Frankie is fabulous and Stott is in tears as a Royal Ascot like no other ends

On this day last year 75,316 racegoers came to Royal Ascot's closing afternoon. This year nobody came, at least no one who was paying, but to tell its story you could easily use 75,316 words, one of which, Dettori, would be oft repeated. This was the Royal Ascot afternoon that had everything – everything, that is, except people.

In the last knockings of this greatest of all parties to which no guests were invited, we had the worst-trained winner in royal meeting history, the biggest-priced winner in royal meeting history, a victory for America's chief 'Ascotophile' Wesley Ward, a sensational finish to the St James's Palace Stakes and back-to-back victories for a young riding star who can now be hailed racing's great Dane.

This being Ascot, we also had Frankie. On this day, as on countless days here in the past, Frankie was fabulous.