Turf Laying Ceremony Officially Opens

03 August 2005

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Last Friday, 29th July 2005, the 220-year history of the "Tan Crossing" came to an end when the Winkfield Road Underpass was officially opened, allowing the straight mile course to run uninterrupted above.

The Worshipful Mayor of the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead, Councillor Eric Wiles, graciously consented to open the underpass in the company of racecourse staff, members of the design team and Robert Hughes CBE, Chairman of the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB).

Hughes was asked to perform the ceremonial laying of the final piece of turf on the new straight mile course, now realigned 42 metres north of its predecessor, as a mark of appreciation for the considerable assistance that Ascot has received for the redevelopment from the HBLB. A plaque has also been put up in the underpass to acknowledge their involvement in the project.

 

Ascot Racecourse straight mile courses, in various guises, and the Winkfield Road have crossed at differing interchanges since 1785. Most recently, a new mile straight was built over the road in 1954 on a line to accommodate the now demolished Queen Elizabeth II Grandstand.

In the early years tan was used to complete the racing surface over the road - hence its local name of "Tan Crossing." The road closed to traffic on race days, with coir matting covered by grass clippings being used latterly and until September 2004, when the racecourse closed for redevelopment.

 

Ascot Racecourse Chief Executive, Douglas Erskine-Crum, said, "I am delighted that the Mayor agreed to open the underpass as without the support of the Royal Borough and the local community as a whole, this exciting innovation would not have been possible. The underpass will make a big difference to traffic flow on racedays to everyone's benefit.

 

"I would also like to thank the HBLB for their enourmous support. The completion of the straight mile - an ambition for Ascot for many years - is a significant step towards reopening for racing on 27th May 2006."

 

Key Facts
 

To accommodate the new stand, create more space for crowd circulation and improve radically the quality of the racing surface, the straight mile course has been moved 42m north at the winning post end. It still starts at the Golden Gates but pivots from that point.

 

In addition to the Winkfield Road Underpass, a further underpass of the road alongside the round course has been constructed at Holloways Gate to replace the crossing to the Heath car parks. This second underpass will be completed in August 2005.

 

A section of Winkfield Road was diverted in November 2004 to allow the construction of the underpass on the line of the existing road. The temporary diversion road was removed and reinstated to grass when the road re-opened to traffic on 4th July.

 

Earth movement:
 19,000 cubic metres of earth was excavated to create the Winkfield Road underpass (and 18,000 cubic metres from Holloways Gate underpass)
 
Length:
 50m
 
Internal dimensions:
 11.3m x 5.5m.
 
Depth (top of track to road):
 7m
 
Finishes:
 Anti-graffiti paint has been used
 
Lighting:
 The lamp standards on the approach to the underpass were selected to match those in use on Ascot High Street
 
Landscaping:
 Over 50 trees are still to be planted (in winter during tree planting season).

Slopes are still to be grassed in the autumn (grass growing season)
 

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