Chevalier of the Order of Merit for his services to the promotion of French racing.
Our thoughts are with his wife Evelyne and his family and friends.