A Right Royal Month

June plays host to two of the highlights of the racing calendar, and RTA Publicity is heavily involved in both. The Betfred Oaks & Derby at Epsom – the 3rd & 4th Classic races of the year and the traditional career pinnacle for Flat horses – comes first early in the month, followed by the five-day spectacular of glamour, horseracing and fashion that is Royal Ascot a couple of weeks later.

At Epsom, we play a big role helping with the overall site dressing and look and feel of the event. We have a great relationship with the team and are part of the planning process for the Derby, often as soon as the previous year’s event is finished! We are proud of the role we play, analysing what worked and what didn’t, highlighting any issues and providing constructive feedback to contribute to the continuing evolution of the site and the customer experience.

For the 2023 renewal, there was particular focus on the branding of the temporary structures and hospitality marquees, with new and refreshed designs for the Tattenham Straight Marquee, the Owners and Trainers facility and a new access bridge, opening up the Upper Tattenham area to provide more space for the general admission race-goers.

You can see some of our work in the gallery photos below.

Just a few weeks after the carnival atmosphere of the Derby on the hill at Epsom, all eyes turn to the glamour and sophistication of the five days of Royal Ascot. With 19 Group races (including eight Group Ones) across the week and world class fashion and hospitality, it is both a social and sporting calendar highlight.

Our work on the event begins as soon as their fixture in the middle of May finishes. The entire site is switched over from the Ascot blue to the Royal Ascot cream & gold colour scheme, to give the exclusive look and feel, and the builds begin for the Royal Enclosure, Queen Anne, Windsor and Village Enclosure. All the official partners, sponsors and shared supplier branding gets updated and the enclosures are dressed for the event.

One of the most iconic symbols of the build up is when the large Union Jack banners that go up on the ‘cores’ of the Grandstand. The team at Ascot say once we put the Union Jacks up, they know the event is really beginning!

Another aspect synonymous with the Royal meeting is the ornate finish line build, a bespoke structure that incorporates the timing device clock and a unique floral display each year. Our team build, clad and brand the structure, all ready for those wonderful winning line shots of the racing action.

Finally, the bandstand on the Queen Anne lawn is dressed with metres and metres of union jack bunting, ready for the infamous singalong that rounds off each day of racing.