ROYAL Ascot will welcome crowds of 12,000 racegoers per day in a huge boost for racing.
The five-day festival, which begins on June 15, has been selected as a pilot event by the government.
The track had previously announced that they were planning for a maximum crowd of just 4,000.
But talks have been ongoing and Royal Ascot has now been chosen alongside an England cricket Test match as the latest to trial the return of larger crowds at sports events.
A crowd of 12,000 punters would be the biggest on a racecourse since the 2020 Cheltenham Festival, which was the final big meeting held before the Covid-19 pandemic took hold in March last year.
Ascot chief Guy Henderson said: “We are delighted that Royal Ascot has been accepted to play its part in the next phase of the Government’s Events Research Programme.
“We much look forward to welcoming 12,000 racegoers each day.
“Our thanks go to our industry bodies, the British Horseracing Authority and the Racecourse Association, which led the preparation of the submission to Government.”
Julie Harrington, chief executive of the BHA, also welcomed the news.
She said: “It is excellent news that Ascot will be included in the Events Research Programme as a pilot event.
“It is an opportunity to demonstrate how racing events are perfectly suited to safely hosting spectators in greater numbers as we progress through the Government’s roadmap for the easing of lockdown restrictions.
“We are grateful to DCMS and this outcome reflects the strong and positive relationship between racing and Government.
“Working with colleagues we will ensure that our participants remain protected to the same degree that has been achieved with racing’s bespoke coronavirus protocols since resumption in June 2020.”
Racing fans who rolled over their booking from 2020 will be able to be accommodated on course.
And an allocation of Royal Enclosure badges and general admission tickets to the Queen Anne enclosure will go on sale this Friday.
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