Royal Ascot owners and racegoers will need to provide negative Covid test

Ascot has confirmed that all those attending the royal meeting as racegoers or owners will need to take three separate Covid tests as part of the government trial that has allowed the racecourse to increase the fixture's daily crowd numbers to 12,000.

As a strict condition of gaining admission to Ascot on any of the five days, all those present as part of the Events Research Programme will be required to show evidence of a negative lateral flow test taken no more than 36 hours before their visit.

Those same individuals will also be sent two PCR Covid tests, one to be taken either the day before or the day of attendance at Royal Ascot and one five days thereafter.