Ascot Racecourse is one of the most famous places in the world that hosts horse racing, so if a meeting is going to capture the attention of the public on behalf of a sponsor then it is going to have to be named after it. It is with that in mind that the Peroni Nastro Azzurro meeting is held on the hallowed turf, with the company having signed a five-year deal to become the official beer of both the racecourse and the Royal Ascot meeting in 2022. When it is not being called by its sponsored name, it is known to punters as the May Racing meeting, based over two days and having the Victoria Cup as the feature race on the Saturday.
In some ways, it is considered by many as something of a test event ahead of Royal Ascot itself, which arrives at the course just a few weeks later. It means that the venue can be tested to ensure that it is ready for the arrival of thousands of people as well as members of the Royal Family, whilst race-goers can dust off their nice dresses and big hats in order to ensure that they’re looking the part. None of which is to play down to racing, which is excellent and sees a number of brilliant handicap events making up the two days’ worth of racing, culminating in the heritage handicap that is the Victoria Cup.
About the Weekend
Ascot Racecourse is one that has history everywhere you look. There have been so many incredible race horses that have run at the venue that racing lovers will be blown away by what they can see and experience simply by being at the course. Whilst there are a number of exciting meetings that take place during the year, there is no doubt that Royal Ascot sits in the centre of them all. That meeting isn’t for everyone, though, with any number of reasons why you might choose not to head along for the pomp and ceremony of a meeting in which the Royal Family take centre stage and everyone is expected to kowtow to them.
If you find yourself in that bracket then you might want to think about heading along for the Peroni Nastro Azzurro meeting, which takes place not long before the Royal Procession rolls into town and is something of a preparatory meeting for it. It isn’t quite as stuffy as the Royal Ascot meeting, however, and you might therefore find yourself enjoying it a little bit more. That doesn’t mean that it isn’t a great chance to experience everything that Ascot Racecourse has to offer, though. In fact, there is a strong argument that you’d be better off coming to the first day of this meeting than the last day of Royal Ascot when things might be a little jaded.
This is a meeting that sees both the racecourse and the staff at their best, with everyone proving that they’re ready to welcome in the King and the rest of his entourage when the Royal Ascot meeting gets underway. It seems the racecourse in perfect condition and will often be accompanied by decent weather, so it is very much worth taking advantage of the less stuffy atmosphere and getting your summery clothes and sunglasses on for this meeting, soaking up the enjoyment of the racing that takes place across the two days.
May Racing Meeting Schedule
There is plenty to look forward to across the two days of the Peroni Nastro Azzurro meeting, which we look into in more detail on the individual pages dedicated to them. It is worth having a quick look at what to expect on each of the days here, though:
Peroni Nastro Azzurro May Racing Friday
If we’re being fair and honest, the Saturday is the more exciting of the two days, largely because it is the one that has the feature race of the weekend taking place on it. Whilst that is unquestionably true, it doesn’t mean that there isn’t plenty to like about the Friday’s racing. Obviously the exact races that are can be changed with little notice, which is just how the British Horseracing Authority and the Jockey Club like to do things, but whichever races are run you’ll be sure to enjoy some action-packed hours. The atmosphere is one that is filled with excitement and the promise of what’s to come, which is always fun for the racegoer.
It will be an afternoon of competitive racing, with some decent handicaps making up the card for the Friday. In terms of what you’re likely to experience off the course, Ascot Racecourse remains the place to go if you’re hoping to experience flat racing at its very best, with the course being setup pretty much as it will be for Royal Ascot later in the month. You might notice one of two teething problems that are unlikely to be there on the following day, just as everyone reminds themselves of the standard that is expected of them at a course like Ascot, but the fact that it’s a Friday means that the clientele will tend to take the racing seriously.
Peroni Nastro Azzurro Victoria Cup Day
By the time the Saturday rolls around, any teething problems that might have been experienced the day before are likely to have been all but dealt with. You should experience a smooth time at the course, if for no other reason than everyone will be wanting to prove that they’re ready to welcome the King and other Royals when Royal Ascot takes place. It means you get to see what sort of state the course will be in for the main event but without having to pay main event prices or worry about the stuffy and serious nature of going to a meeting with members of the Royal Family in attendance, which will be ideal for some.
In terms of the racing, which is obviously what most people tend to come along for, there is no real argument that the Victoria Cup is the feature race of the day; it is named after it after all. It is a valuable event run over seven furlongs and the field will often be a mix of course specialists and less experienced youngsters. There are numerous other races that are run either side of the Victoria Cup, but there is no question that that is the biggest race of the day. With it being a Saturday, it is likely to be a little bit less serious than the Friday, with many of the people in attendance hoping for a fun time.
- 13:10 EBF Novices' Stakes (GBB Race)
- 13:45 EBF Fillies' Handicap
- 14:20 Victoria Cup
- 14:55 Peroni Nastro Azzurro Handicap (GBB Plus)
- 15:30 Royal Ascot Handicap
- 16:05 Fillies' Handicap
- 16:40 Blue Handicap
Summary
There is only one event that promises pretty much the exact experience that you’ll get at Royal Ascot, at least off the course, without having to worry about the presence of the Royal Family and their entourage, with the Peroni Nastro Azzurro meeting being the one. It is the meeting that takes place just a short space of time before Royal Ascot itself gets underway, so everyone at the course is hoping to prove that they are more than ready for the main event. That applies just as much to the punters as it does to the race officials and the people working behind the bar, so expect to see some lovely dresses and natty looking suits.
In terms of the racing, which the majority of people will be the most focused on, you will see plenty of respectable handicaps on both the Friday and the Saturday. The Friday doesn’t really have a featured race as such and you shouldn’t be surprised if you encounter a few teething problems as everyone figures out what their role is ahead of the Royal meeting. The racegoers are more likely to be of the serious type, whilst on the Saturday there will be more of a desire for people to let their hair down. The Saturday racing centres around the Victoria Cup, which is a valuable heritage handicap that is run over seven furlongs.