Artist unveils collage of Royal Ascot through the ages

An installation artist has completed a 200-image collage of Royal Ascot, telling the story of decades of the world’s best racing.

David Mach’s collage, “The Great British Drama” (pictured above, with jockey Johnny Murtagh), was launched at the Royal Academy this week (11 February). It will be exhibited at Ascot during the Royal meeting (17-21 June), and also for the meeting today (15 February).

Mr Mach said: “Royal Ascot was a particular challenge; how to get the social and joyous essence of the British into one action still — a sport that combines us all.

“I love it. It is exuberant and celebratory. We dress beautifully at Ascot, we make an effort — it is probably what I like about it most of all. It’s Britain at its ‘can-do’ best.”

6 champions of the modern era take centre stage in a fictional race. The Queen’s Gold Cup winner Estimate is depicted leading a field that includes Ascot legend Yeats, St James’s Palace Stakes winner Dawn Approach, 5-times Group 1 winner Canford Cliffs, Australian supermare Black Caviar and — of course — the peerless Frankel.

Mr Mach also pays tribute to Ascot’s heroes of the past, such as Brown Jack and Sagaro, as well as human stars — the late Sir Henry Cecil, Clare Balding and Aidan O’Brien — among general racegoers.

Charles Barnett, chief executive of Ascot racecourse, said: “This is a captivating snapshot of Royal Ascot past and present, which encapsulates everything that is special about the week.

“We wanted to bring to life some of the many wonderful stories across world-class racing, pageantry, fashion and fine dining which together create the Great British Drama of Royal Ascot and makes it such a special occasion.

“We feel David has captured perfectly the verve and vibrancy of our historic event.”

Martha Terry

H&H features editor

Martha is an experienced journalist who is mad-keen on dogs of all shapes and sizes. After growing up with assorted liver and white springer spaniels, she enjoyed 14 years with two rescue dogs, one a street dog from Gambia who was abandoned at three weeks old. Now, her constant companion, whether by her feet at her desk or walking cross-country courses, is Fidget, an extremely energetic and habitually muddy black and white springer. Martha has written on topics as diverse as a top horse’s clone to the best GPS trackers for dogs, as well as equestrian and rural matters for Country Life, The Field, The Times, The Spectator and The Telegraph alongside Horse & Hound.